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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Charlie Wilson

Green Bay Packers head coach responds to pleas for signings after Aaron Rodgers exit

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur hopes to see his team make more additions after losing Aaron Rodgers this off-season.

The loss of Hall of Fame quarterback Rodgers, whose trade to the New York Jets was completed last month, was always going to signal a new direction for the team - going with a younger roster and losing several other veteran players.

The Packers were able to get strong compensation back for Rodgers, including draft picks in this and next year's class, who they'll hope will fast-forward the rebuild of the franchise around new starting quarterback Jordan Love.

And while Packers fans are rightly excited heading into the new era, it's not unfair to say that the team could have done a better job to put themselves in a stronger situation this off-season.

The Packers are the only team in the entire league not to sign a starting player this off-season, only resigning a few of their own depth players. In a team that needed help around Rodgers last season, that remains the same going into this year under inexperienced starter Love.

LaFleur has openly spoke about wanting to sign further free agents, and hopes their general manager can make moves before the season gets underway.

He said: "It’s going to be a hell of a competition in terms of who’s getting the snaps, because just at first glimpse at some of these young guys that just were in here, there are some talented guys.

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

"So they’re going to be exciting to work with. … I’m sure it’s going to be a very fluid situation in terms of just how much we throw at them and, if need be, I know Gutey is going to do whatever we can to help us field the best possible team.”

At wide receiver especially, the Packers appear to be extremely thin - where they will likely field a young trio of second-year pro's Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, along with second-round rookie Jayden Reed.

It's a less than ideal situation for Love to step into, after signing a one-year extension earlier this month.

Love has already been told from his veteran left tackle that teething problems are to be expected after he sat behind Rodgers for three seasons, but sees a bright future in the former first-round pick.

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