Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Following a strong but relatively underwhelming second season under Jordan Love, the Green Bay Packers are left searching for answers to the long-simmering question of what will get them over the hump. The overarching narrative of the 2024 season was a reliable ability to take care of business against middling and lousy teams but an equal inability to finish big games against good teams.
The year began with a tense, competitive loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo and ended at their hands, in a much messier fashion, back in Philly. Eagles GM Howie Roseman has assembled an army of superstars headed to the Super Bowl in New Orleans through trades, the draft, and free agency.
Under Matt LaFleur, Green Bay’s offensive system was strong. Josh Jacobs, a smash-hit free-agent signing, went ballistic all season in Adam Stenavich’s run schemes. The offensive line stayed relatively healthy, and role players like Tucker Kraft and Jayden Reed emerged for a few big games.
The stark contrast between Green Bay’s role-player-driven attack and the household names that swarmed them in Philadelphia was apparent. In the aftermath of the Wild Card loss, fans and media quickly began attaching the Packers to a laundry list of stars who could be on the move, ranging from a reunion with iconic No. 1 receiver Davante Adams to a blockbuster trade for Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett. Trading for Garrett would mirror Bob Harlan signing Reggie White in 1993.
It’s one thing for the media to point it out; it’s another thing entirely for a team leader to indicate that they need more star talent. On Wednesday, that’s exactly what Jacobs did. Jacobs kept it real when Kay Adams asked him if the Packers need another piece.
“I think we need, like, three,” he said.
Last offseason, Green Bay’s biggest additions were Jacobs and elite safety Xavier McKinney. They certainly moved the needle. Pressed on what specific position groups most need bolstering, he said, “I think we need a guy that’s proven to be a No. 1 wide receiver already.”
The immediate fallout was interesting. Some fans were upset even though it reflected a message circulated on Twitter all season. Hearing it directly from a player is different, as evidenced by the response from Packers wideout Dontayvion Wicks, who replied to the quote with four laughing emojis and a thumbs down.
Despite flashing talent, Wicks failed to break out this season in the way that many predicted. He’s comfortably behind Reed and Romeo Doubs in the pecking order and Christian Watson when he returns from the long-term injury he suffered late in the regular season. Wicks’ interests likely lie in the fact that an addition at the position will push him out of the rotation.
Jacobs also said he has spoken with his former Las Vegas Raiders teammate Adams about a potential return to Green Bay. After the loss in Philly, he told reporters he had some guys in mind he wanted to recruit.
Going public with his concerns about the team’s lack of firepower further contextualizes those comments. There’s certainly a debate about the importance of household names: How much should a team rely on them versus their offensive and defensive schemes?
The Packers are a historic and traditionalist organization and have never demonstrated the Roseman-like tendency to pursue any name-brand talent that comes available. However, with the Birds headed back to the Bowl, it’s hard to argue with the fact that Roseman drafts and signs the media’s favorite players because, well, it’s clearly working.
There is a breadth of talent potentially on the move at premium positions. There are No. 1 receiver archetypes like Adams, Tee Higgins, Garrett Wilson, and Tyreek Hill, edge-rushers like Garrett, Khalil Mack, and Haason Reddick, and cornerbacks like D.J. Reed. The latter may become particularly important if the team moves on from Jaire Alexander. They would face a complete rebuild at a crucial position with a disproportionate level of importance in an NFC North that contains the likes of Justin Jefferson, D.J. Moore, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
One positive: General manager Brian Gutekunst is out of the salary cap purgatory caused by Aaron Rodgers’ final contract. All the rumors about who Green Bay may target are substantiated because they have that flexibility.
With the 2025 draft coming to Lambeau in what is viewed as a massive accomplishment for outgoing president Mark Murphy, it feels even less likely that the Packers will part with coveted draft selections. However, as Gutekunst said, it’s time to start competing for championships.
Time will tell what type of big names he has an eye on to get the Green Bay Packers back in the arms race.
