Going into the recent Draft, the Packers had a notoriously weak gap in the heart of their defense. A gap that, if not prioritized, would see itself collapse under Sam Barrington who's returning from foot surgery and Jake Ryan, who's just entering his second year in the league and still has numerous facets of his game to sculpt.

Luckily, Packers general manager Ted Thompson and co. aimed four of their first five draft picks towards their front seven. 

The first of those four picks - defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Clark sufficed in UCLA's program before leaving after his junior season and bringing his 6'2", 315-pound frame to a market that was once the smallest in professional sports. With the recent unexpected retirement of seven-year veteran B.J. Raji, the defensive line took a brutal shot to the gut. 

Fortunately, Clark brings a big, similar body type to Raji (minus 20-or-so pounds) and can fit himself into the starting lineup immediately. However, Clark is still a rookie and much like a majority of draftees thrown into a starting lineup, he still has a lot of work to do and likely won't provide the same impact Raji did from 2009-2015 right off the bat.

Some fans were screaming their heads off on Draft day for Thompson to select an inside linebacker. They didn't get their wish in round one or round two. Instead, they got outside linebacker from Utah State Kyler Fackrell in round three. 

Chances are, Fackrell is Julius Peppers' replacement as Peppers heads into what could be his final year in the NFL. He wants a Super Bowl ring just as much as the fans want to see him get one - or, almost as much. The drafting of Fackrell provides more stability behind the 14-year veteran who heads into his third season with the Packers, and possibly more of a chance for Peppers to get that ring. 

Scouts shared mixed reviews over Fackrell. But because of a tragic knee injury suffered in the early stages of his junior year which sidelined him for the season, scouts have been wary. The Packers took a gamble on Fackrell who can still bring fluent pass-rushing and 4.65 speed to Green Bay. He'll join Nick Perry, Jayrone Elliott and others in the depth at outside linebacker.

The Packers took their man at outside linebacker, but still, the inside remained unaddressed. That is, until the first of two compensatory picks reared in during the fourth round.

Stanford's Blake Martinez fell to Titletown at no. 131 overall and almost instantly, a collective exhale across Packer Nation bellowed. 

With Barrington coming off of foot surgery due to an injury he suffered in the 2015 season-opener in Chicago and Ryan still inexperienced, especially in pass coverage, the choosing of Martinez was ideal. Not only does Martinez take pressure off of Barrington from getting back into the starting lineup, but he brings instinctive pass coverage ability to a defensive unit that has lacked such a concept for several years. 

"My instincts, my ability to tackle, my ability to cover, just being one ro two steps in front of the blockers to make the play. Junior year I was really the run stuffer. This year they left it all up to me. I basically stayed in all nickel and dime. I improved tremendously this year. I feel 100% comfortable that I can cover what I need to."

Martinez is confident in himself, and it isn't hard to see why. Proving as a back-up during his first two years at Stanford and starting in more of an expanded role during his final two, Martinez finished his college career with 257 tackles with 131 being in the backfield. Tack on eight defensed passes in coverage, five interceptions and five fumbles forced.

It's a possibility Martinez will be rotating with Joe Thomas in dime packages, who has also proven his worth as a coverage inside linebacker. Despite the impressive resume and depending on how quickly he can learn Capers' scheme, Martinez still may not see the starting lineup during the first few weeks of the season. 

In February, defensive lineman Mike Pennel was docked with a four-game suspension to open up the 2016 campaign. Although he wasn't projected as a starter on the defensive line, there wasn't any doubt that the depth he brought to the defensive front was welcomed. Due to this and the loss of Mike Neal who, as an outside linebacker provided substantial pressure in the Packers' pass rush, it may be important to target someone who can bolster the defensive line.

With their second compensatory pick at no. 137 overall, the Packers found value in defensive end Dean Lowry out of Northwestern. 

Lowry may just see more playing time than initially projected with Datone Jones transitioning into a hybrid elephant role at outside linebacker and defensive end. Depending on what the Packers decide to do with the nose of their front seven between Clark, Mike Daniels and Letroy Guion, Lowry provides solid rotation. 

"Good-sized kid," said one scout. "Probably a 5-technique in a 3-4. Short arms but a high-energy player. Probably a rotating player. Kind of a high-motor guy. Fourth, fifth round. The guy's 6'5", 300 (pounds). He'd be a steal in the seventh."

Safe to say the Packers may have reached for Lowry by taking him three rounds earlier in the fourth, but another heavy body to bulk up the Raji-less defensive line can be considered a hot commodity. 

It was clear Thompson was intent on addressing the front seven, fit with aging outside linebackers. Arguably the biggest move made on the defense this offseason, however, was shifting Clay Matthews back to his natural spot as an edge-rusher on the outside.

For the first six-and-a-half years of Matthews' career, this is where he made his money - as an outside linebacker. Out of desperation, he was converted to the inside for a Sunday Night Football contest against the visiting Bears. He exploded and sparked the headlines moving forward, somewhat over-hyping his role on the inside. 

The hype fizzled, and now for the first time in nearly two years, Matthews will be suiting up specifically for his spot on the edge and putting the instincts he honed in on so well over the years back to use.

Even with the additions to the front seven, Pro Football Focus ranked the Packers with a well-earned 18th in their Defensive Front Rankings.

"Anything the Packers can do to get their best defender back on the edge will only be of benefit to their entire defense. Clay Matthews struggled with consistency at inside linebacker, and the Packers were reliant on Julius Peppers to provide big plays off the edge, with the defense lacking the persistent pressure that Matthews can bring from the outside."

A solidified front seven may be the one thing keeping the Packers from aggressively contending for that elusive fifth championship, and although the young defense has its unanswered questions with performance, there isn't a doubt that the proper steps were taken towards boosting that 18th ranking. 

It all begins with the pass rush and given the recent offseason moves, Thompson likely understands that.