A lot of factors will need to happen for the Green Bay Packers to have another successful season. It was a success last season when they went 9-8 and went to the NFC Divisional Round before losing to the San Francisco 49ers.
Expectations will be a lot different for the Packers this season. They are hoping they at least get back to the NFC Divisional Round at a bare minimum. Some think that the Green Bay Packers are a serious Super Bowl Contender this season because of quarterback Jordan Love.
General manager Brian Gutekunst made more moves in NFL free agency this offseason and also upgraded the team through the 2024 NFL Draft. Green Bay has a few candidates on the roster to potentially be an X-factor this season.
Pro Football Focus Has Xavier McKinney As the Green Bay Packers’ X-Factor For the 2024 NFL Season
Jim Wyman and Dalton Wasserman wrote on Pro Football Focus about each team’s X-Factor entering the 2024 NFL season. They have Xavier McKinney as the team’s X-Factor. McKinney was signed as a free agent by the Green Bay Packers this offseason.
He started his NFL career with the New York Giants. Giants fans were not thrilled when they didn’t re-sign him in free agency. Wyman and Wasserman wrote:
“Green Bay’s biggest free-agent acquisition was safety Xavier McKinney. The former Giant led all safeties with a 91.2 coverage grade last season. His prowess in a single-high alignment is an ideal match for Jeff Hafley’s defense. McKinney’s presence should improve a secondary that has struggled to cover the middle of the field.”
Xavier McKinney will be one of the starting safeties along with rookie Javon Bullard. McKinney could very well be a team captain on defense for the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay had to address the safety position in the offseason because they did not re-sign a couple of players who were on the roster last season.
A season ago with the New York Giants, he recorded 116 tackles, 0.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two forced fumbles, three interceptions, and 11 pass deflections. In his final game with the New York Giants against the Philadelphia Eagles, he had two interceptions and it was a nice way for him to end the 2023 season.
The Green Bay Packers hope he will have more than three interceptions this season, but McKinney can very well be a game-changer in this defense. They should be a better defense this season with Xavier McKinney on the back end.
