If Aaron Rodgers and most of the Packers’ roster remains healthy

Womens Oren Burks Jersey , there’s no reason to expect a repeat of last season’s struggles."6-9-1 with Aaron Rodgers starting 16 games is a shocking development. The Green Bay Packers’ record — in conjunction with a terrible performance at home in December — were ultimately what got Mike McCarthy fired with four games to go last season. The fact remains that the Packers underachieved, and even if you give Aaron Rodgers the benefit of the doubt that he was significantly hampered all season long, it’s difficult to absorb that final line at the end of the year.With all the changes that have gone on in Green Bay this offseason, however, hope springs anew in Titletown. A new head coach and a revamped offense, big-name free agent signings on defense, and (hopefully) an exciting draft class should put the Packers squarely in position to compete again in 2019.Today, we find that this optimism is not limited just to those of us who follow the Packers. At least one national writer sees the Packers as the non-playoff team that is best-positioned to make a run at a championship in 2019.Of course, health is and will always be a critical factor. Rodgers needs to stay healthy. His receivers and offensive line do as well. And so do most of the key players on the defense. But if this roster adds some top-end talent in the NFL Draft and manages to stay largely intact throughout the season, there’s no reason to think that the Packers can’t be right in the thick of the NFC playoff picture come December.Linsleys organizing benefit for father of Corey’s bike kid | Packers.comThis type of event underlines just how close the Packers and their players are to the community. It's a special bond between team and city, and we wish the best for the Kohlbeck family.Aaron Jones Brett Favre Jersey , Jamaal Williams both crack top-12 in RB success rate in 2018 | Packers WireWilliams' 3.7 YPC average lagged well behind Jones' league-leading 5.5, but both players did a really good job in 2018 of getting the yardage necessary to move the chains or at least keep the Packers ahead of the sticks.Five non-playoff teams that could jump to Super Bowl contention | SI.comSurprise, surprise: the Packers are on this list. They're at the top of the list, actually, with the Steelers, Browns, Raiders, and Jets behind them.Jordy Nelson: Would be hard to say no if Rodgers called - NFL.comRodgers doesn't make the personnel decisions in Green Bay (which is almost certainly a good thing), so the situation here is unlikely. But at least now Brian Gutekunst knows that if an emergency strikes in training camp, an old friend might be willing to come help out.Complete NFL Draft Grades for all 31* hats - SBNation.comPersonally, I'm not a fan of the Packers' draft hat for this year Womens Paul Hornung Jersey , as New Era decided to go with some local flair and incorporate city and state flag designs into the hats. Still, there are some others that are far, far, far worse.Homes Closer To Breweries Have Higher Property Value Than Those Not Within Walking Distance, Study Finds – CBS PhillyMakes sense to me. I'd love to live within walking distance of a good brewpub! Jimmy Graham’s first season in a Green Bay Packers uniform was less than stellar. The tight end, who came over from the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent, was expected to provide a big impact in the middle of the field as a big-bodied receiving option for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.That impact was muted. Graham caught 55 passes for 636 yards, an average of 11.6 yards per reception, and those numbers exceeded his 2017 totals in both yardage and average. However, Graham caught just two touchdown passes, down massively from ten such catches the prior year for the Seahawks. Furthermore Oren Burks Jersey White , he went through stretches in which he was entirely a non-factor; although Graham caught a pass in all 16 games, he had two or fewer receptions six times and had just six games with four or more catches.Although Graham’s free agent contract paid him $13 million in the first year of the deal and scheduled out $30 million in total compensation over three years, the Packers could have had an out this season. APC broke down the team’s options for Graham last week: keeping him or cutting him one of two different ways. However, it seems that the Packers are moving ahead with Graham in their plans for the 2019 season.That report comes from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Tuesday afternoon. Although situations can change, Rapoport’s sources indicate that the team plans to keep Graham for at least one more year. Doing so will mean paying Graham a $5 million roster bonus shortly after the 2019 league year begins in March, and Graham will carry a salary cap hit of $12.67 million this season.The hope for Packers fans is that the new coaching staff under Matt LaFleur can help justify that cap hit and get more out of Graham than Mike McCarthy did. Under McCarthy, Graham was often used as an in-line tight end and asked to block. However, Graham’s ability and effort as a blocker are mediocre at best, despite his 6-foot-7, 265-pound frame. In addition, two former Packers tight ends Womens Kenny Clark Jersey , Martellus Bennett and Marcedes Lewis, joked this offseason about McCarthy’s scheme being poor for true in-line tight ends to make an impact. Perhaps this, combined with casting Graham in that role, contributed to his so-so production as a receiver.The other possibility is that Graham’s physical tools are leaving him. He does not appear on film to possess the elite speed or quickness that made him so dangerous as a member of the New Orleans Saints early in his career. LaFleur will need to evaluate his abilities and put him in a position for him to succeed.If Graham fails to impress again this fall, the Packers would be able to move on easily prior to the 2020 season. His contract would carry just a $3.67 million hit on the salary cap for 2020 if the team were to release him then, and that would free up $8 million in cap space that year. For now, however, Graham appears to be in the Packers’ plans for the upcoming season.