Green Bay Packers beat writer Paul Imig will be analyzing the 25 most important players to the Packers' success in the 2013 season. Check back each day to see the latest player on the list.
Note: This is not a list of the team's 25 best players or a series about past success, but rather which of them means the most to how Green Bay will fare this year. Criteria such as depth at that player's position, general expectations and overall importance of that player having a good season are all highly considered.
26 (turns 27 before training camp opens) / Fifth NFL season
B.J. Raji missed two games due to injury last season and still played 110 snaps more than any other Green Bay Packers defensive lineman. And, in comparison to the 2010 and 2011 seasons, that was a drastic decrease in the total number of plays that the Packers had Raji on the field for.
It's no secret after four years in the NFL, but Raji is by far the best every-down defensive lineman on Green Bay's roster. That is important for many reasons and is a positive aspect of Raji's contributions that often seems overlooked.
Raji was great as a pass rusher in 2010, finishing with 6.5 sacks. He's taken a step back in that area since then, but he was still disruptive at times last season despite not picking up a sack. Raji has never been better as a run-stopper than he was over the final few games of the 2012 regular season. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers certainly noticed that too, commenting that Raji was at his best during that stretch.
Raji is No. 6 on this list because of the multiple ways in which he's able to impact the game. The Packers don't have another player with his versatility. If Raji struggles this upcoming season, Green Bay's defense likely will, as well. If Raji plays an entire season like he did over the final month in 2012, the Packers will be much better for it.
If Raji wasn't a top-10 pick four years ago, his career in Green Bay would be viewed quite differently. Yes, Raji hasn't been as dominant as the Packers' other 2009 first-round pick, Clay Matthews, but that shouldn't be the only factor in assessing his value.
The biggest question surrounding Raji is how much room he still has to improve and grow as a player. He's been inconsistent in his four NFL seasons, which makes it difficult to determine a fair expectation for him in 2013. No two seasons have been the same for Raji. He hasn't repeated his 2010 performance in getting after quarterbacks and he'll have to prove that his run-blocking prowess late in the 2012 season can be carried over.
Raji is also playing for a new contract this season. While he watched Matthews sign a big-money extension this offseason, Raji now waits. However, Raji isn't the only player on an expiring deal, and he'll have to show that he's worth a significant pay day.
Finishing the 2013 season with 16 starts and being equally effective against the run and pass is the first challenge for Raji to accomplish. Then, showing whether he's hit his ceiling as a player or has multiple Pro Bowls in his future will determine if this is Raji's last season in Green Bay or if he's deserving of a new contract with the Packers.
Green Bay has been adding depth to its defensive line over the past two drafts. In 2012, the Packers picked Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels. In 2013, Datone Jones and Josh Boyd were drafted. This is clearly an indication that general manager Ted Thompson believes there had been depth -- and talent -- issues along the defensive line in recent years.
If Raji misses significant time with injuries this upcoming season, it would likely be Ryan Pickett who would get an increased number of snaps. Pickett typically plays best when at nose tackle anyway. But that would mean that some of Pickett's original playing time needs to be accounted for. Plus, Pickett is the oldest player on the team and may require rest more frequently in order to stay effective.
Capers is hoping is that Jones, the team's first-round pick, can be an every-down player. Jones weighs 50 pounds less than Raji and Pickett, so it's not as if there would be much crossover in terms of defensive strategy with him on the field. But Jones is quick and strong in a way that Green Bay can utilize if he's put in situations to succeed. The ideal scenario for the Packers doesn't involve choosing Raji or Jones. It's about using them together.
Worthy is recovering from knee surgery, Johnny Jolly isn't a lock to make the team, Boyd is a late-round rookie and C.J. Wilson isn't much more than a run-stopper. That's why Green Bay will depend on Raji to, at the very least, be as good as he was in 2012.
Follow Paul Imig on Twitter
