It took them a bit to determine issues out, however as soon as they did, the Inexperienced Bay Packers stunned lots of people in 2023 with their sudden playoff run and upset of the Dallas Cowboys within the wild-card spherical.
Listed here are the franchise’s 5 most precious folks in 2024:
5. Head coach Matt LaFleur
LaFleur had plenty of early success in his head-coaching profession (39-10 document), however he’s since come again right down to earth within the final two seasons (17-17 document). In video games the place the Packers are evenly matched, teaching will possible decide in the event that they win or lose.
LaFleur has all of the expertise on the earth — Jordan Love is the highest-paid QB within the NFL, working again Josh Jacobs is only one 12 months faraway from an All-Professional season, Inexperienced Bay has arguably one of the best younger WR group within the league — however the workforce will solely go so far as LaFleur takes them.
4. Broad receiver Jayden Reed
Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson are the Packers two most-featured receivers, however Reed will be the most gifted out of the group. He led the workforce in receptions (64), yards (793), touchdowns (eight) and yards after the catch (335) as a rookie, and he ought to solely get higher in Yr 2.
Doubs has struggled with consistency points and Watson damage troubles, however Reed missed only one sport and was typically Love’s high goal final 12 months. If he can flip into Love’s model of Davante Adams, that takes some strain off Doubs and Watson to hold the WR corps and it makes issues tougher for opposing defenses having to cowl three actually good wideouts.
3. Cornerback Eric Stokes
The Packers are trying to find their No. 2 CB behind Jaire Alexander, and it’s time for Stokes to start out residing as much as his billing as a former first-round decide. There’s stable competitors within the secondary with Carrington Vallentine, Keisean Nixon and Corey Ballentine, however Stokes has an actual alternative to grab it from these three.
Inexperienced Bay’s move protection ranked ninth within the NFL final 12 months, however the secondary has to exchange cornerback Rasul Douglas plus safeties Jonathan Owens, Rudy Ford and Darnell Savage. Stokes could make issues simpler for defensive backs coach Ryan Downard by shoring up the CB place.
2. Working again Josh Jacobs
Aaron Jones had three 1,000-yard seasons throughout his final 5 years with the Packers, however at 29, he was beginning to decelerate and he missed six video games final 12 months. Enter Jacobs, whos’ simply 26, just one 12 months faraway from an All-Professional season, has rushed for 1,000 or extra yards in three of his 5 NFL seasons and scored 46 whole touchdowns.
Inexperienced Bay has youthful, more energizing legs behind Love who may also be an efficient receiver out of the backfield (Jacobs has averaged almost 40 catches and 300 yards receiving per season) — including one other dimension to an already potent offense.
1. Quarterback Jordan Love
In his first 12 months as a beginning QB, Love threw for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with a passer score of 96.1, ascending into one of many high passers within the NFL. However most groups are solely nearly as good as their QB, and Inexperienced Bay definitely falls into that class.
Primarily based on final season the Packers have playoff expectations once more, and they’re definitely a menace to unseat Detroit for the division title. However for those who had been to take Love out of the equation, it’s powerful to see Inexperienced Bay as something greater than a .500 workforce. If there’s one singular one who’s very important to the workforce’s success in 2024, it’s Love.
