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For this year's edition of the NFL Future Power Rankings, Insider's annual examination of the franchises best positioned to succeed going forward, ESPN had their panel of NFL experts -- John Clayton, Mel Kiper, Louis Rid**** and Mike Sando -- project how teams would fare over the course of the next three seasons: 2014, 2015 and 2016.
The analysts rated every team in five categories -- Roster (excluding quarterback), QB, Draft, Front Office and Coaching -- and the results were then averaged and weighted to create our final 1-32 Future Power Ranking. The entire rankings are available for ESPN Insiders only but here´s the Packers grade and overview:
Total Score: 85.54
Roster (without QB): 7.9
QB: 9.7
Draft: 7.7
Front Office: 8.7
Coaching: 9
The overview: Green Bay joined the 49ers and Seahawks as the only teams with at least four top-five rankings. This is the third year in a row Green Bay has ranked among the top two overall. Aaron Rodgers' status as a great QB and his relative youth (30) gave Green Bay the top-ranked future at the position. The rest of the roster wasn't far behind at No. 6. The Packers pride themselves on building through the draft instead of free agency, but the draft was their lowest ranked category, at No. 11, down eight spots from the past offseason, even after running back Eddie Lacy became the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for his efforts in 2013. Looking ahead, GM Ted Thompson picked up three receivers in the 2014 draft, which bought insurance at the position while Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson enter their contract years. --Mike Sando
The dilemma: Getting the defense to play at a level that takes some of the pressure off of Rodgers and the offense, by being able to deal with the explosive offensive perimeter players in the division, is the primary concern for this team going forward. This is particularly true as it relates to the play of the corners. The Packers need to get a good return on the investment they made in re-signing CB Sam Shields ($14M total guaranteed), and they have key contracts expiring at the position after the 2014 (Tramon Williams, Davon House) and 2015 (Casey Hayward) seasons that they will need to decide on. --Louis Rid****
The youth movement: Two 2014 rookies at opposite ends of the scouting spectrum could become favorites of Rodgers and continue to help this offense soar. Davante Adams is a low-risk, sure-handed, if not overly explosive, WR who seems ready to play. Tight end Colt Lyerla could be a star if the work matches the athletic credentials, or he could be out of the league if off-the-field issues linger, but oh, those athlete credentials. He could be a poor man's Vernon Davis (which isn't all that poor). Given the QB, Adams and Lyerla could be stars. --Mel Kiper
The analysts rated every team in five categories -- Roster (excluding quarterback), QB, Draft, Front Office and Coaching -- and the results were then averaged and weighted to create our final 1-32 Future Power Ranking. The entire rankings are available for ESPN Insiders only but here´s the Packers grade and overview:
Total Score: 85.54
Roster (without QB): 7.9
QB: 9.7
Draft: 7.7
Front Office: 8.7
Coaching: 9
The overview: Green Bay joined the 49ers and Seahawks as the only teams with at least four top-five rankings. This is the third year in a row Green Bay has ranked among the top two overall. Aaron Rodgers' status as a great QB and his relative youth (30) gave Green Bay the top-ranked future at the position. The rest of the roster wasn't far behind at No. 6. The Packers pride themselves on building through the draft instead of free agency, but the draft was their lowest ranked category, at No. 11, down eight spots from the past offseason, even after running back Eddie Lacy became the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for his efforts in 2013. Looking ahead, GM Ted Thompson picked up three receivers in the 2014 draft, which bought insurance at the position while Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson enter their contract years. --Mike Sando
The dilemma: Getting the defense to play at a level that takes some of the pressure off of Rodgers and the offense, by being able to deal with the explosive offensive perimeter players in the division, is the primary concern for this team going forward. This is particularly true as it relates to the play of the corners. The Packers need to get a good return on the investment they made in re-signing CB Sam Shields ($14M total guaranteed), and they have key contracts expiring at the position after the 2014 (Tramon Williams, Davon House) and 2015 (Casey Hayward) seasons that they will need to decide on. --Louis Rid****
The youth movement: Two 2014 rookies at opposite ends of the scouting spectrum could become favorites of Rodgers and continue to help this offense soar. Davante Adams is a low-risk, sure-handed, if not overly explosive, WR who seems ready to play. Tight end Colt Lyerla could be a star if the work matches the athletic credentials, or he could be out of the league if off-the-field issues linger, but oh, those athlete credentials. He could be a poor man's Vernon Davis (which isn't all that poor). Given the QB, Adams and Lyerla could be stars. --Mel Kiper