The Green Bay Packers are a young and exciting team that has high expectations entering the 2024 NFL season. Of course, much of the discourse this offseason has surrounded Jordan Love and his dynamic group of wide receivers. And for good reason, too!
After all, Love is coming off of the best season by a Packers quarterback in his first year starting and Green Bay’s young pass catchers all have the ability to be a wide receiver one. Obviously, the discourse around Love’s upcoming contract extension, which is expected to be the richest in team history, has also raised expectations on the offensive side of the ball.
Hopefully, the offense is able to live up to those expectations better than the defense has over the last few seasons.
The Green Bay Packers Needed to Make Significant Changes on Defense
Ever since Brian Gutekunst took over as general manager in 2018, the Packers have only taken an offensive player in the first round of the NFL Draft twice. Prior to Love being drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the last offensive player Green Bay took in the first round was tackle Derek Sherrod in 2011.
In other words, the defense has been laden with first-round talent yet has underperformed for years. Yet another mediocre defensive performance in 2023 led to the firing of defensive coordinator Joe Barry and the hiring of former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley.
The Packers also decided to completely revamp their safety room. Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, and Rudy Ford were all allowed to depart via free agency. They have been replaced with free agent signee Xavier McKinney and 2024 NFL Draft picks Javon Bullard, Evan Smith, and Kitan Oladapo.
Additionally, the Packers decided to release former All-Pro linebacker De’Vondre Campbell. As Hafley is switching the defense from a 3-4 to a 4-3, the linebacker position became even more of a need. To fill this schematic need and to make up for Campbell’s departure, Green Bay selected Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper in the 2024 NFL Draft.
NFL Analyst Names Green Bay Packers’ Javon Bullard and Edgerrin Cooper to His 2024 All-Rookie Team
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Every year, Chad Reuter of NFL.com makes his preseason All-Rookie team, comprised of that year’s draft picks that he expects will have an immediate impact on their teams. This year, he has included Cooper and Bullard on his Defensive 2024 All-Rookie Team.
Of Cooper, he wrote:
“Cooper comes to a perfect situation in Green Bay, where his closing speed and toughness will force offenses to account for him on every play. He and 2022 first-round pick Quay Walker will be the primary linebackers in new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme, working inside and outside depending on the formation. Cooper should put up solid numbers across the board as a rookie, picking off a pass or two, accumulating a few sacks on blitzes and finishing first or second on the team in tackles.”
And of Bullard:
“Bullard can make plays on the ball and secure open-field tackles whether he’s lined up deep or inside the box, which makes him a great complement to free-agent addition Xavier McKinney. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will have the flexibility to play single-high or two-deep coverage. Bullard showed a proclivity for making big plays in big games during his Georgia career. If he does the same thing this fall, it should lead to a successful Packers campaign and a spot for him on the All-Rookie Team.”
Ironically, for all of the resources the Packers have previously put into their defense by using a plethora of first round picks on it, it is two second round picks who are projected to have a substantial impact this year.
