Saturday night’s game against the San Francisco 49ers didn’t end the way the Green Bay Packers had hoped. For three-quarters of the game, it appeared the Packers were on their way to the NFC Championship. But the Packers’ Cinderella season came to an end. The Packers came up short, falling 24-21 to the 49ers. While the ending was disappointing, Packers fans should be happy for the future in store for their favorite team. The brightness of their future starts with starting quarterback Jordan Love.
Jordan Love is One of Several Pieces for a Bright Green Bay Packers Future
For all the grief that general manager Brian Gutekunst took selecting Jordan Love in the 2020 NFL Draft, it appears he will have the last laugh. In Love’s first season as the Packers starting quarterback, his play quieted the doubters. So much so, that many are speculating that Love will enter 2024 as possibly the best quarterback in the NFC.
Love blew past his expectations in 2023. He finished the regular season with over 4,100 passing yards, 32 touchdown passes, and only 11 interceptions. When things looked the darkest for the Packers, it was Love who stepped up and led his team to a playoff berth. While Love had his struggles against the 49ers, in the Packers first-round playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys, he shined. He went 16 of 21 with 272 passing yards two touchdown passes and zero interceptions. In the Packers playoff victory, and even in their playoff loss, Love displayed that the big stage wasn’t too big for him.
While Packers fans should be excited about what Jordan Love has in store for 2024 and beyond, he isn’t the only bright spot. It appears the Green Bay Packers offense has some other bright spots that should shine bright.
A Stellar Group of Pass Catchers
Many, including us, believed that Gutekunst made a mistake by not signing a veteran wide receiver leading up to 2023. The thought was that Love would benefit by having a reliable veteran pass catcher to lean on. But Gutekunst’s bet on his young group of pass catchers paid off in a big way.
Love didn’t have a number-one wide receiver. Instead, he had a 1A, 1B, and 1C. The trio of Jayden Reed (64 receptions, 793 yards, eight touchdown receptions), Romeo Doubs (59 receptions, 674 yards, eight touchdown receptions), and Dontayvion Wicks (39 receptions, 581 yards, four touchdown receptions) made up a three-headed monster. The rookie Reed looks like a budding star, making big plays out of the slot and on jets sweeps. Doubs, the “veteran” out of the group became Love’s safety blanket, relying on him to make plays when it was needed. Wick, another rookie, was the surprise of the group. The 2023 fifth-round pick blew past his preseason expectations.
Head coach Matt LaFleur also got contributions out of lesser-known pass catchers. Bo Melton and Malik Heath combined for 31 receptions for 343 yards with two touchdown catches. The unexpected contributions were just icing on the cake.
The Packers successful passing attack did all this without the services of Christian Watson, who missed a big chunk of time due to injury. Expectations will be even higher in 2024, with the expected full-time return in Watson. But Watson is going to need to prove he can stay healthy, something he hasn’t shown in his first two NFL seasons.
Tight End Spot in Good Hands
For the longest time, the Packers have been looking for a tight end that could contribute to their passing game. Former Packer Robert Tonyan once appeared to be that type of player, but injuries derailed his Packers career. However, it appears LaFleur has not just found one tight end, but two that will contribute for seasons to come.
Luke Musgrave, selected in the second round, was expected to be the type of tight end to stretch the middle of the field for the Packers. He displayed some of that ability this past season with 34 receptions for 352 yards and one touchdown catch. But he also missed time during this season because of injury. He did come back for the playoffs and should be fully healthy for training camp. While Musgrave isn’t known for his blocking prowess, his potential as a pass catcher is unlimited.
The rookie tight end that grabbed our attention was Tucker Kraft. Selected a round after Musgrave, Kraft stepped in for Musgrave when he fell to injury. The South Dakota State product displayed good blocking ability, something that helped the offensive line. But what surprised many was Kraft’s ability as a pass catcher. He finished the season with 31 catches for 355 yards with two touchdown receptions. That ability should excite Packers fans and LaFleur. It should provide LaFleur the ability to use a lot of two tight-end sets next season and give Love a couple of big-body targets in the passing game.
Standout Play by the Offensive Line in the Playoffs
Last week, we wrote that the Green Bay Packers offensive line was starting to bond together at the right time. That bonding and strong play continued against the 49ers last Saturday. The offensive line didn’t allow a sack. In their two playoff games, against two of the best pass-rushing teams in the NFL, they didn’t allow one sack. Not only that, but their run blocking allowed running back Aaron Jones to run for over 100 yards in each playoff game.
Similar to the rest of the roster, the Packers have a young core. Elgton Jenkins is the most seasoned and he will be entering just his sixth season in 2024. Out of the starting five, only Jon Runyan Jr. will be a free agent this off-season. Even if the Packers let him walk, they have a possible replacement in former third-round pick Sean Rhyan, who saw some playing time this season.
Many wondered if Rasheed Walker could be the long-term answer at left tackle. He had some rough patches this season but played well down the stretch. He showed enough promise that it appears that the Packers will part ways with long-time standout left tackle David Bakhtiari this off-season. The right tackle should be shored up for the present and for years to come. Zach Tom looks like he has the potential to be a future All-Pro tackle on the right side.
The only spots that appear the Packers will need to address are at swing tackle and possibly at center. Yosh Nijman was beaten out by Walker and Tom in the preseason and held down the swing tackle spot this season. He will be a free agent and it is doubtful he will return. The Packers will need to find a competent backup, especially for Walker. While starting center Josh Myers played better this season, there are still questions that he can hold down the position. Expect Gutekunst to find an offensive lineman in this year’s draft that can compete with Myers, but also back up the guard positions.
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