The Green Bay Packers have had three off-seasons in a row where they’ve made some pretty massive changes to their team. Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, David Bakhtiari, and Aaron Jones are all playing elsewhere in 2024. Those four players were pillars of the Packers’ team for the better part of the last decade.
The new era in Green Bay has fans excited regardless. Regardless of being one of the youngest teams in the NFL, the Packers have their sights set on competing for a Super Bowl. However, one executive doesn’t think that’s going to happen.
NFL Executive Rips The Green Bay Packers Over Recent Moves
According to Mike Sando of The Athletic:
Adding safety Xavier McKinney and running back Josh Jacobs at the expense of Darnell Savage and Aaron Jones, respectively, marked a departure from form for Green Bay.
“Josh Jacobs isn’t as explosive as Aaron Jones, but Josh is available and Aaron has been hurt,” an exec said. “They get younger at the position and potentially better in the later part of the year with a guy who is rugged and still has it. Their moves made sense to me.”
The three outside free agents Green Bay signed — McKinney, Jacobs and kicker Greg Joseph — averaged 26.8 years old, the youngest for any team that signed more than two outside free agents (Kansas City, with two signings, was the only team with a younger average for its additions). The Athletic’s Randy Mueller ranked McKinney, who turns 25 in August, as the best safety available in free agency.
“I wasn’t a big Xavier McKinney fan — liked him, did not love him — because of the lack of speed,” an exec said. “Aaron Jones was a leader, smart, everything you want. Josh Jacobs is a good back, but I think they could miss the leadership and football IQ that Jones brought. They wanted to trade for Jonathan Taylor last year, so they’ve been looking.”
Jones missed six games last season and has played a full season twice in five chances since becoming a full-time starter.
“It is a straight replacement without committing to guaranteed money with a slightly younger player,” another exec said. “Jacobs will not bust a pass protection to put Love at risk, just like Aaron Jones did a good job of that.”
Cheeseheads 🫱🏼🫲🏾 Xavier McKinney#GoPackGo🧀 #NFL🏈@mckinney15__
pic.twitter.com/dw2LOJO9OM— Rip Wheeler (@Gambling34) April 1, 2024
The Packers Are Committed To This Unofficial Youth Movement
Currently, the oldest player on the Packers’ roster is Preston Smith at 31-years-old. The team has moved on from numerous veterans over the last few off-seasons in an attempt to stay competitive but also build for the future.
Josh Jacobs (26) and Xavier McKinney (24) were the latest examples of this. Both players were captains on their former teams and both players had numerous former teammates that were sad to see them go. Davante Adams (Josh Jacobs former teammate) being one of them.
Green Bay will ensure these new, young, explosive players are put in the best positions possible to succeed.
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