The Green Bay Packers have decided to move on from veteran punter Pat O’Donnell, releasing him this week after just one season with the team. O’Donnell spent the previous eight seasons punting for the Chicago Bears before joining the Packers in 2022.
Last season, O’Donnell averaged 44.5 yards per punt for Green Bay, with 24 of his punts downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. He provided reliability for the Packers’ special teams unit. However, O’Donnell did have some flaws in his game that led to the team’s decision to cut him. He had two punts blocked last season and posted a net punting average of just 38.9 yards, which ranked only 10th best in the NFL.
Rookie Whelan Has Impressed with Power and Accuracy
The Packers have handed over punting duties to rookie Daniel Whelan. During the preseason, Whelan impressed the coaching staff, showing off tremendous leg strength by averaging 46.2 yards per punt. The rookie also demonstrated good accuracy, pinning opponents inside their own 20-yard line on 11 of his preseason punts.
Special teams coordinator Shawn Mennenga has praised Whelan for his booming leg power and pinpoint precision punting. The Packers believe Whelan has tremendous potential and upside if he can transition smoothly to the pro game.
Packers Going Young on Special Teams
Going with Whelan as a punter is part of Green Bay’s effort to get younger and inject more talent into their special teams units. Along with Whelan, the Packers also have rookie long snapper Steven Wirtel and rookie kick returner Malik Taylor.
The Packers are fully committed to their youth movement on special teams. Green Bay has high expectations for the talented rookie trio, believing they can develop into one of the top special teams units in the NFL. However, relying on inexperienced players comes with inherent risk. If the rookies struggle, it could lead to poor field position and make NFL betting on the Packers more difficult.
History of Reliance on Special Teams
The Packers have a history of relying on their special teams unit to make big plays. In 2010, when Green Bay won the Super Bowl, their special teams ranked first in the NFL in both punt return average and kickoff return average.
Recent Inconsistency in Returns
In recent years, the Packers’ special teams unit has been more inconsistent. In 2022, the Packers ranked just 22nd in punt return average (7.1 yards per return) and 26th in kickoff return average (21.4 yards per return). The Packers also allowed a league-high 10 blocked kicks.
Some of the reasons for the Packers’ recent struggles on special teams include:
- Injuries to key players, such as returner Jake Kumerow and punter Corey Bojorquez
- Lack of depth at key positions
- Poor execution on gameday
Whelan Has Potential But Needs Time
The decision to go with rookie Whelan as punter shows the Packers are committed to improving special teams. Whelan has tremendous potential as a punter, but as with any rookie, he will need time to adjust to the NFL. There will likely be some growing pains.
Need Other Rookies to Step Up
In addition to Whelan, Green Bay will need contributions from other rookie specialists like long snapper Steven Wirtel and kick returner Malik Taylor. If these first-year players can make an early impact, it could provide a major boost to the Packers as they contend for a championship.
Final Outlook
Releasing veteran Pat O’Donnell shows Green Bay’s faith in rookie punter Daniel Whelan. His powerful leg could take the Packers’ punting game to the next level. However, relying heavily on rookies on special teams is risky. But if Whelan lives up to his potential and gets help from other first-year contributors, Green Bay’s special teams unit could go from inconsistent to elite.