2025 NFL Season Preview:
Veteran Additions:
WR Mecole Hardman, G Aaron Banks, LB Isaiah Simmons, CB Nate Hobbs.
Early Draft Picks:
WR Matthew Golden, OT Anthony Belton, WR Savion Williams, DE Barryn Sorrell. Packers Rookie Forecast
Offseason Losses:
RB A.J. Dillon, OT Andre Dillard, C Josh Myers, DT Tedarrell Slaton, LB Eric Wilson, CB Jaire Alexander, CB Eric Stokes.
2025 Green Bay Packers Offense:
It had been decades since the Packers used a first-round pick on a receiver. Yet, with the 2025 NFL Draft being located in Green Bay, the front office defied the odds and selected a speedy wideout to help “No Cookie” Jordan Love.
The Packers were an incredibly hot team in the middle of December last year. It seemed as though they’d make a deep run into the playoffs, but disaster struck when, of course, Christian Watson tore his ACL. With no speedy threat, Green Bay’s offense was incredibly limited, and Love’s footwork even suffered as a result. Love still had some decent options at his disposal like Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and tight end Tucker Kraft, but while all three are reliable pass-catchers, none of them stretched the field. Green Bay’s first-round pick, Matthew Golden, can do that with his elite speed. He didn’t have a great body of work in Texas, but he came on late in 2024, which could carry over into his pro career.
Outside of Love, the player who would be happiest about this selection would be Josh Jacobs. The talented back requested a No. 1 receiver, after all. Jacobs had a strong initial season in Green Bay with 1,329 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, but 2025 could be even better if Golden is as good as the Packers think he could be. Golden will be available to stretch the field, so Jacobs should have more running room.
Of course, it’ll help Jacobs the most if his offensive line holds up and gives him wide-open running lanes. This was the case last year, as Green Bay possessed a pair of talented tackles in Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom. Walker, despite being a former seventh-round pick, has emerged as a solid starter and is still very young. Tom, meanwhile, is one of the top run-blocking right tackles in the entire league.
The interior blocking isn’t as good, but isn’t bad either. There will be a position switch with Elgton Jenkins moving from guard to center. He’ll replace Josh Myers, who was a liability last year, though it remains to be seen how Jenkins will fare on a full-time basis. Replacing Jenkins at guard is the newly signed Aaron Banks, who was a mediocre blocker in San Francisco. The other guard, Sean Rhyan, can be described as such as well, so Green Bay will be hoping that 2024 first-rounder Jordan Morgan is able to win the starting job after a disappointing rookie campaign.
2025 Green Bay Packers Defense:
While the Packers made a big splash offensively by using their first-round pick on a receiver, they didn’t make nearly as much noise defensively. They added only one new starter, but then again, they were fifth in yards allowed, so perhaps the front office believed that no changes were necessary.
It could be argued that the Packers needed to obtain a pass rusher. They didn’t exactly struggle to put heat on opposing quarterbacks, but they were ranked in the middle of the pack in terms of pressure rate. Given how poor they were against the high-octane offenses down the stretch, they could have used a boost in this area. There was only one player who logged more than five sacks last year, which was Rashan Gary. While Gary had a great season, Lukas Van Ness was just as disappointing. The former first-round pick has been a colossal bust – he had just three sacks in 2024 – but there’s still time for him to live up to expectations. Green Bay used a fourth-round pick on Barryn Sorrell to challenge Van Ness. There’s also Kingsley Enagbare, who notched 4.5 sacks.
Another player the Packers will need to improve is Kenny Clark. The former first-round pick was an amazing defensive tackle early in his career, but he has regressed steadily in each of the past four seasons. He struggled last year, and now that he turns 30 in October, this decline in production might be permanent. Clark will continue to start next to the talented, but inconsistent Devonte Wyatt.
With a middling pass rush and an injury-prone top cornerback, the Packers had to address the secondary as well. They did so, signing Nate Hobbs, who is one of the better slot cornerbacks in the NFL. Hobbs should provide a big upgrade, which would make Green Bay’s cornerback group one of the league’s best had Jaire Alexander remained with the team. Alexander, however, was released and then signed with Baltimore. The Packers can’t say they’ll miss him, given that he played in only seven games in each of the past two years. Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine will step up with Alexander gone. Valentine has been a quality backup, while Nixon is a mediocre starter who should not be any team’s top outside cornerback.
All hope isn’t lost regarding the secondary if Valentine can’t replace Alexander, and not just because Hobbs will be clamping down on opposing slot receivers. That’s because Xavier McKinney will once again patrol the middle of the field. McKinney is one of the top safeties in the league. He’ll once again start alongside Evan Williams, who was a solid player in 2024.
