The Green Bay Packers survived an early-season injury to Jordan Love, won seven of eight games after a 2-2 start to clinch a playoff berth at 11-4, but then faltered in the postseason, losing consecutive games to division rivals before they lost 22-10 to the Philadelphia Eagles and began the playoffs as the No. 7 seed in the NFC.
While the Packers won more games during the regular season and improved in almost every significant statistical category, the disappointing finish – which included three straight losses – significantly marred the second year of the Love era and left the Packers stuck somewhere between “good” and “great” entry beyond the 2025 season.
Last year, an inspiring second-half run and near upset of the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs had the Packers entering the offseason with incredible optimism. A year later, the feeling is very different and Matt LaFleur’s team must now utilize disappointment – rather than optimism and potential – to accelerate improvement in 2025.
The Packers defeated the NFC West and AFC South, but finished 0-6 against the Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. This was a good team that consistently didn’t play well enough in large games to beat a great team.
It’s been a bumpy ride. It’s time to hand out the awards for the 2024 season, continuing to rank the best players, best rookies and some other superlatives:
Packers Season Awards: 2024 MVP
Offensive Player, Tackle: TE Tucker Kraft
Images by Jeff Hanisch-Imagn
Kraft finished his rookie season with a great sophomore year. He started his tenure as a starting tight end and became a legitimate and consistent weapon, both as a move blocker in the running game and as a yard-after-catch machine in the passing game. Kraft caught 50 passes on 70 targets, averaged 14.1 yards per catch, and scored seven touchdowns. He averaged over 14.0 yards per catch despite an average depth of target of just 5.0 yards, as he led all NFL tight ends in average yards after the catch (9.3) and forced missed receptions (15). He finished second in yards per target (10.1), behind only All-Pro George Kittle. On a season-by-season basis, all five of Kraft’s attempts from midfield were successful. In Year 2, Kraft doubled his receiving yards and finished second on the team in touchdowns. He will enter 2025 with a chance to become an elite player in arduous NFL situations.
Offensive player, defense: LB Edgerrin Cooper
(Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
By the end of the season, a compelling case could be made for Cooper as the defense’s most valuable player. He made a huge impression, especially at the end. Cooper, who was selected in the second round of the draft, was injured during training camp and was forced into the game early in the season. But when he was unleashed, Cooper looked like a true play-wrecking linebacker. He finished with 13 tackles for loss, ranking second among NFL linebackers off the ball. The league named him NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 8 (at Jacksonville) and Week 15 (at Seattle) and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month in December/January. According to PFF, Cooper had the best overall defensive rating of any NFL defensive back through weeks 15-18. For the first time in ages, the Packers have a tipped linebacker on the field. It will be up to Jeff Hafley and the defense staff to maximize Cooper’s disruptive abilities and iron out some of the minor inconsistencies in 2025. If successful, Cooper could be a Pro Bowl/All-Pro level player in Year 2.
Best Offensive Rookie: OL Jordan Morgan
Green Bay Packers guard Zach Tom (50) and offensive tackle Jordan Morgan (77) combine to lock down Arizona Cardinals defense LJ Collier (91)
Third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd played every game, third-day picks Jacob Monk and Travis Glover barely played, and point guard Michael Pratt started the regular season in Tampa Bay leaving few options on offense. Morgan, the team’s first-round pick, had a chance to start at right guard, but suffered the first of several shoulder injuries during training camp. Morgan started at right back in five games and started at left back in one. In total, he played 186 snaps on the field. Morgan allowed seven pressures (zero sacks) and committed one penalty. Four of the seven pressures allowed came in his only start against the Lions in Week 9. A worsening shoulder injury required season-ending surgery. He’ll go in 2025 and have a real chance to start somewhere on the offensive line.
Best Rookie, Defense: LB Edgerrin Cooper
Images by Steve Roberts-Imagn
Safety Evan Williams seemed like a good choice to win the first two months of the season, but the emergence of Cooper and several injuries to Williams later in the game made it an simple choice. Still, the fact that the Packers had two rookies who showed solid playmaking skills, as well as another start (Javon Bullard) at both the safety position and in the slot, is a very encouraging sign for the future of the defense. If Williams and Bullard become reliable starters and Cooper reaches his potential as a star defenseman, this will be an incredible draft class. Cooper, Williams and Bullard combined for 16 tackles for a loss, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and three recoveries.
Most underrated player: OT Zach Tom
Images by Jeff Hanisch-Imagn
Tom emerged as one of the NFL’s best offensive tackles in his third season, but he wasn’t even selected as a Pro Bowl alternate. Like David Bakhtiari in his prime, Tom quietly dominated in pass protection and was one of the best linemen in football in terms of overall run blocking grades in PFF. While his last performance in Philadelphia was disappointing, Tom was incredibly consistent throughout the regular season. He allowed just 24 pressures on 562 pass-blocking snaps. It’s a shame he wasn’t better in the playoffs because Tom needs more attention from a national perspective. At some point next year, the Packers will pay him a lot of money for a long-term stay in Green Bay.
Most Improved Player: RB Emanuel Wilson/DE Brenton Cox Jr.
Images by Dan Powers-Imagn
Injuries to AJ Dillon and MarShawn Lloyd opened the door for Josh Jacobs, and Wilson took full advantage of it. He averaged 4.9 yards per attempt and his 59.2 rushing success rate trailed only Bijan Robinson among running backs with at least 100 attempts. Wilson turned 114 touches into 550 yards and five scores while remaining intact and making significant improvements in his pass blocking. Defensively, the trade of Preston Smith at the deadline opened the door defensively and Cox Jr. — a talented sophomore — has racked up 18 pressures, 4.0 sacks and five tackles for loss in his last seven games. Another jump in performance could transform Cox Jr. a valuable asset to Edge Rusher in 2025.
Surprise Player of the Year: QB Malik Willis
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK – Wisconsin
In behind schedule August, the Packers were considering whether Sean Clifford or rookie Michael Pratt could be Jordan Love’s backup quarterback. Neither was up to the task, so general manager Brian Gutekunst traded to the Titans for Willis in a deal that could have saved the season. Willis was outstanding in two winning starts while Love struggled with a knee injury, led the game-winning drive in Jacksonville and gave the Packers the lead in the final minute of the season finale. Willis completed 74.1 percent of his passes, averaged 10.2 yards per attempt, had no interceptions and finished with a 124.8 passer rating. Under his 2025 contract, Willis provides the Packers with a legal backup to get Love into next season.
