Last offseason, the Green Bay Packers executed a trade that would change the franchise when they sent four-time NFL MVP and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. Naturally, the purpose of the transfer was to make room for Jordan Love to replace him as the starting quarterback. Though it was the most significant choice made during the previous offseason, it wasn’t the only one of its sort.
Although they did not trade away any more veterans, Green Bay did permit a large number to depart through free agency. Not that the Packers wanted to re-sign wide receivers Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard, but they signed with the Jets to play alongside Aaron Rodgers. Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis, two tight ends, signed with the Chicago Bears; nonetheless, it’s unlikely that Green Bay would have retained them.
All of these players were replaced by picks from the 2023 NFL Draft: Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft played tight end, while Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks played wide receiver.
Naturally, Anders Carlson took Mason Crosby’s spot as the team’s all-time top scorer, who was not re-signed.
In 2023, the Green Bay Packers Youth Movement Had a Shaky Beginning
After defeating the Chicago Bears in Week One, the Packers, who had the youngest offense in the NFL the previous season, got even younger. Running back Aaron Jones missed many games because of a hamstring ailment, and left tackle David Bakhtiari was sidelined for the whole season due to a knee injury.
In Bakhtiari’s absence, Rasheed Walker played left tackle, and AJ Dillon took over as the team’s primary running back. In addition, Love and the youthful core of pass catchers he mentioned above, together with Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, two second-year wide receivers, were the focal points of the Packers offense.
Love had trouble staying consistent with his offense over the first half of the season. The club was 2-5 after seven games and looked to be a long way from being a serious contender.
However, they reversed it. Green Bay finished 7-3 in their previous ten games to secure a wild card position in the NFL Playoffs. In the end, Love had the greatest statistical rookie season for a starting quarterback in team history, and Reed eclipsed Sterling Sharpe’s record for rookie receptions.
The Packers’ offensive is reportedly a rising star that shouldn’t be taken lightly because they are expected to advance in 2024.
Well, aside from one account, that is.
NFL Analyst Slams the Green Bay Packers for Not Giving Jordan Love Enough Support
The Packers do not significantly rely on free agency to add playmakers to their roster, in contrast to many other NFL teams. Their skill at drafting, developing, and then re-signing their own players is more well-known. To be sure, they do periodically make some big splashes in free agency; this offseason, for example, they added Josh Jacobs, a running back, and safety Xavier McKinney.
During Rodgers’ tenure, the policy of not acquiring major stars in free agency came under constant criticism. Many thought the Packers could have advanced to the Super Bowl with the addition of a high-profile free agent, particularly in the offensive department.
Now that Love is in the center, they are receiving the same criticism. Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon writes:
Love had a fantastic final stretch in his debut season, so the Packers aren’t tampering with what seems to be in good shape. That was merely a sample size of eight games, though. The rest of the league will now be significantly more prepared for him because he did not show much in the first half of the previous season. Green Bay most likely needed to do more this summer in order to emerge as a serious contender.
Only on the field production will be able to counter this kind of criticism. The Packers feel that they would not have needed to sign a free agency tight end or wide receiver if their young offensive players perform as planned.
It should be mentioned that, in their respective positions, McKinney and Jacobs were regarded as the best free agents. There was an urgent need for safety, so the Packers made sure they had the greatest one on hand.
Defensively, if they had signed a free agent at that position, it is difficult to determine which of their top four receivers would have to forfeit playing time. On any given Sunday, any of the four can put up significant results.
It is, in fact, quite challenging to pinpoint just what more they could have done.
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