The Green Bay Packers chose to allow defensive back Micah Hyde leave the team via free agency. It was an interesting move for a team that needs help at cornerback and this move will definitely weaken the team in the nickel package until they find replacements. However, it was clear that Hyde was not a priority for the Packers, as they never even offered him a deal to stay and Micah seemed more than ready to leave Green Bay. Here is a look at the Packers secondary needs heading into 2017
What do the Packers lose without Micah Hyde?
Micah Hyde was an important player for the Green Bay Packers in 2016.
He was a jack-of-all-trades who played numerous different positions for the Packers during the eight-game winning streak that ended in the NFC Championship game. He played all over the defensive backfield and made some huge plays, an instrumental part of Dom Capers defense that helped the Packers roar back and turn a disappointing season into a big playoff run. Despite this, Green Bay ranked 31st in pass defense in 2016 and needs an upgrade, possibly looking to the 2017 NFL Draft to find it. There is hope that addition by subtraction might help but Hyde was a key player when they began to turn things around. Micah Hyde finished the season with 58 total tackles, one sack, and three interceptions.
Who is left for the Packers in the nickel package?
The good news is that the Green Bay Packers just signed Davon House today after the Jacksonville Jaguars released him. House signed a one-year deal with Green Bay, a team he played for during the first four years of his career. He has only been gone for two seasons so he will return and have knowledge of the Packers’ defense, helping them regain a player that will step right in to help fill the hole.
Green Bay also let Sam Shields go this offseason after he missed almost all of 2016 after suffering a concussion to go with the team letting Micah Hyde walk. There is hope that the Green Bay Packers will see improvement from Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins, who both struggled in their second year in the NFL. The Packers have to improve on defense if they want to make it back to the NFC Championship and it all starts with figuring out who plays in the defensive backfield. Losing Micah Hyde just eliminates a piece of that puzzle.
