The Green Bay Packers are in a much more optimistic attitude heading into the 2024 NFL regular season than they did going into 2023. At this point of the offseason last year, there was some hopeful optimism, but a great deal of “we’ll wait and see what happens.” This was due to the fact that four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers had been traded to the New York Jets in favor of Jordan Love.
Additionally, Green Bay went through a massive youth movement that saw them allow their veteran wide receivers and tight ends leave in free agency and be replaced by 2023 NFL Draft picks. Furthermore, franchise all-time leading scorer Mason Crosby was replaced by Anders Carlson.
While there were mixed results in 2023, evident by the Packers’ 9-8 record, they did finish the season by winning seven of their last ten games and upsetting the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Playoffs before losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round. All in all, it ended up being a very successful season.
The Green Bay Packers Have Made Significant Changes This Offseason
Finishing 9-8 and winning a NFL Playoff game were certainly fine successes for such a young team in 2023. However, in Green Bay, it is not what the goal is year in and year out. While it was an improvement from the 8-9 record and missed postseason last year of Rodgers’ tenure with the Packers, it was not the end that Green Bay finds acceptable. The goal every year should be to win a Super Bowl.
In a place nicknamed Titletown, that is certainly what the goal is going forward, especially now that the Packers know that Love and his young group of pass catchers are the real deal. However, in order for the team to take the next step as a whole, some tough decisions had to be made (and some that were not so tough).
Defensive coordinator Joe Barry was [finally] fired after the 2023 season and replaced by former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley. So far, players have been enthusiastic in their praise for the new defensive coordinator and the changes that he has brought to the team.
Additionally, Green Bay also decided to move on from the following players, whether by just letting them leave as free agents or by releasing them:
- Darnell Savage
- Jonathan Owens
- De’Vondre Campbell
- David Bakhtiari
- Aaron Jones
- Rudy Ford
- Yosh Nijman
- Jon Runyan Jr.
To replace these players, Green Bay looked to the 2024 NFL Draft. Knowing that many of their rookies will need time to develop, especially those at positions of need, the Packers also signed two of the most coveted free agents on the market: safety Xavier McKinney and running back Josh Jacobs.
PFF Names Quarterback Jordan Love as the Green Bay Packers’ 1 Reason to Be Optimistic in 2024
As seen above, there are plenty of reasons for the Packers to be optimistic about the 2024 NFL regular season. A new energetic defensive coordinator will be a breath of fresh air and players are already responding to Hafley’s leadership. The two high-profile free agent signings, along with their 2024 NFL Draft class, promise to provide the Packers with depth and production.
However, PFF believes that the biggest reason Green Bay should be optimistic for the upcoming season is because of their quarterback, Jordan Love:
“Jordan Love is just getting started
“One of the biggest stories down the stretch of the 2023 season was the rapid ascent of Jordan Love’s production. Through Week 8, Love ranked 24th in the league in passing grade and was tied for second in interceptions. From Week 9 through the end of the year, he led the NFL with a 90.7 passing grade and tied for second with 28 big-time throws.
“Love’s elite production coincided with the development of young weapons like Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks. The Packers will also hope for the healthy return of Christian Watson, which would give the team arguably the deepest receiving corps in the NFL. If new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley can improve his side of the team, there’s no telling what the ceiling will be for Jordan Love and the Packers.”
Indeed, Love’s second half last season proved to the team and the rest of the NFL that he is the new face of the franchise. The fact that he is just going to get better is something that is very exciting for Packers fans and very troubling for the rest of the NFL.
As he continues to get better, so too do his pass catchers. And they are all still so young. If Brian Gutekunst has played his cards right, Green Bay might finally have its next dynasty.