Aside from McKinney, Green Bay’s best defender is likely Edgerrin Cooper. Selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Cooper was spectacular as a rookie and could be even better with experience. The team’s other starting linebacker, Quay Walker, is also a young player, but he’s coming off a down year, especially when it pertains to pass coverage.
2025 Green Bay Packers Schedule and Intangibles:
Green Bay is 169-60-2 at home since 1992 – the year Brett Favre first became a Packer. Aaron Rodgers continued the tradition; he was 89-20-1 as a host. It remains to be seen if Jordan Love can perform similarly. Love is 11-6 at home over the past two seasons.
Mason Crosby is no longer kicking for the Packers. They tried Anders Carlson, but he was a bust. Brandon McManus was the solution, however. He went 20-of-21, including 3-of-3 from beyond 50.
Daniel Whelan had one of the league’s worst net punting averages in both 2023 and 2024. He also didn’t place punts inside the 20 very often.
Green Bay has a balanced schedule. It has to battle some tough non-divisional opponents like the Eagles, Redskins, Ravens, Steelers, and Broncos. The Packers also get to take on the Browns, Giants, Cowboys, and Panthers.
2025 Green Bay Packers Analysis: The Packers looked like they were going to make a deep run into the playoffs last year before Christian Watson tore his ACL. Matthew Golden’s presence could compensate for the loss. Of course, Golden is only a rookie, so he may not be the solution the Packers need. Either way, Green Bay will be competitive within the division and could reach the playoffs once again.
Projection: 10-7 (TBA in NFC North)
2024 Projection: 11-6. 2024 Actual Result: 11-6.
2023 Projection: 8-9. 2023 Actual Result: 9-8.
2022 Projection: 12-5. 2022 Actual Result: 8-9.
2021 Projection: 11-6. 2021 Actual Result: 13-4.
2020 Projection: 7-9. 2020 Actual Result: 13-3.
2019 Projection: 12-4. 2019 Actual Result: 13-3.
2018 Projection: 11-5. 2018 Actual Result: 6-9-1.
2017 Projection: 11-5. 2017 Actual Result: 7-9.
2016 Projection: 12-4. 2016 Actual Result: 10-6.
NFL Draft Team Grade: B Grade
Veteran Additions:
WR Mecole Hardman, G Aaron Banks, LB Isaiah Simmons, CB Nate Hobbs.
Early Draft Picks:
WR Matthew Golden, OT Anthony Belton, WR Savion Williams, DE Barryn Sorrell. Packers Rookie Forecast
Offseason Losses:
RB A.J. Dillon, OT Andre Dillard, C Josh Myers, DT Tedarrell Slaton, LB Eric Wilson, CB Jaire Alexander, CB Eric Stokes.
2025 Green Bay Packers Offense:
It had been decades since the Packers used a first-round pick on a receiver. Yet, with the 2025 NFL Draft being located in Green Bay, the front office defied the odds and selected a speedy wideout to help “No Cookie” Jordan Love.
The Packers were an incredibly hot team in the middle of December last year. It seemed as though they’d make a deep run into the playoffs, but disaster struck when, of course, Christian Watson tore his ACL. With no speedy threat, Green Bay’s offense was incredibly limited, and Love’s footwork even suffered as a result. Love still had some decent options at his disposal like Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and tight end Tucker Kraft, but while all three are reliable pass-catchers, none of them stretched the field. Green Bay’s first-round pick, Matthew Golden, can do that with his elite speed. He didn’t have a great body of work in Texas, but he came on late in 2024, which could carry over into his pro career.
Outside of Love, the player who would be happiest about this selection would be Josh Jacobs. The talented back requested a No. 1 receiver, after all. Jacobs had a strong initial season in Green Bay with 1,329 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, but 2025 could be even better if Golden is as good as the Packers think he could be. Golden will be available to stretch the field, so Jacobs should have more running room.
Of course, it’ll help Jacobs the most if his offensive line holds up and gives him wide-open running lanes. This was the case last year, as Green Bay possessed a pair of talented tackles in Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom. Walker, despite being a former seventh-round pick, has emerged as a solid starter and is still very young. Tom, meanwhile, is one of the top run-blocking right tackles in the entire league.
The interior blocking isn’t as good, but isn’t bad either. There will be a position switch with Elgton Jenkins moving from guard to center. He’ll replace Josh Myers, who was a liability last year, though it remains to be seen how Jenkins will fare on a full-time basis. Replacing Jenkins at guard is the newly signed Aaron Banks, who was a mediocre blocker in San Francisco. The other guard, Sean Rhyan, can be described as such as well, so Green Bay will be hoping that 2024 first-rounder Jordan Morgan is able to win the starting job after a disappointing rookie campaign.
