Will the new era for the Green Bay Packers get off to a hot start or go down in flames? Bold predictions for the Packers in the 2023 season.
Change is a terrifying proposition. But for the Green Bay Packers, it’s the reality of the situation coming into the 2023 NFL season. The most important thing for fans to remember, however, is that change is also not always a bad thing. In fact, it can also be quite good in the right spots.
And though the Packers are shrouded in uncertainty at several spots after the departure of Aaron Rodgers, there is reason to believe that things, indeed, can be quite good in Green Bay this season. Much of that, without a shred of a question, hinges on the performance of Jordan Love. Yet all of the preseason talk from the team and reporters has seemed to indicate that he’s ready.
So what is the year going to look like? We’re still roughly two months out from the start of the season, but it feels like the proper time to get a bit frisky and make some bold predictions for the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 season.
Packers bold prediction No. 3: Jayden Reed leads Green Bay in receptions, yards
While the Packers didn’t change their stripes in the NFL Draft by selecting a skill position player in the first round, they made up for it on Day 2 with the selections of Michigan State wide receiver Jayden Reed, Oregon State tight end Luke Musgrave and South Dakota State tight end Tucker Kraft.
Point blank, I’m high on all of these players. Moreover, it’s hard not to like the idea of the front office setting Love up for the best chance of success by getting more capable weapons on the roster.
Jayden Reed, however, is the one I’m most excited about.
The leading returning receiver from last season with the Packers is Christian Watson, who had just 41 catches for 611 yards. Yes, there is reason to believe in a year two breakout. But between Watson and Romeo Doubs, arguably the only semi-proven pass-catchers returning this season, there isn’t a guy who can work the short and intermediate areas consistently. That’s where Reed thrives.
Here’s what NFL Draft expert Keith Sanchez of The Draft Network said about Reed:
"In the NFL, Reed’s skill set will allow him to fill multiple roles early in his career while he continues to work on the details of his game as he attempts to work his way to being the first or second option of an offense."
Though he does need to work on limiting drops, his combination of speed, footwork and quickness should allow him to find space quite literally all over the field. That will make him a safety valve combined with a big-play threat for Love. As a result, I can see Reed actually bursting onto the scene and leading the team in receiving, perhaps notching a 1,000-yard campaign right out of the gate.
Packers bold prediction No. 2: Quay Walker becomes a Pro Bowler
While being acutely aware that getting into the Pro Bowl can be meaningless — shouts to Tyler Huntley — it would be a massive step forward for second-year linebacker Quay Walker.
Yes, the then-rookie led the Packers with 121 combined tackles while also accruing five tackles for loss, seven pass defenses, 1.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. But when you look at PFF (subscription required), he also graded out as only the 70th-best linebacker in the NFL in the 2022 season out of 81 qualifiers.
And really, a lot of any negative talk about Walker in his rookie campaign and any negative assessments can be boiled down to mental lapses. He wasn’t always sharp, and that’s before you get into his two conduct-related ejections on the season, both of which can only be described as bone-headed.
Throughout the offseason, though, Walker and the Packers coaching staff have been clear that he’s working on his issues and is going to be more focused. That could make all of the difference.
There’s a reason that Walker was drafted in the first round out of Georgia. He’s an elite physical talent who, with development mentally and some added strength, can be one of the best at the position in the NFL. For a Packers team that I think will come out and surprise a lot of people, Walker taking a bit step forward in his consistency while still putting up big stats could ultimately make him a poster child on defense and earn him postseason honors.
Packers bold prediction No. 1: Jordan Love throws for 4,000 yards, 30+ TDs
Yeah, I’m going there with Jordan Love.
Obviously, Love isn’t a rookie with the Packers — but he ostensibly is. As such, it’s worth noting that only Cam Newton (2011), Andrew Luck (2012), Jameis Winston (2015) and Justin Herbert (2020) have thrown for 4,000 yards in their rookie seasons. Of that quartet, Herbert was the first to eclipse 30 touchdowns in that season (31).
But one thing that you look at in the history of Green Bay and their quarterback contingency plans is the immediate success. When Aaron Rodgers sat behind Brett Favre for three years on the Packers, he then took the reins and threw for 4,038 yards and 28 touchdowns in his first season as the starter.
Is Love on the level of Rodgers as a talent? That’s unfair to Love to say that. Rodgers is an all-time great and one of the most talented quarterbacks in NFL history. But having said that, I’m a believer in Love, and so too are many of his Packers teammates and coaches.
More importantly, the league is still pass-happier than it was in 2008 when Rodgers took over. Additionally, Matt LaFleur is a better schematic offensive mind that Mike McCarthy, especially for this era. And with the new weapons, a strong backfield, and a great offensive line, Love is in an ideal position to produce.
This all comes down to if Love can handle the juice as taking over as the Packers QB1. That’s not a question for me and all the stars are aligning for Green Bay to quickly usher in a new era in which Love arrives, becomes an immediate star, and the franchise doesn’t miss a beat at quarterback.
And if that weren’t good enough, the Packers can rub it in the faces of Bears fans that they have yet another 4,000-yard passer while Chicago has still yet to produce one in franchise history. Love, new minority owner of the Bears has a nice ring to it.