The Green Bay Packers are at a crossroads this offseason as they contemplate significant roster decisions, particularly concerning defensive lineman TJ Slaton.
Slaton, who has been with the Packers since being drafted as a fifth-round pick out of Florida, is headed for free agency after never missing a game during his career. He has become known for his durability, playing all 68 regular-season games and logging more than 1,600 defensive snaps, where he accumulated 134 combined tackles, averaging nearly two tackles per game.
Despite these statistics, the decision on whether to re-sign Slaton isn’t straightforward. His value to the team has come under scrutiny following the Packers’ transition to Jeff Hafley’s 4-3 defensive scheme, which has altered the dynamics of their defensive line. Under Hafley's leadership, Slaton’s defensive snap percentage dropped from 56 percent to 39 percent, indicating his possible diminished role.
On the pro side, there are compelling arguments to keep Slaton. His size – 6 feet 4 inches and 330 pounds – makes him formidable at the nose tackle position, often consuming double-teams and contributing to what was the Packers’ seventh-ranked run defense last season. The importance of Slaton cannot be overstated; with 50 stops over the last two seasons, he has proven effective at preventing opposing offenses from gaining ground.
Slaton has also achieved recognition as he ranked first among defensive tackles for run stop win rate, according to ESPN. His ability to consistently thwart running plays has been necessary for the Packers' defense, marking their first top-10 finish against the run since 2016, aided by Slaton's significant contributions.
Financially, retaining Slaton may also be viable. Given the niche nature of run-stuffing defensive tackles, his market value may be lower than expected, allowing the team to potentially re-sign him to a reasonable deal without breaking the bank. Plus, at just 27 years old, Slaton still has years of high-quality football left to offer.
Yet, there are significant reasons against his return. Despite his reliability, the focal point of Slaton’s effectiveness has shifted. He has struggled to generate impactful plays, logging just two career sacks and only six tackles for loss. These figures raise concerns, especially as the Packers seek to bolster their pass rush, which has suffered due to insufficient pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Over the latter stages of the last season, Slaton managed only one pressure throughout the last six weeks, shining light on his limited capacity to provide value as the team’s defense needs to evolve. With Hafley’s lessening reliance on Slaton, coupled with the demand for more diversified skill sets on the field, it may be hard to justify keeping him.
Essentially, Slaton’s greatest impact appears restricted to run-stopping, failing to bring pressure when the team needed to collapse pocket defenses. For the Packers, who have evidenced struggles generating pass rush from their defensive line, Slaton's single-dimensional contributions could be more detrimental than beneficial if this transition continues.
The Packers stand to strategically reform their defensive line this offseason. Should they part ways with Slaton, it is likely they will seek alternatives through free agency or the draft. Notably, the upcoming draft promises strong prospects, with over 40 defensive tackle invitations sent out for the combine, creating opportunity for Green Bay to enrich their roster with more versatile talent.
While the Packers have excelled historically at drafting and developing talent, relying on past success may carry risks. The impending decisions also include evaluating options such as Devonte Wyatt, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal, alongside Kenny Clark, who is approaching 30 with questions hovering on past performances.
To sum up, if the Packers hope to fix their pass-rushing issues, evaluating Slaton's fit within Hafley’s framework must be their priority, and if strategies indicate his role is sinking, embracing the upcoming draft class may be the optimal route.