Green Bay Packers Linebackers Ranked Near Bottom of NFL

Heading into the 2024 season, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the Green Bay Packers’ defense. Jeff Hafley is taking over for Joe Barry and early returns are positive.

Of course, seeing the full impact of the coaching change won’t occur until the pads are on and games count. But, players have positively received Hafley and the changes he is making.

After years of playing a read-and-react style under Barry, a more aggressive approach will be played under Hafley. He wants to play to his guys’ strengths, getting after the quarterback and allowing them to attack more.

There is a lot of talent on the Green Bay Packers defense, but some areas of concern. Depth at cornerback is something analysts believe could come back to bite the team, but they have some elite talent such as Jaire Alexander leading the way.

The upside at linebacker is there, but heading into training camp, there are some major question marks about the position. Like many other positions, lack of experience has people questioning the positional group.

So much so that Gordon McGuinness of PFF has the Green Bay Packers linebackers ranked near the bottom of the NFL. They have come in at No. 29, as they will have something to prove in 2024.

“Two seasons into his NFL career, Quay Walker has yet to record a season-long 60.0 PFF grade. He displayed some positive signs in 2023, though, with his missed tackle percentage dropping from 10.1% as a rookie to 7.6%.

Second-round draft pick Edgerrin Cooper looks set to start next to him, but as we know, playing linebacker in today’s NFL as a rookie comes with a learning curve,” McGuinness wrote.

The talent is certainly there for the Green Bay Packers to have a dominant linebacker duo. Walker showed improvements in 2023, but the team would love to see him take another step forward.

There are a lot of people excited about Edgerrin Cooper as well. The Texas A&M product is all over the field with his elite athleticism, showcasing excellent pass-rushing ability. If he can be ahead of the normal curve for linebackers adjusting to the NFL, this group’s ranking will quickly rise.