Is it training camp yet?

Three Packers players who could surprise in 2025

In his weekly Confessions of a Polluted Mindset column, Jersey Al looked at three under-the-radar players that could surprise and become contributors (not so much impact players) for the Packers in 2025. He begins with undrafted free agent defensive lineman Nazir Stackhouse.

The Packers sole true run-stopper (TJ Slaton) was allowed to go find a nice contract elsewhere. Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt are sure things on the defensive line. Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks have had their moments, but neither have done enough to say their spot on the team is a lock. Draft pick Warren Brinson is more of the Devonte Wyatt one-gap up-field penetrator-type. While it's a long shot, UDFA Nazir Stackhouse has what the Packers are missing to fill that run-stopping role on their defensive line.. Stackhouse started 42 games for the vaunted Georgia Bulldogs defense over the last three seasons. Yes, he's a people-eating run-stopper, so he isn't going to see snaps on passing downs, but in short yardage situations it would be nice to be able to bring him in. Playing a team that employs the tush push? Well here's a guy to line up over the center who's damn hard to move. If the Packers carry five defensive linemen (no sure thing), while Brinson has more to offer overall, Stackhouse fills a specific need. If he's up to the task, he could be the Packers' surprise DL5.

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The Packers' Youth Needs to Grow Up

There's a phrase that Packer fans have grown accustomed to. Some may loathe the phrase, but it's been a philosophy of the Green Bay Packers for almost two decades. That phrase would be "draft and develop." In a nutshell, while some teams will get their stars from free agency and trades, the Packers prefer their talent to be home-grown. They'll sign free agents to fill holes here and there on their roster, but if the Packers have their preference, they'd much rather reinforce their roster with talent on a rookie contract that could develop into a star than pay a newcomer a king's ransom. It pays off when those players develop into what they were projected to be or better. But when they don't, it tends to make the whole process a bit of a waste of time.

It seems like every single season we're hearing the phrase "The Packers have one of the youngest, if not THE youngest roster in the league." And sure, it's nice to have success with that young roster and think about what might happen a few years down the road when they have more experience under their belts. Well, sometimes that time never comes. Those high-ceiling young players are serviceable, but that high ceiling becomes a bit of a pipe dream or even an evaluation failure down the road when the player doesn't even come close to that projection.

Heading into the 2025 season, there are many players the Packers raved about having a high ceiling now entering their third or fourth seasons without even scratching the surface. Sane fans know to give most rookies a year or two to truly come into their own before labeling their selection a mistake. That time has come. You can't be a "project" player forever. Eventually, the project has to be turned in for grading. And if it's a failing grade, then a new direction needs to be taken.

Love is in the Air: Packers QB has headliner matchups in 2025

Heading into the 2025 season, the highlights of the year could be the intriguing quarterback matchups that are scattered throughout the schedule.

Jordan Love will be potentially be matched up with two former MVPs: Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, four Super Bowl Winning QBs (Rodgers, Joe Flacco, Jalen Hurts, Russell Wilson), five former No. 1 overall picks (Jared Goff, Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, Bryce Young, Caleb Williams), last year’s offensive rookie of the year (Jayden Daniels) and a rematch of the 2023 Wild Card Game (Dak Prescott).

Love is just 1-3 in head-to-head with Goff and the Detroit Lions in two seasons and lost both starts against Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles last year. In Week 6, he will be matched up with Burrow for the first time, the first quarterback from the famed 2020 draft class. He has beaten Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa the last two seasons.

The Week 17 game against the Baltimore Ravens would pit Love against Jackson, a quarterback who has been dominant in his starts against NFC teams. Jackson is 24-2 in his starts against the NFC. The last time the Packers and Ravens played, Jackson was out injured and the Packers defeated backup Tyler Huntley in a 31-30 win.

Love has two career starts against a former MVP quarterback, both coming against Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In his first career start, Love threw just one touchdown in a 13-7 loss at Arrowhead Stadium. In the second meeting, Love went toe-to-toe with the three-time Super Bowl champion, throwing three touchdown passes and leading the Packers to a 27-19 win.

