The Green Bay Packers did not take a significant step forward during the 2024 season despite winning two more regular season games. Matt LaFleur’s team limped into the postseason and were defeated by 12 points in the NFC Wild Card Round, providing a stark difference in finish compared to when the 2023 Packers stormed into the playoffs and were minutes away from advancing to the NFC title game.
While most traditional counting stats say the Packers improved overall, not all agree.
In fact, by overall grade at Pro Football Focus, the Packers actually slightly regressed from 83.6 (12th) in 2023 to 83.5 (17th) in 2024 — suggesting LaFleur’s team wasn’t any better while the overall quality of league did improve.
Two truths from 2024: the Packers got a ton of value and improvement from outside additions but were lacking in terms of internal development of players on the roster.
Here’s a closer look at the Packers’ most improved players from the 2024 season, using individual overall grades from Pro Football Focus as our guide:
G Sean Rhyan
2023 grade: 49.3
2024 grade: 61.3
Improvement: 12.0
Rhyan gave up a team-high four sacks and eight quarterback hits, but he improved significantly in both run-blocking grade and pass-blocking grade in his first season as a (mostly) full-time starter at guard. He played over 1,000 snaps in 2024. Another step forward as a second-year starter in 2025 and Rhyan would represent a highly capable starting NFL guard.
CB Eric Stokes
2023 grade: 51.5
2024 grade: 61.3
Improvement: 9.8
This improvement was a mix of his disappointing return to the field in 2023 and a return to some level of reliability in 2024. Stokes tackled well and didn’t give up many explosive plays, but he also gave up three touchdowns and didn’t have an interception or pass breakup.
CB Carrington Valentine
2023 grade: 57.5
2024 grade: 65.5
Improvement: 8.0
Valentine struggled protecting the boundary against the run and missed too many tackles in space, but he proved to be an effective player in coverage for Jeff Hafley. His coverage grade improved to 71.4 in 2024. Valentine didn’t give up a touchdown into his coverage, broke up three passes and created three turnovers, including two picks. His improvement in coverage suggests Valentine could be a capable starter in 2025.
LB Eric Wilson
2023 grade: 56.5
2024 grade: 64.3
Improvement: 7.8
Wilson was excellent as a spot starter during a few games and a liability during a handful of others. He produced 23 stops, up from just seven last year, and he created nine pressures as a blitzer. His problems were in coverage and missing tackles (11 misses, 15.1 percent miss rate).
TE Tucker Kraft
2023 grade: 60.4
2024 grade: 67.8
Improvement: 7.4
For whatever reason, Kraft hasn’t received good run-blocking grades from PFF. He did improve significantly in the passing game, and he got a boost from his success rate on designed short-yardage sneak plays. Kraft was excellent after the catch and forcing missed tackles — he led all NFL tight ends in average yards after the catch and total forced missed tackles in 2024.
DL Devonte Wyatt
2023 grade: 59.6
2024 grade: 66.4
Improvement: 6.8
Wyatt missed only three tackles, down from an incredible 15 misses last year. He finished more plays but wasn’t quite as disruptive as a pass-rusher (32 pressures in 2024 vs. 48 in 2023), although he played far fewer snaps (644 in 2023 vs. 366 in 2024). The Packers saw him as their most consistent interior pass-rusher.
RT Zach Tom
2023 grade: 79.7
2024 grade: 85.8
Improvement: 6.1
He went from a good second-year player to a dominant third-year player. Tom improved as a pass-blocker (allowing only 28 pressures, down from 37 in 2023) and took a big leap as a run-blocker (grade improved from 81.8 to 87.8). He played over 1,000 snaps at right tackle for the second-straight season.
CB Keisean Nixon
2023 grade: 60.0
2024 grade: 64.0
Improvement: 4.0
The move to perimeter corner helped Nixon become a more consistent player in coverage, but his ability to make impact tackles and defend the run fueled his overall improvement. He missed fewer tackles and also forced three fumbles while allowing fewer catches and fewer receiving yards in 2024.
RB Emanuel Wilson
2023 grade: 80.0
2024 grade: 82.9
Improvement: 2.9
His 2023 season was cut short by injury, but Wilson emerged as a legitimate No. 2 running back in 2024, averaging 4.9 yards per carry and forcing 28 missed tackles. He also had seven runs of 15 or more yards.
LT Rasheed Walker
2023 grade: 66.3
2024 grade: 68.6
Improvement: 2.3
Walker was once again good as a pass protector at left tackle, and he reduced his number of sacks allowed from six in 2023 to only three in 2024. His run-blocking didn’t improve.
LG Elgton Jenkins
2023 grade: 63.8
2024 grade: 65.5
Improvement: 1.7
Jenkins finished as the Packers’ highest-graded pass blocker after allowing just one sack and 18 total pressures. He did committ 10 penalties, up from just five in 2023. Jenkins played 72 snaps at center this season.
Other improvements
S Zayne Anderson (+51.0): The backup safety only played 14 snaps on defense in 2023, but he was effective in coverage and terrific on special teams in 2024. He logged his first start and first career interception. His final grade on defense in 2024 was 80.8.
DE Brenton Cox Jr. (+9.0): After getting a redshirt season and a half, Cox was productive over the second half of the 2024 season, producing 18 pressures and four sacks.
WR Malik Heath (+2.8): He caught two touchdown passes, didn’t have a drop and finished 4-of-5 contested catches.
WR Christian Watson (+0.9): He averaged 2.26 yards per route run, an excellent mark and a big improvement over 2023 (1.48). He also caught 10 of 15 contested catches and had just two drops while averaging 21.4 yards per catch.
P Daniel Whelan (+0.8): He improved his yards per punt, net average and hang time in 2024.
Additions
Running back Josh Jacobs improved from a 65.0 overall grade in his final season with the Raiders to an elite 92.3 grade in his first season with the Packers, producing an improvement of 27.3. Last season, Aaron Jones had an overall grade of 80.9, so the Packers improved here overall.
Quarterback Malik Willis improved from a 45.9 overall grade in his final season with the Titans to a 70.3 grade in his first season with the Packers, producing an improvement of 24.4. Willis was added via trade after Sean Clifford, last year’s backup, failed to win the job in training camp.
Kicker Brandon McManus improved from a 73.3 overall grade in his final season with the Jaguars to an 81.6 grade in his first season with the Packers, producing an improvement of 8.3. Last season, Anders Carlson had an overall grade of 42.4, so the Packers improved here significantly overall.