2025 Green Bay Packers Defense:
While the Packers made a big splash offensively by using their first-round pick on a receiver, they didn’t make nearly as much noise defensively. They added only one new starter, but then again, they were fifth in yards allowed, so perhaps the front office believed that no changes were necessary.
It could be argued that the Packers needed to obtain a pass rusher. They didn’t exactly struggle to put heat on opposing quarterbacks, but they were ranked in the middle of the pack in terms of pressure rate. Given how poor they were against the high-octane offenses down the stretch, they could have used a boost in this area. There was only one player who logged more than five sacks last year, which was Rashan Gary. While Gary had a great season, Lukas Van Ness was just as disappointing. The former first-round pick has been a colossal bust – he had just three sacks in 2024 – but there’s still time for him to live up to expectations. Green Bay used a fourth-round pick on Barryn Sorrell to challenge Van Ness. There’s also Kingsley Enagbare, who notched 4.5 sacks.
Another player the Packers will need to improve is Kenny Clark. The former first-round pick was an amazing defensive tackle early in his career, but he has regressed steadily in each of the past four seasons. He struggled last year, and now that he turns 30 in October, this decline in production might be permanent. Clark will continue to start next to the talented, but inconsistent Devonte Wyatt.
With a middling pass rush and an injury-prone top cornerback, the Packers had to address the secondary as well. They did so, signing Nate Hobbs, who is one of the better slot cornerbacks in the NFL. Hobbs should provide a big upgrade, which would make Green Bay’s cornerback group one of the league’s best had Jaire Alexander remained with the team. Alexander, however, was released and then signed with Baltimore. The Packers can’t say they’ll miss him, given that he played in only seven games in each of the past two years. Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine will step up with Alexander gone. Valentine has been a quality backup, while Nixon is a mediocre starter who should not be any team’s top outside cornerback.
All hope isn’t lost regarding the secondary if Valentine can’t replace Alexander, and not just because Hobbs will be clamping down on opposing slot receivers. That’s because Xavier McKinney will once again patrol the middle of the field. McKinney is one of the top safeties in the league. He’ll once again start alongside Evan Williams, who was a solid player in 2024.
Aside from McKinney, Green Bay’s best defender is likely Edgerrin Cooper. Selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Cooper was spectacular as a rookie and could be even better with experience. The team’s other starting linebacker, Quay Walker, is also a young player, but he’s coming off a down year, especially when it pertains to pass coverage.
2025 Green Bay Packers Schedule and Intangibles:
Green Bay is 169-60-2 at home since 1992 – the year Brett Favre first became a Packer. Aaron Rodgers continued the tradition; he was 89-20-1 as a host. It remains to be seen if Jordan Love can perform similarly. Love is 11-6 at home over the past two seasons.
Mason Crosby is no longer kicking for the Packers. They tried Anders Carlson, but he was a bust. Brandon McManus was the solution, however. He went 20-of-21, including 3-of-3 from beyond 50.
Daniel Whelan had one of the league’s worst net punting averages in both 2023 and 2024. He also didn’t place punts inside the 20 very often.
Green Bay has a balanced schedule. It has to battle some tough non-divisional opponents like the Eagles, Redskins, Ravens, Steelers, and Broncos. The Packers also get to take on the Browns, Giants, Cowboys, and Panthers.
2025 Green Bay Packers Analysis: The Packers looked like they were going to make a deep run into the playoffs last year before Christian Watson tore his ACL. Matthew Golden’s presence could compensate for the loss. Of course, Golden is only a rookie, so he may not be the solution the Packers need. Either way, Green Bay will be competitive within the division and could reach the playoffs once again.
Projection: 10-7 (TBA in NFC North)
2024 Projection: 11-6. 2024 Actual Result: 11-6.
2023 Projection: 8-9. 2023 Actual Result: 9-8.
2022 Projection: 12-5. 2022 Actual Result: 8-9.
2021 Projection: 11-6. 2021 Actual Result: 13-4.
2020 Projection: 7-9. 2020 Actual Result: 13-3.
2019 Projection: 12-4. 2019 Actual Result: 13-3.
2018 Projection: 11-5. 2018 Actual Result: 6-9-1.
2017 Projection: 11-5. 2017 Actual Result: 7-9.
2016 Projection: 12-4. 2016 Actual Result: 10-6.
NFL Draft Team Grade: B Grade
