The Green Bay Packers made the playoffs again with Jordan Love under center. However, many fans felt they took a step back from last season. They could not beat the best teams in the league, losing to the Lions, Vikings, and Eagles twice. None of those losses were blowouts, but the team could not finish when it mattered most. There were some positives. The defense looked much improved under first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, and Love continued to show development. Here are three important questions for the Packers this offseason.
1. What Happens With Jaire Alexander?
The former All-Pro corner has been a staple of the Green Bay Packers secondary since 2018. In 2022, he signed a four-year, $80 million extension with the team. When he is on the field, he is one of the best corners in the league. It has been staying on the field that has been an issue. 2022 was the only season he has played a full year. In 2021, he only appeared in four games. For the past two years, he has only played in seven games. His cap hit is $25.4 million next year. That’s a lot of money for someone who cannot stay on the field.
What do the Green Bay Packers do with him? GM Brian Gutekunst mentioned Alexander in his end-of-season press conference. He touched on the idea that there was frustration on both sides. Both the team and the player want him to be out on the field. The team is better when he is. However, the Packers also have to make sure they are not paying a premium for a player who cannot stay healthy. This will be a situation to watch as the team desperately needs secondary help.
2. Can The Green Bay Packers Get Their Pass Rush Back?
The Green Bay Packers defense definitely improved, but the team struggled in one area down the stretch. Their pass rush could not get home. This unit has been in invested heavily in both dollars and draft capital. Rashan Gary has the second-biggest cap hit on the team next year at $25.5 million. He showed flashes but wasn’t consistent for the second straight year. Kenny Clark got a big extension last offseason but was largely a non-factor. First-round pick Lukas Van Ness hasn’t developed like the team hoped.
The Green Bay Packers have already fired their defensive line coach. This signals the team already knew this was a problem and are looking to fix it immediately. This group has the potential to be one of the best units in the league. Even the rotational pieces like Kingsley Enagbare have shown flashes of being consistent pieces on a dominating defensive line. If this year’s playoffs have taught us anything, it is a dominant pass rush makes everything easier for the entire team.
3. Will Wide Receivers Catch The Ball In 2025?
Many have panned Love for regressing in 2024. While he definitely has things he needs to improve on, his young wide receivers did not do him any favors this season. Three players were in the top 20 in the league in drops. Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks each had nine drops on the year, while Romeo Doubs had seven. To give you context, Los Angeles Chargers receiver Quentin Johnston, a player who fans associate with drops, had seven this year. Love was putting the ball where his receivers could catch it but they weren’t.
This should be a huge emphasis for these players this offseason. The Green Bay Packers could also look to add another player to the room, as Christian Watson is likely out for most of the year. It would surprise me if they paid big money for someone like Tee Higgins, but they could look to add a cheaper veteran. Keenan Allen is a productive receiver who could be brought in to help the young team. There are many other options (Davante Adams?), but the point is the presence of a veteran in the receiver room could be extremely helpful.
Final Thoughts
Despite the early playoff exit this season, the Green Bay Packers still have a strong outlook for the future. They have many young, promising cornerstones and still went 11-6 this year. Making the playoffs twice with Love is an accomplishment. The team is finally out from under the Aaron Rodgers contract and has cap space. Last season, they signed Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs, and they were two of the best free-agent signings this year. If the team can nail another offseason, they will be back in the mix in the NFC North next season.
