12 Packers players that regressed most in 2021
Last week, we highlighted the 15 most improved players for the Green Bay Packers during the 2021 season. Now, it’s time for the other side of the coin: players that regressed.
The Packers were unable to match a prolific offense from the 2020 season, resulting in the unavoidable regression from several players, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But going from historically great to just great is a preferable regression, especially when the quarterback in question is expected to win his second straight MVP award this week.
The starting safety duo also went downhill after they were arguably the best in football a year ago. And the player with the biggest slide in 2021 won’t be a surprise.
Here are the Packers players that regressed the most from 2020 to 2021:
(AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
2020 grade: 75.4
2021 grade: 49.2
Regression: 26.2
This grade is for field goals and extra points only. Overall, Crosby failed to convert on 10 field goals and two extra points. He missed five field goals between 30-39 yards, which is typically a high-conversion area for NFL kickers. He also regressed in kickoff grade. This might be the end of the line for the 37-year-old kicker.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
2020 grade: 89.9
2021 grade: 75.4
Regression: 14.5
Amos went from elite in 2020 to just rock-solid in 2021. He was terrific against the run and finished as an elite tackler (missing only tackles), but his coverage grade dropped after he allowed more yards after the catch and touchdown passes while having fewer stops in the passing game. Amos was still the 14th highest-graded safety overall.
S Darnell Savage
(AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
2020 grade: 72.1
2021 grade: 58.4
Regression: 13.7
Behind Crosby, no other player suffered a more negative decline. An elite player down the stretch last season, Savage never really got comfortable during his first season in Joe Barry’s defense and wasn’t an impact player in any measurable way. He missed 12 tackles, gave up six touchdown passes and had four penalties, all while intercepting only two passes and recording just nine stops. Rashan Gary ascended to stardom in 2021, but Savage’s third season was a disappointing one. He needs to rebound in Year 4.
Glasheen/Appleton Post-Crescent via USA TODAY NETWORK
2020 grade: 68.6
2021 grade: 54.6
Regression: 14.0
Tonyan was a likely regression candidate after catching a career-high 11 touchdown passes in 2020. He caught 18 passes and averaged only 1.06 yards per route run (down from 1.55) in eight games before a season-ending knee injury. He didn’t catch eight of his 26 targets after catching 60 of 66 last season, and teams found ways of controlling him in the red zone, resulting in just two touchdowns. He has an uncertain future as a looming free agent.
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
2020 grade: 66.4
2021 grade: 56.3
Regression: 11.1
Lancaster’s grade against the run plummeted in 2021, creating his sharp regression. He created the same amount of pressures (four) as 2020 and was actually a better tackler (zero misses), but his value comes from playing the run. He’ll be a free agent, and the Packers might decide it’s time to upgrade.
(AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
2020 grade: 66.9
2021 grade: 57.5
Regression: 9.4
Patrick was considerably better at right guard in 2020 than at center for much of 2021. He gave up the same amount of pressures (21) as last season, but center is a more favorable area for pass-protection and his run-blocking grade dropped off significantly. He also had more penalties. His positional versatility has value, but the Packers must decide if they want to bring him back for 2022.
Green Bay Packers punter Corey Bojorquez (7)
2020 grade: 69.8
2021 grade: 62.0
Regression: 7.8
In his first season in Green Bay, Bojorquez saw his numbers drop in yards per punt, net punting average and hangtime compared to last season in Buffalo, and he had more punts returned for a higher average. The start to his 2021 season was strong, but he faded as the weather got worse.
WR Allen Lazard
(AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
2020 grade: 72.4
2021 grade: 64.7
Regression: 7.7
Lazard finished strong in 2021 and ended up with a career-high eight touchdown catches, but his efficiency as a receiver fell off. He averaged 1.13 yards per route run (down from 1.84), missed seven contested-catch opportunity and had three penalties. Last season, he caught 40 passes for 609 yards on 331 routes; this year, he had 41 catches for 519 yards on 461 routes.
DL Kingsley Keke
(AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
2020 grade: 69.1
2021 grade: 63.4
Regression: 5.7
Keke produced a career-high 24 pressures on 393 snaps, but he struggled against the run as a three-down lineman, especially early in the season. He got moved off the ball and pushed around at the point of attack too often. While his value as a rusher was real, the Packers released him last month for unspecified reasons. It’s possible they didn’t trust him enough against the run.
CB Chandon Sullivan
(AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
2020 grade: 60.2
2021 grade: 55.0
Regression: 5.2
Sullivan had another shaky season in coverage. He gave up 49 catches for 603 yards and three touchdowns while operating as the slot corner. He also missed seven tackles and had three penalties. Much of his regression actually came against the run, where he was considered a liability.
QB Aaron Rodgers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
2020 grade: 95.1
2021 grade: 89.7
Regression: 5.4
It was always going to be tough for Rodgers to match the brilliance of his 2020 season. He was still terrific for much of the 2021 season and will likely win another MVP award, but most of his efficiency numbers dropped, and he went from 49 “big time throws” to 36 in 2021. Rodgers was still the fifth-highest graded quarterback at PFF.
OL Billy Turner
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
2020 grade: 70.5
2021 grade: 67.1
Regression: 3.4
Turner gave up four more pressures this year compared to 2020 and was just slightly worse as a run-blocker, leading to his minor regression. He was still a solid player in all areas in 2021. Turner has graded out between 63.0 and 70.5 each of the last four seasons.
Others
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CB Isaac Yiadom (-25.8): He went from liability in a starting role for the Giants in 2020 to unusable at cornerback for the Packers in 2021. He was released last month.
LB Ty Summers (-21.1): He played 29 snaps on defense in Weeks 3-4 but never saw the field on defense again. He’s fine on special teams but the Packers don’t trust him on the field at linebacker, meaning it’s probably time to move on.
OLB Za’Darius Smith (-20.2): It’s impossible to evaluate a player’s season based on 37 snaps in two games spread four months apart.
S Henry Black (-19.4): He played 283 snaps in 2021 after only 27 as a rookie. As a subpackage defender, he gave up two touchdown passes and missed six tackles.
CB Jaire Alexander (-19.2): The 2020 All-Pro played in only 227 snaps over five games in 2021, but he gave up two touchdown passes – the same amount he allowed over 1,015 snaps a year before.
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