5 PACKERS WITH THE HIGHEST CEILINGS AHEAD OF 2024 NFL SEASON

The Green Bay Packers have done an incredible job of drafting and developing their players over the last four decades. Even by their high standards, they might be reaching new heights thanks to home runs in their recent drafts.

After it looked like the Packers were going to enter rebuild mode following Aaron Rodgers' era, general manager Brian Gutekunst quickly turned it around, thanks to some very solid drafts that have positioned the Packers to be a title contender once again.

Gutekunst and the front office have infused the Packers with incredible talent, but nobody on the team has higher ceilings in 2024 than these five players.

5. Luke Musgrave, Tight End

The first image that comes to mind of Luke Musgrave's rookie season may be the tight end stumbling over his own feet in the open field. That's fair. However, there's no denying his raw athletic abilities.

Musgrave ran a 4.81 40-yard dash and sports a 36-inch vertical leap--both elite numbers for a tight end. Oh, and he's 6-foot-6. His combination of size, speed and leaping ability make him too big for cornerbacks to cover and too fast for linebackers.

Jordan Love will continue to gain confidence in his tight end's raw abilities as Musgrave continues to develop his understanding of the offense. If Musgrave can stay on his feet and improve his hands, the sky is the limit in 2024. He has the potential to put defenses in a constant bind and bust games wide open.

4. Xavier McKinney, Safety

The Packers signed Xavier McKinney in free agency to be a defensive playmaker, and that's exactly what we should expect from him. He picked off three passes last year and got his hands on another 11 for pass deflections. That was a repeat of his 2021 season when he had five interceptions and 10 passes deflected.

In addition to playing in the traditional safety spot last year, he spent time up near the defensive line, in the box, in the slot, and even out wide. McKinney will move all over the Packers' defense as one of the major weapons for new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.

The best part about this signing is McKinney is only 25 years old--an outlier for big free agent signings who usually get paid for what they've accomplished and not what they are about to do. The Packers expect him to take the next step and be even better in Green Bay, and there's no reason to believe he can't do it.

3. Rashan Gary, Defensive End

Rashan Gary's 2023 campaign can be viewed as him re-establishing the work he already did in the NFL. Following his ACL tear in 2022, Gary used the season to post nine sacks and 30 total pressures--numbers that are just below his career highs.

However, 2024 is the year Gary can take the next step.

He's been healthy all offseason, allowing him to work on his craft in a way he couldn't do last year when he was busy rehabbing. That extra preparation for his pass-rushing moves and growing his physical performance instead of getting it back to what it was should allow Gary to have a monster season.

And that's exactly what the doctor ordered in Green Bay. The Packers have a plethora of solid defensive players, but are still missing that game-wrecker. Gary has that potential, and the Packers need him to squeeze every ounce out of his game if they want to get back to the Super Bowl.

2. Christian Watson, Wide Receiver

Christian Watson's potential has been talked about all offseason. Although it's clear the Packers don't currently have a number one option at wide receiver, Watson can become that player if he starts to acknowledge his ceiling.

We've been through all of this before, but that's just how high Watson's ceiling is. Thanks to his speed, height, and jumping abilities, he possesses elite physical traits. He's a defensive back's worst nightmare, forcing the defense to shift their entire scheme to stopping Watson from blowing past them.

That also opens up the underneath routes for the other Packers' receivers and pulls defenders out of the box for the running game. Watson has the potential to not only have a breakout individual season, but also to make life easier for every single one of his offensive teammates.

1. Jordan Love, Quarterback

Jordan Love is a uniquely talented quarterback and benefits from playing in a quarterback-friendly system. Both are true, and one doesn't discount the other.

Love made huge strides as the 2024 season unfolded. He showed he was learning from his mistakes and continued to get better every week. By the end of the season, he was one of the better quarterbacks in the entire NFL.

Head coach Matt LaFleur also deserves praise for that growth. Last year, he was at his best as the Packers' play-caller, keeping defenses on their toes by combining running and passing concepts to build off one another. He thrived in his first real chance to mold the offense to his liking.

Green Bay also has a silly amount of playmakers. They have at least five four receivers (Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks), two tight ends (Musgrave and Tucker Kraft), and running back Josh Jacobs, who are weapons defenses have to pay attention to. That makes Love's job even easier. Expect a monster 2024 from Love as he looks to move from surprise player to established superstar.

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This article was originally published on dairylandexpress.com as 5 Packers With the Highest Ceilings Ahead of 2024 NFL Season.

2024-07-05T12:10:20Z dg43tfdfdgfd