know, I know. The offseason is in full effect if this is what we’re doing. For the unacquainted, there has been a recent trend of assigning amounts of “aura” to certain artists, athletes, or other individuals, both real and fictional. This is done mostly arbitrarily by fans of these individuals, but there is a certain amount of recognized “aura” (otherwise known as the perceived atmosphere surrounding a person) that fans can generally agree on to some extent. The aura that Tom Brady gave off in his time with New England, for instance, was that of a slightly mysterious dude who always sort of struck fear into teams that had New England on their upcoming schedules. To keep things simple, we’re going to rank the top five Green Bay Packers players who give off those “larger than life” vibes.
#5 – Dontayvion Wicks
Dontayvion Wicks started out as a fifth round draft pick in a young, hungry, and crowded wide receiving corps for the Packers. He quickly became a fan favorite throughout his rookie training camp leading up to the 2024 season, and some fans even began referring to him as “Davantayvion” (you know, because of that other great Packers wide receiver).
The Packers current top four receivers are Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks. Each of these four were drafted in the last two years, and no one has fully emerged as the top dog yet. However, after seeing a late season surge from Wicks, and a playoff touchdown against Dallas on one of the more memorable plays from the 2023 season, some feel that in terms of earning the top spot, he just has that air about him.
#4 – Jordan Love
It is admittedly hard not to include the starting quarterback of the team on a list like this. Love isn’t just some starting quarterback in a sea of 31 other guys though. Jordan Love sat behind Aaron Rodgers for three years. Three years of sitting in the shadows behind a hall of fame quarterback who had a massive personality and demanded a ton of media attention, all while staying quiet and humble. For those three years Jordan Love was called a bust, the credibility and collective intelligence of the entire Packers front office was called into question, and hardly a soul believed Love had it in him to follow in those massive footsteps.
Fast forward to the 2023 season. Jordan Love was absolutely electric. The young offense as a whole admittedly took some time to mesh, but we all saw something special even as early as week one of the season. Jordan Love walked onto the field for the first time as a full time starter for the greatest franchise in the history of the NFL and he absolutely annihilated the rival Chicago Bears in a 38-20 blowout. Love stepped onto opposing territory and threw three touchdowns to immediately carry on the legacy of beating the hell out of the Bears.
Add in a blowout playoff win against the Dallas Cowboys and Jordan Love ensured a nation full of football fans that the absence of Aaron Rodgers didn’t mean the fall of the Green Bay Packers.
#3 – Keisean Nixon
The face paint, the friendly (and sometimes not so friendly) shots at rival teams, the fact that he made a name for himself and became a fan favorite after playing three years for the Raiders, who signed him as an undrafted free agent back in 2019.
Nixon’s presence speaks for itself. He’s an electric kick returner, and he’s an aggressive slot corner in a secondary that’s been dubbed “Strap City.” Nixon’s aura was first established during the 2022 season when he led the NFL in kick return yards, and it was cemented when he did the same in 2023. Add an interception against Patrick Mahomes that would help seal a week 13 victory against the defending champions, and Nixon’s reputation now precedes him.
#2 – Jaire Alexander
The de-facto leader of “Strap City,” Jaire Alexander has established a unique presence on and off of the football field during his six years in the league. From hitting the signature “griddy” dance on the NFLs best wide receiver while locking him down in Minnesota, to his hilarious off the cuff interview moments, to the fact that he’s an All-Pro cornerback who’s previously locked down some of the best receivers in the NFL, you’d be hard-pressed to find another cornerback in the league with a reputation like his. He’s a guy who’s said that he doesn’t watch TV and that he meditates every day. He really does not seem like the average NFL player. There’s so little to say about this man’s aura because at the end of the day it truly speaks for itself.
#1 – Rashan Gary
Rashan Gary’s nickname is one of the toughest and most nefarious villains from the “Batman” comics. The guy literally calls himself “Bane” and anyone who has followed his career knows he has an incredible work ethic, much like any super-villain in Gotham would need to. Gary remains a slightly under-appreciated pass rusher in the league. He is regularly regarded as top-10, but we can all tell that he know’s he’s better than that.
Rashan Gary doesn’t focus on the outside noise. He’s alluded time and time again in interviews that he doesn’t listen to what anyone outside of the building thinks of him. Gary is a team first player who seems to take the job of being a professional football player to heart every time he puts on the Green and Gold. His spirited support of Jordan Love after a win against the rival Chicago Bears was one of many examples that Gary is a relentless competitor who can seemingly be satisfied by few things in life other than winning football games.
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Zack is a college student and cheesehead from California. When he’s not in class or writing, you can find him talking about the Packers on Twitter at @Zack_Upchurch.
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