Green Bay Reporter

Aaron Rodgers seems sold his Green Bay Packers are poised to bring the heat this season.

“It's one of the best defenses on paper that we've had,” Rodgers recently told ESPN.

With the start of the regular season creeping closer, Rodgers has sang the praises of a defense that appears to have held his attention from the start of training camp.  

"I like our defense on paper for sure," he added of a unit that came into camp with many unanswered questions given all its new and untested members. But all the hard work has allayed much of the fear to the point Rodgers isn’t the only one now raving about its capabilities.

Defensive coordinator Joe Barry and safety Darnell Savage are also among those that have been impressed, with Barry recently raving “he’s got good guys in the important spots.”

The unit is anchored by veterans Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed, Dean Lowry, De'Vondre Campbell, Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes and Rasul Douglas, with rookie linebacker Quay Walker also quickly attracting Rookie of the Year and NFL Defensive rookie of the year buzz for himself based on his early performance.

The rise in play on that side of the ball comes after the Packers finished ninth in total defense during the regular season last year even with Alexander sidelined for most of the season and outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith (who was released this offseason) out for nearly all of it.

The reigning two-time league MVP, Rodgers cracked during training camp, "we're a defensive team now."

But in the end, the last laugh may be on the Packers’ opponents, as GM Brian Gutekunst has quietly gone about the business of putting a defense like this in place ever since he took over in 2018, using six of the team’s seven first-round picks on defensive players, including Walker (No. 22 overall) and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (No. 28) this year.