Cohesion, good coaching, and continuity are all important factors in building a strong team. That’s why it’s important for the Green Bay Packers that so many defenders are developing simultaneously. It’s also why general manager Brian Gutekunst has several young offensive players on the same timeline. But nothing is more important than high-end talent in the NFL.
It’s also an area where the Packers need to step up to remain competitive after the Aaron Rodgers era. The roster has some blue-chip players and many red-chip players. However, they really need to step up to their potential and be real stars for the Packers to contend soon.
Green Bay has only three players who have been First-Team All-Pros throughout their careers: left tackle David Bakhtiari, linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, and kick returner Keisean Nixon. And given it’s possible to argue that Campbell had an outlier performance in 2021 and that Nixon has a limited impact as a returner, Bakhtiari is the only true blue-chipper of the group. However, Jaire Alexander is also near the elite category at his position and was a second-team All-Pro twice, including in the past season.
Running back Aaron Jones, guard Elgton Jenkins, and defensive lineman Kenny Clark have been selected to Pro Bowls, but none of them has been an All-Pro. Edge rusher Rashan Gary has never been to a Pro Bowl or made an All-Pro team.
It’s time for them and other players with high potential to grow.
Offense
The most important piece of the puzzle for the offensive side of the football is Jordan Love, obviously. If Green Bay’s new starting quarterback can step in and play at a high level, the Packers will have an immediate chance to be a competitive team. It’s a tall task. However, Love isn’t a regular first-year starter. He has been in the system for three years and has more NFL experience than Aaron Rodgers had in 2008 (83 pass attempts versus 59).
For the running backs, Aaron Jones has already played at an elite level in terms of efficiency. He probably doesn’t get much love in individual awards because of volume, and now he needs to keep his effectiveness even facing loaded boxes — at least until Love proves he’s a good passer. A.J. Dillon is at a crossroads in his career. He is in the last year of his rookie contract, so his performance in 2023 will define if he stays with the Packers and what kind of contract he will get on the market.
As far as the passing weapons, it feels like Christian Watson is the only receiver with a ceiling high enough to dream of being an All-Pro. For that to happen, he will need to be more consistent than he was last year, when injuries and his adaptation to the NFL made him break out only in the second half of the season. Rookie tight end Luke Musgrave has the potential to be great, but he plays at a position where players are slow to develop. It’s more likely that he competes for rookie awards this season.
Defense
It’s shocking at first to realize that Rashan Gary has never been a Pro Bowler or All-Pro. But dig into it and it makes sense. Gary spent the first two years of his career as a backup to Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith. After one good season in 2021, he was finally playing at an elite level in 2022 before suffering a serious knee injury. The Packers haven’t indicated when he will return, but he would need to play most of this season’s games to have a chance. Moreover, there is a lot of competition at the edge position.
Cornerback is such a volatile position, but Jaire Alexander has had a linear trajectory. The only exception was 2021, when he missed three-fourths of the season with a shoulder injury.
Kenny Clark is a curious case. Sometimes national analysts seem to underrate him. And sometimes Packers fans seem to overrate him. He is good, but probably not All-Pro good. However, Clark is entering his prime at 27, making him one of the cases where it would be highly important if he could step up.
Former first-rounders Eric Stokes, Quay Walker, and Devonte Wyatt haven’t played at a high level yet, but the potential is there for the three. For example, Walker was voted to the All-Rookie Team last season. If at least one of them develops in a Pro Bowler, the defense has a chance to make a leap.
The Green Bay Packers have a strong roster — better than many people realize. However, without an elite quarterback until proven otherwise, it’s imperative that multiple players step up and make a meaningful impact for them to have a real shot at making noise in the playoffs.
