Which players can go from good to great for Packers in 2025?

USA Today

a day ago

Which players can go from good to great for Packers in 2025?
Winning at the highest levels of professional football requires elite players. While the ultimate team game, football so often rewards the teams with true game-changers -- the type of players who tilt the field and give every situation a chance to be successful.
How can a team like the Green Bay Packers -- who have won 20 regular season games and made the playoffs each of the last two years -- take the jump from good to great? By having a couple of players jump to elite or near-elite status.
The Packers aren't without elite players. Running back Josh Jacobs, safety Xavier McKinney and offensive tackle Zach Tom all qualify. But the Packers probably need a few more to be Super Bowl caliber.
Here are the top candidates to go from good to great for the Packers in 2025:
QB Jordan Love
The end of his 2023 season and into the playoffs -- when he threw 21 touchdown passes, completed over 70.0 percent of his passes and had a 116.2 passer rating over a brilliant nine-game stretch -- showcased his elite ability. Love's 2024 season barely got off the ground when he suffered a Week 1 knee injury, and inconsistency in terms of both dealing with the injury and the performance of the wide receivers around him prevented Love from taking a big step as a second-year starter. Nothing is more difficult for a quarterback than cracking truly elite status, but Love has proof of concept, plus the combination of playcaller and supporting cast to do it as a third-year starter in 2025.
TE Tucker Kraft
On multiple occasions this offseason, the Packers have stated a desire to get Kraft more involved in the passing game in 2025. And it's not hard to understand why: Kraft scored seven times, averaged 10.1 yards per target and led all tight ends in average yards after catch in 2024. The problem was he only received 70 targets. If Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love can find a way to get his targets close to or over 100 in 2025, Kraft could become one of the most productive and valuable tight ends in football. He has all the abilities of an elite player at the position -- athleticism, strong hands, strength, elusiveness, physicality, blocking ability.
LB Edgerrin Cooper
It's still hard to believe how much disruptive production Cooper created despite playing fewer than 500 snaps as a rookie, and one could make a strong case that he was the most disruptive off-ball linebacker in football over the final two months or so of the 2025 season. Cooper has legitimate star power and All-Pro potential. Entering Year 2, the 2024 second-round pick added weight without losing explosiveness -- which should help him better withstand the rigors of a pro season. If healthy, Cooper could play 800 or more snaps in 2025. Imagine his numbers if he takes a developmental step and stays on the field in his second season -- he could be the best Packers linebacker in decades.
WR Jayden Reed
The first half of the 2024 season proved Reed can produce at a near-elite level. It's easy to forget considering his finish to the year, but through nine games, Reed had 730 total yards and was averaging 17.2 yards per reception. Reed has scored 17 touchdowns and produced nearly 2,000 total yards during his first two seasons, cementing his status as a "good" player. Taking the next step will require more consistency. Reed dropped too many passes and faded down the stretch, which sometimes happens to smaller receivers over the course of a long season. He's a dynamic playmaker when everything is right, but can he put together a full season?
DL Devonte Wyatt
Interior pass-rush is so important in this age of professional football, and Wyatt -- a first-round pick entering his fourth season -- has a legitimate chance to be a hugely valuable player as the Packers' top interior disruptor. His pass-rushing ability is obvious, but a big step is ahead -- can Wyatt improve against the run and be a three-down player? Also, an ankle injury stunted what could have been a big year in 2024. Becoming more reliable in all situations and avoiding injury will determine if Wyatt can truly be a difference-maker in 2025.
DE Rashan Gary
Gary looked headed for stardom before a knee injury struck in 2022. He is firmly in the "good" tier of edge rushers, but 16.5 sacks over the last 34 regular season games is underwhelming. Also, Gary went from 9.5 sacks and 22 quarterback hits in 2023 to just 7.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits in 2024. Can he reverse the trend? If the Packers can get the 2021 version of Gary -- who produced 87 total pressures and 28 quarterback hits -- the pass-rush issues will be solved in a big way.
Honorable mentions
S Evan Williams: He flashed a terrific blend of playmaking ability and reliability as a standout rookie.
LT Rasheed Walker: His pass-blocking has been consistently good. Can he hold off Jordan Morgan, take a big step as a run-blocker, avoid penalties and become one of the top left tackles?
CB Nate Hobbs: Trust the Packers pro personnel department. If given a chance to play primarily from the slot, Hobbs could be a consistently disruptive player for Jeff Hafley.