Five Key Questions the Green Bay Packers Defense Must Answer in 2025

The Green Bay Packers defense improved last year under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. Now, the team hopes to take another step forward in Hafley’s second season running the defense. For a change, the Packers emphasized offense in the early rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, so most of the improvement on defense will have to come from within. Here are five key questions facing the Packers defense as we head into the 2025 season:

Five Key Questions the Green Bay Packers Defense Must Answer in 2025, Number Five: Where Does Javon Bullard Fit In?

The Packers selected Javon Bullard in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He split his time as a rookie between safety and the slot.

Bullard defended the run well but struggled in coverage, something he needs to improve upon.

The addition of Nate Hobbs puts Bullard in a tough spot. Hobbs spent most of his time in the NFL playing the slot. Evan Williams played well at safety, opposite Xavier McKinney.

That leaves Bullard with the potential to fight for two positions but without a clearly defined role as the team prepares for training camp.

It will be interesting to see where Bullard lines up in 2025 and what role he ultimately carves out in the defense in his second NFL season.

Number Four: Can the Packers Replace T.J. Slaton?

T.J. Slaton provided the Packers with a big body to clog up the middle of the field and help stop the run. However, Slaton signed with the Bengals in free agency.

The Packers have options here. They could move Kenny Clark back to the nose, although this is not their first choice.

GM Brian Gutekunst drafted Warren Brinson in the sixth round this year and signed his Georgia teammate, Nazir Stackhouse, as an undrafted free agent.

One of these three players will likely fill the role of run stuffing defensive tackle. Hopefully, one player emerges during training camp to fill this underappreciated but vital job in the middle of the defensive line.

Five Key Questions the Green Bay Packers Defense Must Answer in 2025, Number Three: Will the Packers Get Enough Pass Rush from the Front Four?

Rashan Gary led the Packers with just 7.5 sacks. Hafley’s original plan was to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks using his front four but that didn’t really materialize last season. As a result, the Packers resorted to more blitz packages and a more conservative zone coverages.

Hafley would like to fix that problem, but the solutions will have to come from returning players. Will Gary be able to provide more pressure in year two in Hafley’s defense? Can Clark stay healthy and return to form? Will Brenton Cox or Lukas Van Ness take a step forward this season? Can Kingsley Enagbare provide more pass rush in his contract year?

As of now the team has more questions than answers, although the potential is there for improvement here. Gutekunst could also add a player before training camp starts in late July.

It would help the Packers defense a lot if the front four can deliver more pressure on opposing quarterbacks this season.

Number Two: Who Will Start at Linebacker?

We know Quay Walker will start at one linebacker spot and Edgerrin Cooper will be another starter. The Packers hope Walker continues to play as well as he did late last season. Cooper showed star potential and made the All-Rookie Team last year. The Packers would love for him to develop into a Pro Bowl player in his second NFL season.

But who will be the third starter? Will veteran Isaiah McDuffie continue to hold down the third starting job? He is a smart player who defends the run well but struggles in coverage.

Can last year’s third-round pick, Ty’Ron Hopper, take advantage of his athleticism and earn an increased role this season? Will free agent addition Isaiah Simmons take advantage of his speed and win a starting job by focusing at just one position?

There is an interesting battle ahead at this position even if the third linebacker may only be on the field for about a third of the defensive snaps.

Five Key Questions the Green Bay Packers Defense Must Answer in 2025, Number One: How Can the Packers Replace Jaire Alexander?

The Packers released their top cover corner, Jaire Alexander, last week. Without him, the team lacks a shutdown corner or anything close to it.

That isn’t to say the team lacks talent at the cornerback position. Keisean Nixon, Hobbs, and Carrington Valentine will battle for playing time on the boundary while Bullard and Hobbs will likely compete for the slot corner job.

The Packers played 10 games without Alexander in each of the last two seasons so they proved they can be productive without him. But obviously, replacing a player with Alexander’s talent will not be that easy. Hafley and the returning players will have to step up their games to keep the pass defense strong.