As OTAs are almost over in the NFL and training camp is right around the corner, it’s time to break down five players who can have breakout seasons this year to unlock the most success for the Green Bay Packers!
5 Green Bay Packers Bound To Breakout in 2023
5. Zach Tom (OL)
Zach Tom was drafted in the fourth round last season out of Wake Forest. He looks like another late-round offensive lineman gem that the Green Bay Packers tend to land in almost NFL Draft. Tom got a lot of experience as a rookie last season due to some injuries across the offensive line. In his rookie season, he only gave up one sack while playing 489 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. In addition, while playing tackle, Tom posted a pass-blocking rate of 82.4, which is very impressive, especially for a rookie. Tom brings a lot of potential and could play either right guard or right tackle. Tom’s versatility can result in helping the run game, and his pass blocking can provide much-needed time to let Jordan Love cook!
4. Devonte Wyatt (DT)
Devonte Wyatt was the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft and did not receive much playing time as a rookie. But, with the departures of Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry from the interior defensive line, Wyatt is expected to jump to being a starter. In the last few games of the season, Wyatt received more playing time, which resulted in 1.5 sacks and some much-needed pressure on the quarterback. Wyatt will finally get the playing time to prove why he was a first-round pick. Already 25 years old, Wyatt needs to bring it with his play in a hurry, and many expect him to.
3. Eric Stokes (CB)
Eric Stokes was a first-round pick in 2021 and had an outstanding first season playing one of the hardest positions in football at cornerback. Stokes forced 12 incompletions as a rookie, the only cornerback as a rookie to do so in 2021. He tackled impressively as well, with only allowing 2.69 yards allowed after the catch per reception, according to Pro Football Focus. Though, instead of improving in his second year, the worst happened. Stokes struggled for most of the season and then was lost for the season during Week 9’s game against the Lions due to a Lisfranc injury. Stokes, unfortunately, is still not fully healthy coming off of offseason surgeries, which is concerning. If Stokes can get healthy and his confidence back from his play in his rookie year, the sky should be the limit. Practicing with a superstar corner in Jaire Alexander every day should help his development even more. Health is the biggest concern for Stokes, but the potential of producing two lockdown corners will help immensely in wins for Green Bay in 2023.
2. Tucker Kraft (TE)
The tight end position is wide open in Green Bay heading into 2023. The Packers did not retain Marcedes Lewis or Robert Tonyan this offseason, leaving Josiah Degura as the only player in the tight end room who has gotten significant playing time in the past. Though, Degura is more used as an H-Back in Matt LaFleur’s offense, which results in more blocking assignments than running routes.
This leaves the door open for two new rookies the Green Bay Packers drafted this past April. The Packers took Luke Musgrave in the second round out of Oregon State and Tucker Kraft in the third round out of South Dakota State. While Musgrave is the likely more obvious answer who will be more productive because of the higher draft capital, Kraft stands out more as the player who actually will be more productive. While both players are similar in size and athletic scores coming out of college, Kraft excels in the short area of the field, which will be ideal for Love’s development as a quarterback. Kraft had an impressive time of 4.29 for the short shuttle time at the combine, which is great for his size. Kraft’s ability to run routes more effectively as of now makes me more confident in Kraft vs. Musgrave.
But, if either one of these rookie tight ends or both can bring production immediately, it will be a great feature in the offense. We’ll see if Tucker Kraft can develop into a player like the star tight end from the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Goedert, who also played at South Dakota State.
1. Christian Watson (WR)
The obvious No. 1 breakout candidate in Green Bay is the phenomenal second-year receiver, Christian Watson. Watson, a 2022 second-round pick out of North Dakota State, showed explosiveness and insane athleticism in his rookie campaign. After struggling to find his confidence as a receiver due to drops and lack of playing time, Watson took over as the Green Bay Packers’ top receiving option down the stretch in 2022. From Weeks 10-18, Watson produced 31 catches, 523 receiving yards, seven receiving touchdowns, and a 46-yard rushing touchdown to win the game against the Chicago Bears in Week 13.
Watson’s incredible combination of size at 6’5 and speed (4.36 40-yard dash) will continue to help develop his game. While most of his production came with Aaron Rodgers, who now is a New York Jet, Watson did get some game experience with Jordan Love in 2022. Love, while playing for an injured Rodgers, connected with Watson on a 63-yard touchdown pass against the Philadelphia Eagles, a team who won the NFC last season. The sky is truly the limit for Watson’s potential in his second season.
Get Excited for the 2023 Green Bay Packers
If a couple of these players can break through for the Green Bay Packers in 2023, the team’s apparent “rebuild” will never exist and help Jordan Love develop into a solid quarterback in his first season as the starter. Even without Aaron Rodgers leading the charge, there is plenty to be excited about in 2023 in Green Bay, which starts with these five players and Jordan Love.
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