Every NFL season there are players that exceed expectations or improve their game and players who have disappointing years. It could be due to injuries, coaching, a slump, the system the players are in, or a combination of other factors. The Green Bay Packers hope these players will bounce back and improve in 2025 to help the team take the next step forward.
Here is a look at five players the Packers need to perform better in 2025 than they did in 2024:
Players the Packers Need to Have a Bounce Back Season, Number Five: TE Luke Musgrave
Tight end Luke Musgrave has been slowed by injuries in each of his first two NFL seasons. The former second round pick out of Oregon State played only seven games in 2024 due to injuries. He made seven catches for 45 yards after catching 34 passes in 11 games during his rookie campaign.
If Musgrave can stay healthy and be more productive, he and Tucker Kraft can give the Packers their most dangerous receiving duo at tight end in nearly 30 years.
Musgrave has excellent speed for a tight end and can stretch the field. With Christian Watson set to miss at least half of next season, Musgrave could help the Packers by providing the team with another downfield threat.
Fourth Player: QB Jordan Love
It’s not that quarterback Jordan Love had a bad season in 2024. In fact, his quarterback rating was 96.7, slightly higher than his 2023 rating of 96.1.
What was disappointing was that Love failed to build on his strong finish to the 2023 campaign. In 2023, his play was uneven in the first half of the season and spectacular in the second half. In 2024, Love was slightly better than his overall 2023 performance but failed to maintain or build on his outstanding finish of the previous year.
Injuries certainly played a role in Love’s inconsistency this season. He missed two games early in the season due to a knee injury and played through it although he was not 100 percent. Later in the season, he suffered a groin injury and an arm injury in the season finale.
Love needs to improve his footwork, which will in turn improve his accuracy. He also needs to find the sweet spot between being too aggressive and not throwing downfield enough.
If Love takes a step forward next season, the Packers offense will improve significantly.
Players the Packers Need to Have a Bounce Back Season, Number Three: WR Jayden Reed
With Watson set to miss at least half of the coming season, the Packers will need a bounce back season from Jayden Reed. The former Michigan State star had an uneven 2024. He did lead the Packers in catches and receiving yards. However, he played far better in the first half of the season than he did in the second half.
Early in the season, Reed made many big plays. He was getting downfield and catching the ball downfield. In the second half of the 2024 campaign, he wasn’t catching as many passes and the ones he did catch were either behind the line of scrimmage or just a few yards downfield.
A consistent performance from Reed would help the Packers receiving corps immensely. In the past, many Packers receivers have taken a step forward in their third season and the team is hoping Reed will as well.
Second Player: DE Rashan Gary
Rashan Gary earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time in his career, but he did not have a banner year rushing the passer. His sack total went down from 9 to 7.5. Gary was credited with 22 quarterback hits in 2023 and just 15 in 2024 despite being healthier and starting all 17 games.
Gary did improve against the run, but the adjustment from a 3-man front to a four-man front seemed to reduce his effectiveness as a pass rusher especially in the first half of the season.
The Packers will look to fortify their front four next season, but even if they add another pass rusher, they will need more from Gary in 2025 for the defense to be dominant.
Players the Packers Need to Have a Bounce Back Season, Number One: DT Kenny Clark
The switch to a four-man defensive line was expected to help Kenny Clark but instead he struggled with the new system under Jeff Hafley.
Clark had 7.5 sacks in 2023 to go along with nine tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hits. He also earned Pro Bowl honors for the third time in his career. In 2024, he registered just one sack, four tackles for loss and five quarterback hits.
Getting Clark back to being the more dominant player he was throughout his career would be a big step forward for the Green Bay defense both against the run and when rushing the quarterback.
Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
Click here for more great Packers coverage
