The biggest reason so many people are rating the Green Bay Packers so highly this season is because they have a lot of up-and-coming prospects and potential stars on the offense.
Quarterback Jordan Love is considered one of the NFL’s newest elite quarterbacks, and the team has four promising wide receivers in Jaden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontaivion Weeks and Christian Watson.
The defense has some great players, but it seemed to have some weaknesses last season.
But the Packers have added a few new players to their defense, a new defensive coordinator in Jeff Hafley, who previously coached defensive backs for three teams, and analyst Brian Boldinger said on NFL Network that the Packers’ defense will be “a lot more aggressive.”
“I think it’s going to be a lot more aggressive.” @BaldiNFL I believe @packers I think defense will be the highlight this season. 😤 pic.twitter.com/aCRga8RBEK
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 30, 2024
Baldinger expects a defense that can pressure opposing wide receivers close to the line of scrimmage, and he figures pass rusher Rashan Gary will play a big role in this new defense.
Gary, 26, has improved steadily over the past few years, averaging 9.0 sacks, 22 quarterback hits and seven pass tackles in 2023.
Green Bay also has talented pass rushers in Kenny Clarke and Preston Smith, both of whom made the Pro Bowl last year.
They made a significant addition during the offseason in Xavier McKinney, who appears set to be a key player in Hafley’s defensive package.
McKinney blocked 11 passes, had three interceptions and had 116 total tackles (78 solo) in 2023, his fourth season in the NFL.
Defense will be key for a Packers team playing in a revamped NFC North Division and an increasingly better conference, and they will need to focus on that aspect of the football if they want to live up to the high expectations many have for them.
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