NFL Power Rankings: ‘Sustained Success’ Ahead for Packers
With the bulk of NFL free agency complete and the NFL Draft coming up, here are 10 sets of power rankings. Where do the Packers rank?
GREEN BAY, Wis. – As you might expect for a team that reached the NFL’s version of the Elite Eight and almost got to the Final Four in 2023, the Green Bay Packers rank among the top teams in predraft NFL power rankings for 2024.
Here are 10 fresh sets of rankings. We’ll start with the home team, then list the Packers in order from best to worst.
Sports Illustrated: 10th
Conor Orr has the Kansas City Chiefs first, the Detroit Lions second, the Packers 10th and the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets 11th.
Of the Packers, he wrote in part: “The Packers went out and invested in S Xavier McKinney, the former Giant turned new centerpiece of Jeff Hafley’s defense in Green Bay. Also interesting: They secured the contract of Keisean Nixon before the alteration of the kickoff rule; a massively smart decision in hindsight.”
The Athletic: 5th
In listing the comings and goings, Josh Kendall wrote: “The Packers essentially swapped out 29-year-old running back Aaron Jones for 26-year-old running back Josh Jacobs, who signed a four-year deal that could be worth $48 million (or could be terminated pretty cheaply after one year).”
Of note: The Packers beat the Chiefs, who are first, the Lions, who are third, and pushed the 49ers, who are second, to the brink in the playoffs.
USA Today: 5th
Nate Davis noted the draft-and-develop history in light of signing McKinney and Jacobs.
Wrote Davis, who has the Packers one spot behind Detroit: “With an extra second-rounder in hand, courtesy of last year's trade of QB Aaron Rodgers, more exciting drafting and developing ahead for a squad that appears perched for a nice stretch of sustained success under new leader of the Pack Jordan Love.”
Green Bay’s Super Bowl potential is one reason why Jacobs signed.
“I just liked what they had going on over here,” he said. “Going to playoffs and actually competing for the Super Bowl and things like that, it’s something that I’ve always wanted to be a part of.”
NFL.com: 8th
With the additions of McKinney and Jacobs, the Packers are eyeing a run to the Super Bowl, Eric Edholm said a couple weeks ago.
“The Packers aren't complete, but they are getting closer to being the kind of team that can build on last year's strong finish.”
Sporting News: 9th
Vinnie Iyer inched the Packers up a couple notches following free agency.
“The Packers upgraded their backfield with young Josh Jacobs as the new workhorse, and they also spent well for a much-needed higher-impact safety in Xavier McKinney,” he said. “They're positioned to push up in Jordan Love's second season starting.”
ESPN.com: 10th
Packers beat writer Rob Demovsky named the remodeled strength and conditioning program as the team’s most underrated move this offseason. Leading the way: Aaron Hill, the team’s new strength and conditioning coordinator.
“Getting (Christian) Watson's hamstrings right is an offseason priority,” Demovsky wrote. “Hill served as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the 49ers, where coach Matt LaFleur said, ‘They're doing some pretty cool things out there.’”
Among those things: Keeping running back Christian McCaffrey healthy.
FanDuel: 10th
In the Super Bowl futures at FanDuel Sportsbook, the Packers are 10th at +2200. They opened at +2500.
Sharp Football: 10th
Green Bay is “on the rise,” Raymond Summerlin said, although he put the Packers a spot behind the Cowboys and fifth in the NFC. “While replacing Aaron Jones with Josh Jacobs might not be a real upgrade, Green Bay’s offense is filled with young players with upside, and they added much needed defensive help with Xavier McKinney in free agency.”
Touchdown Wire: 12th
Oddly, this was how Jarrett Bailey ended his paragraph on the Packers: “I would have liked to see them be a little more aggressive and make a splash in the receiver market, but this is a young team that can go far.”
A receiver might be the least of Green Bay’s needs entering the draft.
NFL.com: Among NFC Contenders
While not exactly power rankings, Jeffri Chadiha’s “conference hierarchy” lists the Packers among five Super Bowl contenders in the NFC.
While Jeff Hafley must fix the defense, the offense led by quarterback Jordan Love and coach Matt LaFleur has untapped potential.
“The first thing to like about Green Bay as a Super Bowl contender is the chemistry between Jordan Love and head coach Matt LaFleur,” he wrote. “The coach has an exceptional feel for how to maximize Love's strengths, and the 25-year-old quarterback raised his game in the second half of last season.”
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