The Green Bay Packers had a very successful year under quarterback Jordan Love. Despite being the youngest team in the NFL the Green Bay Packers managed to put together a winning season, as well as impressively win a playoff game. In the season, we saw many young players shine even in roles not perfect for them. Given the Green Bay Packers’ impressive 2023 season with numerous pieces of young talent as well as a productive 2024 offseason, there are several players set up for giant leaps in their production from last season to the 2024-25 season.
Green Bay Packers LB Quay Walker
Quay Walker was the Green Bay Packers 1st round draft pick in 2022. The 6’4 240 off-ball linebacker sports an impressive size and supreme athleticism for the key defensive position. In his first two seasons (both under defensive coordinator Joe Barry) he took a backseat to De’Vondre Campbell and racked up 239 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception which he returned for a touchdown.
With Campbell and Barry both out of Green Bay, Quay Walker is staring down the barrel of more snaps and a new scheme. The new scheme is a 4-3 base defense for the Packers brought by the new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. In a 4-3 defense the main linebacker or the “Mike” sits in the middle of the defense and is responsible for both stuffing runs in the middle and backing up into coverage. Quay Walker has the athletic capabilities to confuse quarterbacks from this position, whether it be selling the blitz look and leaving at a moment’s notice, or getting to the backfield from a running start after displaying a coverage look.
Quay Walker will have an important job on the Green Bay Packers defense next season and with his uncapped physical capabilities and newfound opportunities, Walker will have the potential to be a figurehead of a dominant Green Bay Packers defense.
Dontayvion Wicks
Drafted in the fifth round in 2023 Dontayvion Wicks put the league on notice by the end of his rookie season. In just 39 catches Dontayvion Wicks put up 581 receiving yards, working out to nearly 15 yards per catch. Wicks had the highest % of routes open vs man coverage, finding himself open over 55% of the time when matched up one versus one.
Wide receiver coach and newly promoted passing game coordinator Jason Vrable has had nothing but praise for the young standout receiver.
“He has a great mindset,” “He has a great mindset, but if you really watched him on contact, he has a running back lower half where his whole foot gets in the ground off contact, and it’s really strong in his lower half. He does a good job when the first guy touches him that his pad level is low and he just runs through it.”
The claim of him running like a running back is supported in the stats, as Wicks brought in over six yards after the catch on average. With the unique and effective route running, the talent with the ball in his hands, impressive size and catch radius, Wicks has all the tools to become the true No.1 option as a pass catcher in Green Bay.
Carrington Valentine
Carrington Valentine came to the Green Bay Packers to help at the right time in his rookie season after injuries and a suspension for superstar corner Jaire Alexander. The 6’0 190 rookie corner taken in the seventh round of 2023 proved to be a real piece on the defense earlier than expected.
Finding snaps in all 17 games for the Green Bay Packers, the opportunities were given to the right rookie as Valentine’s 9 passes defended marked the most for any Packers player all season. Valentine’s best display came against top-tier talent, against the Los Angeles Rams Valentine broke up three passes against players like Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp and record-setting rookie Puka Nacua. Jaire Alexander had plenty to say after this game about playing with Valentine.
“Man, 37 (Carrington Valentine) played like a top-tier corner in the league and it’s exciting to see,” said Alexander, “I can’t be more happy to play alongside somebody like that.”
It seems as though the young stud will get the opportunity for more snaps at corner as he progresses into next season and if what Jaire Alexander says is true, the Green Bay Packers may have a star on their hands.
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