Figure 1 Aaron Rodgers leaving was not the hammer blow many fans feared
Local Packers fans might well have been nervous before the start of last season. Aaron Rodgers had just left for the bright lights of New York (or, more accurately, New Jersey) and most pundits had Green Bay finishing dead last in the NFC North and well out of the running for the playoffs.
Fast forward a year and the feeling around this area is one of excitement for the new NFL season. There are obviously a few months to go before pro football gets going again but the recent NFL Draft has had everyone thinking about how the Packers could improve this year.
Online betting sites in California don’t have Green Bay as the favorite to win Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans at the beginning of 2025, but there is some confidence in the team doing well. After the success of last season, could the Packers push on and challenge for yet another championship?
Last Season
In his final season as a Packer, Aaron Rodgers could only lead the team to an 8-9 record and missed out on the playoffs. That might well have had some bearing on his decision to leave Green Bay. But his replacement, although not expected to do too well, increased that number of wins and led the Packers to the Divisional playoffs.
With the youngest team in football, the Packers took apart the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card game and only a late rally by the San Francisco 49ers denied them of a Conference Championship game. It was undoubtedly a huge achievement to get as far as the team did in 2023 and now those same young players will want to do even better in 2024.
Draft Analysis
This year’s draft was QB-heavy but none of that interested the Packers front office much, with Jordan Love already ensconced in the role and the organization’s first round pick not coming around until the 25th player was announced. Jordan Morgan was the man taken and his intentions to play left tackle will be good for Love and also force Rasheed Walker to improve his game.
As interesting as the addition of Morgan is, it could be said that the team’s second second round pick – and 58th overall – might have the biggest impact. Javon Bullard was taken as a safety but played slot corner when the Bulldogs won the NCAA championship in 2022. That versatility could be very useful to Jeff Hafley in his first year as defensive coordinator.
Even Green Bay’s final pick could end up being a masterstroke. If Kalen King had jumped to the NFL two years after finishing high school he would probably have gone in the first round. A year later he was the third to last pick of the entire draft. That could motivate him to try to prove everyone wrong and show what a good cornerback he can be.
Look for Defensive Changes
The signs were already there towards the end of the 2023 regular season. Against the Giants, Bucs, and Panthers, Green Bay almost threw away its chance of making the postseason, giving up almost 30 points per game. There were further defensive problems in the following games and the two playoff matchups. Joe Barry’s time was obviously up.
Now it will be Jeff Hafley who takes the defensive reins. The former Boston College head coach comes with a good resume and is a close friend of Matt LaFleur. He is also very good at working with young players and bringing them to potential, so he would seem to be a good fit with the Packers. Fans can expect that side of the ball to vastly improve in 2024.
2024 Schedule
If you listen to the pundits, there seems to be some disagreement over whether the Packers face a tough schedule or not this year. With road games against the Rams, Seahawks, and Jaguars, LaFleur could find things hard away from Lambeau Field. There are also the 49ers and Texans to contend with at home.
Games against the Saints, Cardinals, and Titans will all be looked at as very winnable but there is also Miami and Philadelphia to contend with. The full schedule looks to be a lot more difficult than last year’s and that young core of players will need to step up.
Divisional Champs
As well as what would seem to be some difficult conference and interconference games coming up, the Packers will also have to deal with the NFC North improving all the time. The Vikings draft will give them some hope of improving from last season – and the Bears and Lions have already shown that they are getting better.
That being said, there is a good chance for the Packers to take back the divisional crown. With at least three of the four teams probably thinking the same thing, that means a lot of very even games. If the young players can come through there, another NFC North title could be won.
Figure 2 Winning Super Bowl LIX might be a stretch too far for the Packers
Super Bowl LIX
Going from not even making it to the postseason and losing a legendary quarterback to winning the Super Bowl with potentially the youngest roster in the entire league is a big jump. But there is a positive mood around the Packers – and with Packers fans – that wasn’t the case a year ago.
This upcoming season looks to be to be a tough one on the field but the players themselves have already shown that this is a new generation of winners. That may not mean that the Green Bay Packers end up winning the Super Bowl in the early part of next year – but there does look to be some bright times ahead for this team.