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The Packers Need Another Successful Year from their Free Agent Class

Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst made two big moves in free agency a year ago. He addressed the team’s big need at safety by signing Xavier McKinney. He also signed running back Josh Jacobs. Both players had outstanding first seasons in Green Bay. This season, the Packers signed guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs. Can Gute hit on these free agents? The Packers will need these two new players to contribute big time to improve in 2025.

Banks gives the Packers a 6’5”, 325-pound road grater at left guard. His strength is physical run blocking, and he should be able to help open up holes for Jacobs and the other Packers running backs. Hopefully, he will also add consistent pass protection for Love.

Banks has started for the last three seasons for the 49ers. While he never made the Pro Bowl, he fits the style of offense the Packers want to play. His acquisition also allows the Packers to move Elgton Jenkins from left guard to center to replace the departed and inconsistent Josh Myers.

Meanwhile, Hobbs’ importance to the Packers defense increased after the team released Jaire Alexander. The former Illinois star has been a starter for most of his four seasons with the Raiders. He has primarily played the slot but can also play on the boundary.

Hobbs only has three career interceptions in four seasons, so he is not a ball hawk. However, didi enjoy his best season in coverage in 2024. Opposing quarterbacks completed 64.7 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Hobbs last season and had a quarterback rating of 87.2. Both marks were career bests.

The Packers may not have aimed as high in free agency this offseason as compared to last year. But if both Banks and Hobbs make positive contributions to the team and become solid starters, this year’s dip into free agency will be considered a success.

Training Camp Battle of the Cornerbacks

With the official release of Jaire Alexander, the Packers’ cornerback depth chart is now extremely top-heavy. Nate Hobbs, Keisean Nixon, and Carrington Valentine are undoubtedly the top three corners on the roster. The mix-and-match of who plays outside and who plays in the slot will be sorted out during training camp and the preseason. Safety Javon Bullard will also factor into that equation with his ability to play in the slot and provide matchup flexibility.

Behind those three, however, lies a wide-open competition. I see three players competing for one likely roster spot: Kamal Hadden, Kalen King, and Micah Robinson. All three share one key trait—they’re extremely inexperienced at the NFL level.

A few other names could factor into this discussion: Kahzir Brown, Tyron Herring, Gregory Junior, Isaiah Dunn, and Jonathan Baldwin help round out the cornerback room entering training camp. Of that group, Junior has the most NFL experience, having played in 10 games with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2022–2023, recording 17 tackles and one pass defended. If the coaching staff wanted someone with game experience they could just plug in, he would be the one.

What Matt LaFleur Must Do to Rank Higher Among NFL Coaches

Multiple rankings of NFL head coaches were recently released, and Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur didn’t rank as high as perhaps he deserves to be. He ranked ninth according to Pro Football Network. Pro Football Focus didn’t even put him in their top 10.

While LaFleur deserves respect for all he’s accomplished so far, there are still things he needs to do to rank higher on these lists of the best current NFL coaches. Thus far, LaFleur has been very successful as coach of the Packers. He started his tenure with the Packers in the 2019 season. In his first six seasons, he has a record of 67-33. That’s a .670 winning percentage. His teams have made the playoffs in five of his first six seasons as a head coach.

The lack of recent playoff success has hurt LaFleur’s standing in many people’s eyes. The Packers have never reached the Super Bowl under LaFleur’s tenure and are 0-2 in NFC title games. They also haven’t reached an NFC Championship Game under LaFleur in the last four seasons.

Ultimately, playoff success is the key for LaFleur to get the respect his regular season record hasn’t quite gotten him. Winning even one Super Bowl would dramatically change his perception as a top coach immediately. Even getting to one would help raise his reputation.

Look at the difference in reputation that Tony Dungy and Andy Reid had as coaches before and then after they won a Super Bowl. This is the ultimate thing missing from LaFleur’s resume. A few more playoff wins would certainly help, but ultimately, winning a championship would lift LaFleur to the top echelon of current NFL coaches.

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