The 2023 season was one of significant improvements for the Green Bay Packers, who had missed the playoffs just a year earlier.
The Packers came less than a handful of points away from reaching the NFC Championship, with the San Francisco 49ers moving onto the Super Bowl courtesy of a 34-31 victory over the Detroit Lions.
Had Matt LaFleur’s team managed to get beyond the red-and-gold, there is a genuine belief that the team could have featured in the Super Bowl themselves.
With the team on the precipice, with a stronger offense in pace and plenty of much-needed and valued continuity across the roster, making significant changes to any particular group may seem unthinkable.
Except, on the defensive side of the ball, that’s exactly what GM Brian Gutekunst has done to push the Green and Gold over the edge and be the dominant force in the NFC North this season.
New-look Secondary Addresses a Green Bay Packers Weakness
Last Season’s Defense Was Okay
Overall, the Packers had an okay defensive group during the 2023 season. In terms of total defense, the Packers ranked joint-17th with the Tennessee Titans with an average of 335.1 yards per game allowed to their opponents.
Looking at the splits, it’s clear the run defense has some work to do in 2024, ranking 28th in average run yards allowed (128.3), while the pass defense was strong enough to sit ninth in the league (206.8 average yards).
Having a middle-of-the-pack defense was enough to mount a serious playoff challenge, but ultimately saw the team fall against the 49ers.
While the team’s pass defense was strong during the regular season, it fell apart in the playoffs with an average of 316 passing yards allowed against the 49ers and Dallas Cowboys.
One particular area that the Packers struggled in was the unit’s ability to haul in passes for interceptions. Throughout the season, the Packers intercepted opposing quarterbacks just seven times, which ranks second to last in the entire league and only one better than the league-worst Titans (6).
While changes elsewhere on the defense have been made with the run game in mind, this particular weakness has been addressed in the biggest way with a whole new Secondary unit giving the Packers a new look entering the new season.
How the Secondary Looks Now
The first significant change to the Packers’ Secondary came with the free-agent signing of Xavier McKinney, a former second-round pick of the New York Giants in 2020.
McKinney has been a physical presence on the field ever since stepping up to the professional level, combining for 279 tackles (180 solo) and making himself known to noticeably opposing offensive players.
However, despite the strong safety showing off his physical skillset, he also has good hands and has been a strong presence in pass defense, with 27 pass defenses – including double-digits in his two fully healthy seasons.
In addition, McKinney brings with him ball-hawk tendencies with nine interceptions across his career. Again, the majority of these came in his two fully healthy seasons in 2021 and 2023 – with five and three respectively.
Adding a player who would’ve accounted for nearly half of the team’s interceptions last season, will be a significant upgrade at the strong safety position.
But the Packers did not stop there.
The Secondary has had the most new additions of any unit on either side of the ball. Alongside McKinney, in the free safety spot, will be this year’s second-round selection Javon Bullard out of the University of Georgia.
Bullard hauled in four interceptions over the past two seasons alongside eight pass defenses as he played for the dominant Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC, bringing with him a strong mixture of ground and aerial defense that will compliment McKinney down the field.
Depth at the position has also been addressed with fourth-round selection Evan Williams from Oregon and fifth-round pick Kitan Oladapo from Oregon State.
Having a whole new unit working together always poses challenges and risks, but the Packers have a strong team, and bringing in new faces, with such pedigree and potential, can only be a benefit to the long-term success of the team.
Main Photo: Tork Mason-USA TODAY NETWORK
