The Green Bay Packers had quite the end to the season, winning four of their final five games (that loss coming in the divisonal round against the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers.) The Packers finally clicked and it seemed that first-year starting quarterback Jordan Love was putting the pieces together after sitting behind Packers’ legend Aaron Rodgers for a couple of years.
After Week 15, the Packers won a series of close of wins including against the Panthers, the Vikings, and the Bears to close out the regular season. They would also beat the Dallas Cowboys in a not-so-close battle in Dallas in the wild card round. But it seems that the Packers will be even better, next year. Here’s why.
1. The Green Bay Packers Will Be Cohesive As A Team With Another Year Under The Love/LaFleur Regime.
One place where the Packers will be good at is wide receiver. The chemistry Love has with his young receivers has been fantastic. The offensive line is the only place that has any older places (outside of running back Aaron Jones who will be 30 in December) and it does seem that the Packers will address that need in the NFL Draft in April.
They draft 25th and rank 21st in NFL Cap Space, according to OverTheCap.com. They will have to cut $2.85 million before the new season and there are some easy ways to do this for the Packers. If they were to cut David Bahktiari, they would save more than enough money in order to prepare for the draft as well as any other free agents they might be able to get for cheap. While his dead cap space would cost the Packers $19 million, the remaining money on his contract is huge and he has been injury-prone the past few years.
2. With some of the newly-acquired money, the Packers will be able to go out and add some necessary free agents.
Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
Rumors continue to swirl as we approach free agency that the Chicago Bears and safety Eddie Jackson will part ways. The second part of the report is that Jackson will join the Packers. It would be quite the switch for Jackson if he does go and make that change, considering the rivalry between the two teams.
If the Packers do acquire Jackson, it will be a great veteran presence on defense and still has a few years in him, not to mention the Packers could sign him for very cheap. The real question is who of the Packers secondary is necessary to bring back for next year? Jackson may just be a player who comes in for special packages in his older age. It will be interesting to see if safety Darnell Savage, cornerback Jonathan Owens and others are considered for re-signing.
3. The Packers no longer are hindered by the effects of Joe Barry. They have no more excuses that can hold them back from winning it all.
Since 2020, the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator was Joe Barry. In his 3-year tenure as the Packers defensive coordinator, the Packers were inconsistent at best and yet nearly every year(except 2023), the Packers made the playoffs. After much pressure, Matt LaFleur finally was forced to step in and relieve Joe Barry of his duties.
The Packers replaced him with the former Boston College head coach, Jeff Hafley. Many expected it the former Los Angeles Chargers head coach, Brandon Staley. However, it was Hafley who won the job.
With the Super Bowl being as scripted as it was this year, it seems we can look to next year about what the next Super Bowl might look like.
Super Bowl LIX is being played in New Orleans, hometown of Lil Wayne. Lil Wayne performs at half while Jordan Love brings the Lombardi back to GB.
The script has been written. pic.twitter.com/UMiJlYIYwl
— PackersUpdate (@UpdatePackers) February 13, 2024
The Super Bowl will be played in New Orleans, home of the rapper Lil’ Wayne, one of the biggest celebrities who is a Packers fan. Not to mention, the halftime performer has not been selected. All this and Jordan Love could be bringing home a brand new Lombardi to the NFL Draft in 2025 that will be hosted in Green Bay.
I don’t know about you, but the Green Bay Packers should be the hungriest team in the National Football League come next year. It would be the perfect ending to a perfect story.
