Five Players for the Green Bay Packers Who Will Face a Career Crossroad in 2024
The NFL still poses the question, “What have you done for me lately?” to its players. In a single stellar season, a player can quickly go from All Pro to yesterday’s news, or the other way around. In light of this, the following five Green Bay Packers players will be facing a pivotal moment in their careers in 2024. These players might develop into key contributors or turn into journeymen or backups throughout their careers.
The first player on the Packers roster who faces a career crossroads in 2024 is quarterback Jordan Love.
Throughout the second half of the 2023 season, Jordan Love demonstrated elite-level quarterbacking. During the first part, Love had trouble. In the second half of the season, he became more accurate and had better footwork. In the second half of the season, he also became more accurate with deep passes, making plays that he would have otherwise missed.
Love needs to continue where he left off from the previous season. He must demonstrate that his recent hot run wasn’t a one-time event and that he can perform consistently.
Second place: LB Walker Quay
Quarterback Quay Walker has a lot of potential going into his third season with the Packers. The former Georgia standout has made a lot of tackles and displayed moments of brilliance, but he hasn’t yet proved to be a reliable big play maker in the NFL.
Under the direction of new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Walker will have an opportunity to prove himself. Walker should be able to make plays against the run, in coverage, and by rushing the passer thanks to Hafley’s defense.
In one year, the Packers will have to choose whether to accept Walker’s fifth-year option. Whether he sticks with the Packers and gets to travel to the Pro Bowl or if he settles for being an average starter will be largely determined by how he performs this season.
Third on the list of Packers Players Who Will Face a Career Crossroads in 2024 is wide receiver Christian Watson.
When healthy, Christian Watson has performed admirably, but he has struggled to maintain his health. Watson possesses the size and quickness to be a top NFL wide receiver. However, in his first two NFL seasons, Watson has missed 11 games and been placed on the play count in multiple more.
Watson has the potential to have a breakout season, but if he has another season marred by injuries, he can end up being remembered as a player who was never able to remain healthy.
Fourth place: G Sean Rhyan
Sean Rhyan has an opportunity to make a name for himself in the NFL as a starter going into his third season.
The former UCLA standout had a terrible rookie campaign in which he struggled to establish himself offensively early on and was suspended for the last six games of the season for using performance-enhancing drugs in violation of NFL policy.
Although he didn’t start the previous season, he saw increased playing time as it went on, splitting time at right guard with the since-departed Jon Runyan, Jr.
He is the favorite to start at right guard this season, though it will rely on the team’s choice of players to oppose him in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Rhyan has to become more proficient at blocking passes if he wants to become a regular. If he doesn’t accomplish it this season, he won’t likely be signed to a second contract by the Packers and will probably end up as a career backup.
Five Packers Players Who Will Face a Career Crossroad in 2024: RB A.J. Dillon
In 2021, A.J. Dillon had his greatest season yet, amassing 803 rushing yards and seven touchdowns overall. Since then, the former Boston College player has witnessed a minor decline in both his average yards per rush and yards gained each season.
Instead of becoming a free agency as planned, Dillon signed a special contract with the Packers that will allow him to return in 2024.
Dillon needs to have a strong season if he makes the squad in order to position himself for the remainder of his career, whether it is with the Packers or not. He will find it difficult to get passed over for a spot on another team in 2025 if he doesn’t perform well this season.
