Much is at stake for the Green Bay Packers heading into the 2024 season as they look to reclaim their NFC North throne and build on last year’s postseason success. It will also be a critical season for individual players on Green Bay’s roster, whose future with the team or their place on the rankings is still in question.
The Packers are fortunate to have carried over a lot of their roster from last year, but some of their players are entering a season that could define their careers.
If this group of players makes the most of their opportunity, they could secure a huge payday and even lend a hand Green Bay emerge as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Last season, the Packers were one game away from the NFC Championship if not for a fourth-quarter loss to the 49ers in the divisional round. This season, these four players coming off a breakout campaign could lend a hand them overcome their difficulties:
C Josh Myers
Green Bay’s preferred center for three seasons is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Myers has shown flashes of why he was selected in the second round in 2021, but his entire body of work pales in comparison to Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, who was selected with the next pick. Internally, the Packers still have a lot of faith in Myers, considering he ran with the No. 1 offense during OTAs and mandatory minicamps, but he needs to find a way to be more consistent to guarantee another contract.
Back in April, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported that some people in the organization believe offensive lineman Zach Tom has Hall of Fame potential as a center. Tom only logged four snaps at center in his NFL career, but he was considered one of the top center prospects to leave Wake Forest. Combined with the fact that Green Bay selected another prospect with experience in center Jacob Monk from Duke in the 2024 draft, the team may be preparing to move on from Myers unless he has a breakout season.
RB AJ Dillon
Dillon said he turned down multiple offers to sign a one-year deal with the Packers during free agency. The runner, passionately nicknamed “Quadzilla,” has deep roots in the community and wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to make a comeback.
Although Dillon is great in the locker room and beloved by fans, he faces many of the same obstacles that stood in his way during the first four seasons. Dillon had a career-low 3.4 yards per carry last season and is, at best, the team’s second option after signing Josh Jacobs. The Packers also used one of their third-round picks on Marshawn Lloyd, a talented prospect from USC who claims to be the best running back in this year’s class. Lloyd’s explosiveness and elusiveness could lend a hand him push Dillon into the lead when Jacobs is not on the field.
Dillon has shown great form this offseason, but time will tell if he can make the most of his second chance.
G. Sean Rhyan
Rhyan got a taste of what it’s like to be a starter when he shared photos with veteran Jon Runyan delayed last season. Now he has a chance to eat a full meal.
Runyan joins the New York Giants on a lucrative three-year contract, and the Packers have a vacancy at the right defensive end. Naturally, Rhyan went from being the first competitor to becoming the opening favorite.
After a disastrous rookie season in which he was suspended for six games for violating the league’s anti-substance abuse policy, Rhyan finally gained popularity in his second season. He was originally a forward prospect out of UCLA, but has since moved to the middle of the forward line, where his durability and strength are well-suited.
Of course, Rhyan won’t just get the job; he needs to prove that he can be a mainstay in attack. You may not get a better opportunity.
CB Eric Stokes
Bad luck with injuries played a huge part in spoiling what was a promising start to Stokes’ career.
The 29th overall pick in 2021 had a productive rookie campaign that ended with a team-high 14 pass breakups, one interception and 55 tackles. Unfortunately, Stokes had a snail-paced start to his second season and then suffered a Lisfranc foot injury that forced him to play as a substitute for the rest of the year.
After spending the entire 2023 offseason and the beginning of the regular season trying to get well, Stokes finally returned to action for the Week 7 matchup against the Denver Broncos. His return lasted all four snaps on special teams before a hamstring injury sidelined him once again.
Stokes tried again two months later, but re-injured the same hamstring, ending his season prematurely for the second year in a row.
In Stokes’ absence, freshman corner Carrington Valentine has gone from a seventh-inning depth player to a reliable starter. Now that Stokes is well, the Packers are tasked with figuring out who will start against Jaire Alexander.
Stokes still has the benefit of being the starter in Green Bay, but he needs to stay well while also outperforming Valentine. The Packers will likely give Stokes every chance to succeed after making a huge investment in him.
Like Myers, Stokes is also in the final year of his rookie contract. Green Bay declined the option on Stokes’ five-year contract in May, but could always get a chance at a up-to-date deal.
