Green Bay Packers: ESPN Experts Predicting League-Leading Seasons For 2 Packers Superstars

ESPN NFL expert Benjamin Solak thinks so. After all, Green Bay’s #8 has done it once before in his career. Jacobs’ 1,653 yards in 2022, when he was still a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, was tops in the league for that season. Solak believes Jacobs is set up to return to the top of the rushing charts in the NFL.

“He played on a Packers team that recommitted to running the ball last season, calling rushes at a rate second only to the Eagles. And the Packers doubled down on that investment with a free agent signing of Aaron Banks at left guard — a player better in run blocking than he is in pass protection.”

Banks does represent the Packers’ continued commitment to having their offense run through Jacobs. Coming over from San Francisco, Banks had one of the top run-blocking grades in the league last season according to PFF.

Solak also makes the point that, unlike other NFL backfields, Green Bay does not have a RB2 that is going to demand almost any volume of carries. Backup Emanuel Wilson has just over 500 career yards, while MarShawn Lloyd has only played one game in his NFL career so far. Lloyd is also starting the season on the shelf due to a hamstring issue.

“This offense should still run through Jacobs, and if the Packers are nursing as many leads as the Eagles and Ravens did last season, then he has the potential for a huge leap off garbage-time production.”

Solak is almost certainly right about Green Bay’s offensive philosophy entering 2025. Hopefully Jacobs can stay healthy and achieve what the ESPN expert predicts.

Micah Parsons Ready for Record-Setting Year With Green Bay Packers

On the other side of the ball, it’s not unrealistic that the newly acquired Micah Parsons has quite the debut season in Wisconsin. Solak is of the opinion that defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who many regard as one of the bright young minds at the DC position, will be maximizing what Parsons can do.

“I think Parsons — who has been double-teamed on 33% of his pass-rush opportunities over the past three seasons — will see more one-on-ones than he ever has before. Despite the defensive attention he has endured, Parsons is first in total pressures and third in sacks over the past three seasons combined. He just hasn’t had that one spike season yet. A new environment in Green Bay is as good a time as any to get there.”

Parsons has shown remarkable ability and consistency in his young career, but has yet to achieve the gaudy sack numbers of some of his peers. His 14 sacks in 2022, the same year Jacobs led the league in rushing yards, is his career-high for a season.

Green Bay’s new #1 will have his eyes on a new career-high in 2025. It’s not hard to imagine him achieving that and more.