The Green Bay Packers had a decent year in 2017, making the playoffs after a brutal 4-6 start. Their postseason run came to an end thanks to the offense of the Falcons, which destroyed a weak Packers defense. In that game, Green Bay's leading rusher was Aaron Rodgers, who had a total of 46 yards. Ty Montgomery was second with just 17 rushing yards. And that's emblematic of a larger problem for the Packers: A lack of a quality run game.
Eddie Lacy's Rise and Fall.
Aaron Rodgers is easily one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but he could really use a solid running back to pair with the elite group of wide receivers he can throw to.
In 2013 and 2014, Eddie Lacy looked like that player. He recorded more than 1000 rushing yards in both seasons and scored a combined 20 touchdowns. That production had Packers fans and the organization believing that they had found their rusher of the future.
Unfortunately, that production didn't last. In 2015, Lacy scored just three touchdowns and recorded only 758 rushing yards. There were questions about his weight, as Lacy looked less like a running back, and more like an offensive lineman. In the 2016 offseason, the Packers needed to make sure that Lacy followed a strict regimen to get back into shape. Prior to his injury, Lacy was rushing for 5.1 yards per carry and was on pace for one of his best seasons ever.
Decision Time.
Eddie Lacy is still only 26 years old, far from the 30 year old running back threshold. That means he should still have some solid years left, if the Packers believe in the free agent's talent. There may not be another option, if the Packers don't draft a player. The only other players projected to be in the Packers backfield are Ty Montgomery, who is more of a wide receiver hybrid, and unknown player Don Jackson.
Alternatives.
If the Packers do choose to move on from Lacy, they can consider a number of alternatives. Free agents like Jamaal Charles and Adrian Peterson are older and more injury prone, but they're also elite players at the position. If the Packers are looking for a younger star, they should look no further than former Oakland back Latavius Murray, who rushes with a bruising style.
The Packers could also try to draft a running back in the earlier rounds. Players like Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette, and Christian McCaffrey have all been linked to Green Bay. If the Packers do choose to move on from Lacy, it might make sense to draft one of these young guys for both their talent and future production.
