The month leading up to training camp is quite slow in the NFL news department. So, many sports writers and analysts usually make this time of year prediction season. I mean, here at PackersTalk, there was an article just last week titled Nostra-Damon! It really is getting crazy during this prediction season! Well, anyway, here are my predictions for the top five Green Bay Packers players with the best chance to improve their stats in 2024.
Let’s begin:
Stats For Jordan Love
This one isn’t a slam dunk prediction like most would assume it to be, the reason being that Jordan Love’s stats for 2023 are underappreciated. In his first season as the Packers starting quarterback, Love had 4,159 passing yards, 32 touchdown passes to just 11 interceptions, with a passer rating of 96.1.
Those are fantastic numbers and could be difficult to beat, but I predict that he will improve upon those stats. In the second half of last season, starting with Steelers game, Love threw for 20 touchdowns to just three interceptions. Two of those interceptions were thrown in that Steelers game. So using some projection, I predict that Love will finish with:
Passing Yards: 4600
Passing Touchdowns: 38
Interceptions: 8
Quarterback Rating of 103.
What About Josh Jacobs Now That He Is A Packer?
It wasn’t that long ago when Josh Jacobs was the leading rusher in the NFL. Matter of fact, it was just in 2022 where he rushed for 1,653 yards and had an additional 400 receiving yards. However, those number dipped drastically in 2023. Jacobs rushed for only 805 yards with an additional 296 receiving yards. In 2022, Jacobs had 12 rushing touchdowns while in 2023, he only had six.
Now that Josh Jacobs is a Packer, those stats will look different. I expect Jacobs’ numbers will be better than they were last season, but not as good as they were in 2022. Matter of fact, they probably won’t get back to those numbers in Green Bay. They will have a running back committee of sorts. I predict that Jacob’s stats will be:
Rushing Yards: 900
Rushing Touchdowns: 8
Receiving Yards: 300
Receiving Touchdowns: 2
Jaire Alexander’s Stats Will Be Better Obviously
So, this one is obvious as Jaire Alexander missed ten games in 2023 and his stat line showed it. He had just 23 tackles, one forced fumble, five pass deflections, and zero interceptions.
Finally, with a new focus, health, and a new defensive coordinator, Alexander will improve greatly in 2024. His stat line will look something like this:
Total tackles: 60
Pass Deflections: 15
Interceptions: 3
Rashan Gary’s Stats
In 2023, Rashan Gary was coming back from an ACL injury. In 2024, he will come alive in a new defensive ideology.
Gary didn’t have bad numbers in 2023. They were okay, but he is capable of so much more than just okay. Rashan Gary had 44 total tackles, nine sacks, 4.5 tackles in the backfield, and two forced fumbles. Gary’s numbers will improve alone just because of the new style of the defense. The edge rusher will be allowed to be more aggressive and shouldn’t have to drop into coverage anymore – well, at least not as much.
I predict that Gary’s stats will improve:
Total tackles: 46
Sacks: 13
TFL: 7
Forced Fumbles: 5
Finally, Dontayvion Wicks
The Green Bay Packers don’t have a number one receiver. They have a ton of great receivers with the chance that any one of them could be the number one. Any receiver on this team could be considered the number one for a particular game or for a particular matchup. I could have easily gone with Christian Watson here, as his number will probably improve too. He also has the best chance of being a true number one in the NFL.
However, I want to talk about Dontayvion Wicks. He has the size, the athleticism, the hands, and the route running ability to be elite. He showed a ton of promise in 2023 where he had 39 receptions for 581 yards and four touchdowns. This will improve in 2024.
His stats will look like this:
Receptions: 54
Receiving Yards: 811
Receiving Touchdowns: 6
Passing Touchdowns: 1
That’s right. I’m also predicting that he has one passing touchdown.
So, What Do These Predictions Mean?
Well, honestly nothing. Anything can happen throughout the NFL season. However, these predictions of stats just show my confidence that the Packers will do well this upcoming season and it is fun to speculate how well the players will do. These predictions, while based on past performances and the Packers’ strategies, are a testament to the potential of these players.
I do believe that these five players will improve in 2024 and the success of the Packers will depend on these five and many others.
Either way, I can’t wait for the season to start.
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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