The 2024 Green Bay Packers preseason is finally over, what have we learned and which rookies have stood out?

Before we get into the rookie discussion, lets look at the bigger picture. Outside of a misstep in Denver, this preseason has gone about as well as Green Bay could have asked. Minimal injuries and rookies looking the part are what you hope to see. The Packers got both and ended the preseason on a high note.

Looking back at the feeling going into last season vs this season could not be more different. The 2023 Packers had just let go of one of the greatest players in the history of the franchise. They had no idea what they had at QB, no idea what the defense would do, and no idea if the head coach was capable of leading a team without Aaron Rodgers at the helm.

Then the season started. First on the usual high note of beating down the Bears and then within a month or two half the fanbase was mock drafting QBs. We don’t need to rehash the rest of the season, but it’s worth bringing this up in contrast to the expectations of this season.

This season Green Bay is viewed as a potential Super Bowl contender. The quarterback is the highest paid player in league history. And we still have no idea what to expect from the defense. So maybe not everything is different.

Still, its hard not to see that this team has a totally different vibe. Players have consistently talked about how close the team feels and you can see it in their interactions with each other. This is all to say that I expect this team to come out much stronger then they have in years past. Now, lets take a look at the rookies that stood out as we head into the season.

The Stand Outs:

Javon Bullard, Safety, Georgia.

Bullard has not made the kind of splashy plays that another player on this list has, but he’s been exactly what the Green Bay Packers have hoped for. Since the start of camp Bullard has almost exclusively been with the 1’s alongside Xavier McKinney. One of the biggest weaknesses on the roster last year, safety needed upgrades beyond just McKinney. Bullard has stepped in and given the team confidence that he can be that upgrade in Jeff Hafley’s system. Plus, how you can you watch this and not be in?

Evan Williams, S, Oregon.

If Bullard has been the proverbial steak, Williams has been the sizzle.

The Green Bay Packers were a poor defense by a lot of metrics last year. One thing that probably didn’t help was the middling amount of turnovers the team generated. The hope is that the schematic shift helps, but it won’t mean much without the right players. Five interceptions is nothing to sneeze at, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him and Bullard sharing the field.

The Disappointments

Jordan Morgan, T, Arizona

Let me preface this by saying this is partially injury related. That being said, it seems to be a tradition at this point for Gutekunst first rounders to start slow. After what seemed like a brief tryout at LT, Morgan appeared to be settled at RG. Unfortunately injuries sidelined him for several weeks. Now it appears that spot remains unsettled between him and former third rounder Sean Rhyan.

MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC

Much like Morgan, injuries have really dampened the enthusiasm for Lloyd coming out of camp. A third round pick, the hope had to be that he would have pushed AJ Dillon for the RB2 spot. Now with Dillon headed to IR for the season, the team has to hope Lloyd can come back soon. The team will likely be extra cautious with him, given the recurring issues hamstring injuries can cause.

With just a week to go, the Green Bay Packers should be excited to see what this roster can do, especially if they’ve hit on another draft class.