Here we are - officially in what is pretty much the only five-week "dead zone" of the NFL. No football, no combine, no draft, no OTAs. no mini-camps, no league meetings, nothing until Packers training camp starts on July 22nd. It's a time of year that NFL GM's answer the phone with trepidation, lest they get informed that one of his players has gotten himself into a bit of trouble with all that unsupervised time. It's the time when Aaron Rodgers stated his Packers teammates players must remember that they "Carry the G" wherever they go. Everything they do reflects back on the organization. Fortunately, it hasn't been a big problem for the Packers in recent history with their emphasis on bringing in players of strong character. The Packers spend as much time investigating what kind of person the player is as how good of a football player he is. It's no accident that former high school and college team captains can be found throughout the Packers' roster. For us fans, it's one less thing to worry about as well.
If there 's one thing for us fans to potentially worry about during this "quiet time," it's whether this Packers team has what it takes to win a Super Bowl. Are you optimistic about their chances or do you think there's something missing? And is it valid to believe both things at once? I ask because that's kind of where I am. I had this conversation Monday night with the guys over at the Packers Weekly Podcast/Youtube live show. You see, while I very much am an optimist, deep down inside, I am a realist. And I've always been this way. My high school Honors Humanities teacher saw it. This is what she wrote in my HS yearbook, "To Al, our class realist. Whenever we ventured too far into the fantasy world, you were there to gently bring us back down to earth."
So yes, I am optimistic that the Packers have a team that is strong enough to win a Super Bowl. The roster is filled with really good players and the team depth is as good as it's been in years. That makes me optimistic. But the realist in me tempers my optimism because I do feel the team is lacking something that most Super Bowl winning teams have - multiple Pro Bowl-level high-impact players. While Brian Gutekunst has done a very good job building a deep roster, where he has stubbed his toe is identifying players that go on to become Pro Bowlers. The Packers had three Pro Bowl players last year, Josh Jacobs, Xavier McKinney and Rashan Gary. Only Gary was a Packers draft pick.
Looking back at the last three Super Bowl winners, the Eagles had six Pro Bowlers (all All-Pros) in 2024, the Chiefs had five Pro Bowlers in 2023 (three All-Pros), and seven Pro Bowlers (six All-Pros) in 2022. So there we have it - I've found the magic formula that will insure a Super Bowl Championship! Of course not, but the point is that most Super Bowl teams have multiple "IMPACT" players on their roster. Players that can change the course of a game with their individual greatness while still just a component of what makes up a winning team.
If you're getting a bit depressed reading this, fear not, because I am OPTIMISTIC that there are players on this team capable of being those impact players in addition to McKinney, Jacobs and Gary. Let's take a look.
Edgerrin Cooper - This is the ONE player I believe is an All-Pro in the making and will prove to be Brian Gutekunst's best draft pick of the 2020s.
Zach Tom - Approaching All-Pro level if not already there. Get his extension done and let him continue his upward trajectory.
Jordan Love - Fifth best QBR in 2024, ahead of Mahomes, Hurts, Herbert and Stafford. But year 3 as a starter is when he needs to prove he really belongs in the top-tier, just Like Favre and Rodgers did.
Elgton Jenkins - Gutey has famously has said he believes Jenkins can be an All-Pro center. Work out something with his contract and let him go prove it.
Kenny Clark - He was added to the Pro Bowl team in 2023 as a replacement, so we know he's capable, especially if fully healthy. A return to form would be a beautiful thing.
Tucker Kraft - This is everyone's favorite breakout player for the Packers. If they actually commit to using him more as a pass-catching weapon, a Pro Bowl is possible.
Give me four of these guys plus repeat Pro Bowls from McKinney, Jacobs and Gary and I can optimistically guarantee a Super Bowl win!!!
Ok, maybe not - I'm a bit too much of a realist.
Go Pack Go!