We have finally made it to football season, and the Green Bay Packers are helping kick off the 2024 international slate of games with their Sept. 6th matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil. With plenty of eyes on both teams in this matchup, it will be interesting to see how each team looks in their first real action.
It was an eventful offseason for the Packers, having signed Jordan Love long-term, swapped out Aaron Jones for Josh Jacobs, welcomed in another high-upside draft class, and dealt with uncertainties at kicker and offensive line. Moving on from Joe Barry to Jeff Hafley gives the defense a new look, which hopefully will be much better than last year’s unit.
So what should Packer fans look forward to this year? Which parts of the team are the most important to follow? Take a look at the three biggest storylines for the upcoming NFL season and see what your thoughts are.
Offensive Skill Players
Making Love the highest-paid NFL player is not something the fan base should take lightly, especially with the limited amount of work Green Bay’s new starting quarterback has put on tape. With only one full season as the QB1, it’s a big time leap of faith for the front office to trust the former Utah State quarterback for the next four years.
But last season didn’t look like a fluke for Love, as he grew immensely as the season progressed. Taking the Packers from a fringe postseason team to the NFC Divisional round was not seen as a likely outcome for last season, but neither has the extensive run of Hall of Fame-level QBs the Packers have had over the past 30 seasons.
There is more to focus on with this offense, as the new-look running back room (Josh Jacobs & MarShawn Lloyd) are looking to replace Aaron Jones and the injured AJ Dillon. While the receiver room has seen no changes, which of the four top options (Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, and Dontayvion Wicks) will become Love’s go-to option?
For the RB room, Jacobs looks to be in line for a monster workload this year, especially with Dillon put on season-ending injured reserve (IR) and Lloyd working his way back from a hamstring injury. No stranger to big workloads, Jacobs will likely see an uptick in his receiving game usage, helping round him into potentially a top-eight back in 2024.
The receivers have been earning the most headlines this offseason, but let’s not forget about the tight ends. The two-headed monster of Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave are healthy again and could be one of the league’s up-and-coming duos at the position, offering enough as blockers to excel in the receiving game.
Offensive Line Depth
While there are plenty of positives to talk about with the offense, the offensive line is a sore spot at this point. Even with first-round tackle Jordan Morgan being added, the depth of this unit is poorer than most years, potentially throwing a wrench into a strong year for the skill players.
The first depth chart from the Packers lists Rasheed Walker (LT), Elgton Jenkins (LG), Josh Myers (C), Sean Rhyan (RG), and Zach Tom (RT) as the starting unit protecting Love. Center ad right guard are the most questionable positions, as Myers has struggled and Rhyan looks to be in a 1A/1B situation with the rookie Morgan.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the two RGs alternate playing time to start the year as the best option is determined, which can lead to some missed blocking assignments and a less efficient push in the trenches. A turnstile at an interior OL position is never a good thing, and for the Packers, they typically don’t have to worry about this, so it’s something to be concerned about moving forward.
Defensive Scheme Changes
With Hafley now calling the shots on defense, this unit will have a different look to it, one that should help put the best players in the right positions. Utilizing Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary, and Xavier McKinney in different looks to help them make the biggest difference is such a simple but fresh approach, as opposed to how Barry handled things.
Changes start up front with the defensive line, as Hafley will likely look to Kenny Clark to set the tone on the inside. With Gary, Lukas Van Ness, and others getting after the QB from outside, this group should be able to feast with a more aggressive approach to getting into the backfield.
The current linebacker group doesn’t produce a ton of optimism, but there is plenty of athleticism to go around to make things work. Quay Walker is the leader of this group and should be able to showcase that early and often, and while the depth chart doesn’t include any of the rookies in the first line, both Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper should see the field plenty.
The biggest changes should come in the secondary, where Alexander and McKinney will be tasked with helping align a unit overflowing with long-term talent.
The CB room has a strong three-deep look, with Alexander, Eric Stokes, and Carrington Valentine leading the way. While Keisean Nixon is the team’s slot corner, the depth could improve with this group, but overall it’s a strong looking bunch of players.
At safety, McKinney will spend his time alongside rookie Javon Bullard, as the Packers went back to the well three times for safety help in April’s NFL Draft. Bullard (2nd round), Evan Williams (4th), and Kitan Oladapo (5th) were all selected with top-170 picks, a sign that this room is getting a new identity.
Based on what Hafley ran at the college level, look for McKinney and Bullard to split the deep role on single-high looks, while the other finds himself down in the box with the linebackers. Cover 3 coverage will likely be a staple for Hafley, putting a focus on underneath zones to help eliminate the easy completions for opponents.
This defense is under the microscope right out of the gate, facing a top-tier unit that likely will try to throw the ball all over the place. Expecting a lockdown performance with facing A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith isn’t likely, but the secondary will need to show up early if they want to play a part in winning their opening game.
Which parts of the 2024 roster are you watching the closest? How do you think Green Bay will fare this season with a lot of eyes from the national media on them?
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Mike Johrendt has been an avid fan of the Packers ever since he can remember. He is now a writer at PackersTalk and you can follow him on Twitter at @MJohrendt23
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The post The 3 Biggest Storylines for the 2024 Green Bay Packers first appeared on PackersTalk.com Blog Posts and Podcasts.