With the unexpected hiatus of BJ Raji and no more Josh Boyd, the Packers defensive line has 
experieced some shakeup. The all important D-line is the starting point for the success of Dom Capers’ 3-4 base defense. The front line rotation is critical to the success of the whole defense with a weakness there having a domino effect all the way to the defensive backfield.
But the Packers were fortunate enough to enter a 2016 draft that was heavy in good defensive linemen (no pun intended) and took advantage of that by taking Kenny Clark in the first and Dean Lowry in the 4th. The Packers signed Kuder and Price as well, a couple of UDFA hopefuls who will compete for limited roster spots. While Lowry in the 4th was considered a reach by many, who had him projected as a 7th or desired UDFA, the fact remains that we now have plenty of bodies to compete for at least rotational time. But the question is…are they more than just bodies?
This question of the defensive line and the changes that are coming is critical to the defense taking a step forward next year. Did we take one step forward and two back with the loss of Raji and the suspension of Pennel? The extra preseason game and that suspension mean that there will be some serious time metered out to some of these rookies which could be a good or a bad thing.
But what do you think Packernation…will the defensive line take a step forward this year? Make your opinion known by voting below: