This offseason, the Green Bay Packers will almost surely add to their defensive roster. It began with Safety Xavier McKinney, and it is unlikely to finish there. The entirely new defensive coaching staff will continue to bring in as much talent as possible.
However, one player is already under contract and may have emerged as a starter for this defense in 2024.
The Green Bay Packers May Already Have Their Starter On Defense
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According to Wendell Ferreria of A-Z Sports:
Green Bay dismissed De’Vondre Campbell, leaving Quay Walker as the team’s lone consolidated off-ball linebacker. The decision not to invest extensively in the position does not guarantee that they will not add a cheap free agent or a draft pick later on, but McDuffie will have more room nonetheless.
The Packers’ new defensive coordinator respects the off-ball linebacker, who played with Jeff Hafley at Boston College. Furthermore, McDuffie played 46.17% of defensive snaps last year, which is comparable to De’Vondre Campbell’s 51.76%.
With Quay Walker slated as a weakside linebacker, McDuffie is currently the primary middle linebacker option.
Could Isaiah McDuffie Be The Packers’ Long Term Starting Linebacker?
Injuries kept Quay Walker and De’Vondre Campbell out of the lineup in 2023, but McDuffie made an impact. Despite starting only eight games, he recorded 82 tackles. That was good enough to rank second on the list in 2023.
McDuffie was taken by the Packers in the sixth round in 2021 after a solid final season. During his first two seasons, he started just one game. In 2023, he started eight out of sixteen games.
Because of his great play, he is projected to be a starter in 2024, regardless of the coordinator. McDuffie may become a lock to start if Hafley implements the 4-3 formation he oversaw at Boston College.
