The Green Bay Packers are a very good football team, but even the best in the NFL need to continue improving. Every team needs to see development from its draft picks so it can infuse young talent into the roster and replace aging veterans. That brings us to an interested question posed to ESPN Packers reporter Rob Demovsky in his weekly mailbag.
@RobDemovsky #PackersMail Which of the 5 2014 red shirts will have the biggest impact in 2015? Khyri, Goodson, Abbrederis, Janis, Bradford?
— Dusty (@djschuett) April 16, 2015
"Based on what we saw in training camp last year, the two receivers - Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis - sure look like they have a shot," Demovsky answered. "Before he tore his ACL< Abbrederis looked like he had the makings of a slot receiver who could make plays in the middle of the field. Meanwhile, Janis emerged late in camp as a guy who might be able to stretch the field. However, based purely on where they were drafted, defensive tackle Khyri Thornton (third round) and linebacker Carl Bradford (fourth round) should be more likely to be impact players. But neither showed much in camp last summer. The Packers basically stashed Thornton on injured reserve with a hamstring injury that probably wasn't season ending, and Bradford wasn't active for a single game last season after making the transition from outside linebacker to the inside late in the preseason. Finally, Demetri Goodson will at least get the chance for some playing time given the loss of cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Davon House in free agency, but Goodson didn't show a great ability to play the ball last preseason and will have to make a major improvement."
The wide receiver duo Demovsky mentioned may be talented, but it will be difficult for them to get significant playing time. Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb are entrenched as the starters and 2014 second-rounder Davante Adams impressed coaches last year, especially in the playoffs.
As Demovsky noted, Goodson will likely be the beneficiary of more snaps thanks to the free agent departures of Williams and House. He'll have the biggest opportunity to make an impact. Whether he will take advantage of that opportunity or not is anyone's guess at this point.
