The Green Bay Packers 2024 Season Awards

The 2024 Green Bay Packers finished with an 11-6 record and in third place in the NFC North. They qualified for playoffs for the second straight season despite having the youngest roster in the NFL. Here is a look at the Packers 2024 postseason awards as selected by the editors of The Packers Post. Feel free to comment on any of these and state your opinions about who you feel deserves any of these awards.

Packers 2024 Season Awards, Offensive MVP: RB Josh Jacobs

The Packers signed running back Josh Jacobs as a free agent to replace Aaron Jones. The move paid off with the former Raiders star rushing for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also caught 36 passes for 342 yards and another score.

Jacobs became the focal point of the Green Bay offense. He was also a leader in the locker room. His intensity and desire to win were important for this team.

Jacobs set a new franchise record by scoring a rushing touchdown in 8 straight regular season games, breaking the record set by Paul Hornung back in 1960.

The Packers hope Jacobs will continue to play at a high level. His excellent first season in Green Bay made a huge impact on the team.

Defensive MVP: S Xavier McKinney

Xavier McKinney also joined the Packers over the offseason via free agency. Like Jacobs, he was worth every cent the Packers spent on him.

McKinney helped make the safety position a strength after it was a weakness a year ago. He intercepted eight passes which ranked second in the NFL. The former New York Giants star also had one pick in each of his first five games this season.

Opposing quarterbacks started to avoid throwing near McKinney. That means he had a big impact on the team’s defense and the way other teams’ offenses attacked them.

He also provided leadership to the Packers defense.

Packers 2024 Season Awards, Special Teams MVP: K Brandon McManus

Brandon McManus joined the Packers before Week 7. He solved the team’s kicking problems which lasted almost a season and a half since the end of the 2022 campaign when the Packers parted ways with Mason Crosby.

McManus connected on 20-of-21 field goals and made all three of his attempts from 50 yards or longer. He was also perfect on all 30 of his extra point tries.

The Packers hope to re-sign McManus who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. GM Brian Gutekunst will not want to let McManus get away after his strong first season in Green Bay.

Most Improved Player: G Sean Rhyan

Guard Sean Rhyan had never started an NFL game before this season. His rookie year was almost a complete washout that saw him play just one snap before eventually getting suspended for violating the league’s PED policy.

In 2023, Rhyan saw more playing time, alternating series with Jon Runyan, Jr. in part because Runyan was playing through injuries. He graded out as a solid run blocker but struggled in pass protection.

But this season, Rhyan beat out first round pick Jordan Morgan to win the starting right guard spot. He started all 17 games and graded out stronger in pass protection than he did as a run blocker. Rhyan also added toughness and a competitive attitude to the offensive line.

Rhyan can continue to grow as an offensive lineman, but he’s established himself as a bona fide starting guard in the NFL. He went from a question mark to a solid starter in one season.

Packers 2024 Season Awards, Rookie of the Year: LB Edgerrin Cooper

The Packers brought second round pick Edgerrin Cooper along slowly, but the rookie out of Texas A&M showed he could be an impact player by the end of the year. In fact, he was twice named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his play in the second half of the season.

Cooper only started four games and played 55 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in the 14 games he played and the four games he started.

Cooper’s speed helped him rush the passer and he totaled 3.5 sacks and seven quarterback hits. He also proved capable of penetrating the line of scrimmage against the run and finished with 13 tackles for loss.

The rookie proved to be a ball magnet. He intercepted one pass, broke up four more, forced a fumble and recovered two.

Cooper demonstrated the potential to become a star player in this league and should be a starter from day one in 2025.

Unsung Hero: QB Malik Willis

The Packers weren’t pleased with either of their backup quarterbacks in training camp and the preseason, so they traded for Malik Willis after the preseason. The former Titans third-round pick was thrust into action almost immediately when starting quarterback Jordan Love was injured during the final series of the season opener against the Eagles in Brazil.

Willis had to start for the Packers less than three weeks after joining the team. He led the team to back-to-back victories over the Titans and Colts by being smart with the football and making the plays that Matt LaFleur designed for him.

Later in the season, Willis came off the bench to lead the Packers past the Jaguars. Having your backup quarterback lead the team to three wins is an impressive performance, especially given the lack of time he had to prepare.

Willis finished the season completing 74.1 percent of his passes. He threw three touchdowns and did not throw an interception. His quarterback rating was 124.8. Willis also averaged 6.9-yards per rushing attempt and ran for one touchdown.

Willis hasn’t proved he’s ready to be a starter in the NFL, but he did a lot to solidify his status as quality backup quarterback and that he could develop into a starter in the right situation in the future.

Packers 2024 Season Awards, Biggest Disappointment: DL Kenny Clark

Kenny Clark made the Pro Bowl in 2023 and had a career-high 7.5 sacks. With the team switching to a four-man front under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, there was hope Clark could enjoy an even better season in 2024.

That never happened. Clark struggled to adjust to the new front and his numbers fell off. He went from 7.5 to just one. Clark had 16 quarterback hits in 2023 but just five in 2024. Clark made nine tackles for loss a year ago but had just four this season.

The former UCLA star went from being an impact player to almost invisible at times. He will need to bounce back in 2025 to revive his career.

Best Game: Week 16: Packers 34, Saints 0

The Packers lacked a signature win against an elite opponent this season, but earning the first shutout of the NFL season made the win over the Saints their best of the season.

The Saints were banged up and struggling, but the Packers played a complete game and earned a shutout so almost by default, this was their best game of the season.

Packers 2024 Season Awards, Worst Game: Week 18: Bears 24, Packers 22

This game showcased the team’s difficulties. The Packers didn’t know if they were going all out or trying not to get players hurt. They didn’t end up doing either. During the game, Christian Watson suffered a torn ACL that will cause him to miss the start of the 2025 season.

Both Love and Willis suffered injuries during the game and the Packers winning streak against the Bears ended when Chicago kicked the winning field goal on the game’s final play. Some poor clock management by LaFleur helped make that winning kick possible.

So many of the problems that plagued the team were evident in this loss and it was a game they should have won.