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10 Bold Packers Predictions for the 2025 Season
Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

After 7 long months of offseason, it is finally time for the 2025 Green Bay Packers to start their season! Now, on the eve of the season, here are 10 bold Packers predictions for this season. Hope you enjoy! 

  1. 1. Matthew Golden will quickly emerge as the WR1

Towards the end of last year, the Packers started to face a steady diet of man coverage from opposing defenses. The Packers struggled mightily against those looks. According to PFF data, only Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs graded positively against man coverage last season. Specifically, Romeo Doubs averaged 1.65 yards/route run against man coverage last season. That figure led all other Packers receivers who will be active on Sunday. To add some context to this number, Doubs per route production against man ranked 99th among all pass catchers in the NFL last year. Yikes. These sad stats are just a long way of highlighting the Packers’ need for a man beating WR. 

Oh hi there Matthew Golden! I’ve already written quite a lot about Golden, so I won’t go too in-depth here. But, I will say that camp injuries to Reed, Wicks and Savion Williams sure don’t hurt his chances for high usage right from the jump. Look for Golden to get involved early and often this season. 

  1. 2. The Packers have one more notable roster move in them

The Packers have just north of 14 million dollars of cap space remaining for this season. We all know the Packers won’t spend the money flippantly. It’s important to note that cap space not spent during the season can be rolled over towards the following season’s cap. 

But if singular or specific roster weaknesses are holding back the team, I expect Gutekunst to make some moves. Also notable that free agents often drastically drop in price once the season begins. Christian Wilkins on a one year prove it deal? Sign me up! 

  1. 3. Jordan Morgan will be the third most valuable offensive lineman in ‘25 

Another player I’ve already written about. I’ll say it again, Jordan Morgan is ready. I feel strongly he can be a very effective tackle, and we already have proof he can be a solid guard. Morgan is finally healthy and is primed to break out in ‘25. I realize he’s currently buried on the depth chart, but injuries are almost a given on the O-line. He’ll get his chance at some point, and I’ll be expecting big things.

  1. 4. Carrington Valentine breakout season 

Micah Parsons had a message for the Packers secondary the other day. He said, “I’ve never played a season without having an all-pro or pro bowl corner behind me.” His thoughts highlight the interconnectedness of NFL defense. Improved pass rush leads to lesser reliance on coverage. 

Valentine is the team’s best man cover corner, and he’s gotten better every year of his career. Jaire is gone, the pass rush has improved, and Nate Hobbs may settle in as the team’s slot corner. There’s a lot of pressure on Valentine’s shoulders and he’s got the mentality to live up to it. 

We know Valentine will talk the talk. Expect him to walk the walk as well. 

  1. 5. Tucker Kraft will push for an all-pro spot

It’s hard to express how valuable Tucker Kraft is to this team. As a receiver and an in-line blocker, Kraft is already one of the best in the league. But, there is still so much room for the young tight end to grow. 

Many of Kraft’s targets in 2024 were the result of schemed plays. Nobody leaks into the route late and sneakily finds gaps in the zone coverages quite like Tucker Kraft. While these plays are great on their own, imagine how good Kraft could be if he puts it all together. If Tucker requires less design and starts beating man coverage independently…whew boy! Big things incoming from Tucker Kraft in 2025! 

While I do expect improvement from Kraft as a receiver, let’s never stop giving him flowers for his run blocking. Blocks like this one are invaluable to team success. 

  1. 6. Tyron Hopper will play a big role in 2025

Tyron Hopper is the main reason I felt so comfortable with the Packers cutting Isaiah Simmons. Hopper really has come a long way since his rookie season.

Hopper was used as more of a Mike linebacker in college. This has continued to be the case in his young pro career. I’m not sure how realistic this is, but if Hopper can pick up the Sam LB position, this LB unit could be devastatingly good. Long story short, I feel that Hopper has a much higher ceiling as a starter in base defense than Isaiah McDuffie does. 

  1. 7. Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary will be the league’s most productive edge rushing duo

1 week later and it still feels too good to be true! If there are any Packers fans out there who haven’t fully wrapped their heads around the Parsons trade. I am so excited for you! You are going to be blown away by how incredibly game changing Parsons is. He’s objectively the best pass rusher in the NFL, and he’s now a Green Bay Packer. Now imagine the trickle down effect a guy like Micah Parsons will have on Rashan Gary. Packers fans, listen up. Please allow yourselves to get excited about this pass rush! 

  1. 8. The Packers run defense won’t suffer too severely after losing Kenny Clark and TJ Slaton

NFL fans often over-simplify what goes into defending the run. I’ve fallen victim to it myself in the past. Going forward, let’s remember that defending the run takes all 11 players working together. Especially with the way Hafley uses nickel backs and strong safeties on early downs. Every player on the field plays a role when defending the run. It takes a lot more than just a good nose tackle to defend the run! 

Think about all the guys Green Bay has brought in since Hafley took over as DC. McKinney, Bullard, Cooper, Williams, Parsons and Hobbs all come to mind. Each one of these guys plays the run with force from a non defensive tackle position. While the Packers may feel a void on the interior of their D-line, this is only one part of the overall run defense. Look for strong defensive ends, rangy linebackers and sure tackling safeties to help pick up the slack and power this run defense to at least an average finish. 

  1. 9. Losing Josh Myers will prove to be addition by subtraction

Josh Myers is a great guy and was well respected in the locker room. But, he was a net negative on the field. He lacked force as a run blocker and was leaky in pass protection. The following stat highlights him as the weak link on the line. 

Center is an underappreciated position. When the position is played well, the fans often don’t notice. When the position is played poorly, it’s painfully obvious. When evaluating the center play last year in Green Bay, start by asking yourself why Jordan Love was forced to make so many highlight throws while fading away off his back foot. Interior pressure at the expense of Josh Myers was often the reason.

  1.  10. The Packers finally reap the rewards of the youngest roster in the NFL 

This is the third straight year where the Packers will boast the youngest roster in the NFL. It’s been the theme of the post Rodgers era. So, why should you even care about roster age? 

Theoretically, the main benefit of being young as a team is the potential for internal improvement. The Packers roster is loaded full of guys who should still be on the bottom left portion of their development curve. This means the same core of guys from last year should just get better on their own as they gain experience in the league. However, this hasn’t consistently been the case. Many young Packers have had very up and down starts to their careers. 

But I am boldly predicting that this is when it is all going to click, and if it does, the Packers roster could be absolutely lethal. In year 3 of the post Rodgers era, the Packers expect significant internal improvement from many of the following players: Sean Rhyan, Jordan Morgan, Marshawn Lloyd, Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Colby Wooden, Lukas Van Ness, Quay Walker, Carrington Valentine, Javon Bullard and/or Tyron Hopper. I left off many other names I could have included. Imagine what this team could look like if even half these listed guys take a jump forward. The Packers young roster is finally going to pay dividends. 

This article first appeared on PackersTalk.com and was syndicated with permission.

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