2023 Green Bay Packers State of the Franchise

The 2023 Green Bay Packers are in a position that we have not seen in many years. Gone are future Hall of Fame quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, with an unproven Jordan Love taking the reigns. Veterans have been moved or not re-signed in favor of young talent. It is a year of transition and one that fans have absolutely no idea what to expect.

Packers QB Jordan Love – Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

2023 Green Bay Packers State Of The Franchise

This team goes from one of the oldest rosters to one of the youngest, especially on offense. Offensive tackle David Bakhtiari is the oldest at 31 years old. The wide receivers are all first or second-year players. Rookie tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft are the likely starters at the beginning of the season. On defense, veterans Kenny Clark, Preston Smith, and Jaire Alexander are still relatively young, with Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Quay Walker, and Devonte Wyatt leading the youth movement. This is going to be a fun team to watch regardless of what their record is.

Packers WR Christian Watson – David Berding/Getty Images

Outlook For 2023

Trying to predict this Green Bay Packers season is like trying to predict what my two-year-old is going to want for dinner tonight. I may think I have it figured out, and then BAM! Total meltdown. There is a world where the Packers can still compete. The roster has talent, especially on the defensive side. If Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs take second-year leaps and Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon become the league’s best two-headed backfield monster, this team could be really good. A 10-7 record doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility with their schedule and the weakness of the NFC conference.

On the flip side, this team could also regress heavily. Love might not be ready for a starting role and make many mistakes. Doubs and Watson might regress. The defense could disappoint again under defensive coordinator Joe Barry. A key injury here or there can swing the season. There’s a very real world where the Packers are picking in the top ten of the draft next season. It really is a complete wild card. Packers fans should go into this season excited to watch a young team regardless of what the record is.

Packer HC Matt LaFleur – Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Winning Window

I think the winning window for the Green Bay Packers is in a couple of years. There are too many young pieces to compete now. However, let me paint you a picture. Love is amazing. The Packers have done it again in finding a Hall of Fame quarterback. Matt LaFleur’s playcalling is elite. The defense puts it all together and is dominant. With the strength of the NFC and the talent that the current roster has, this team could make a surprise run in the playoffs. Let me be clear. I don’t think this is the likely outcome, but I can see a world where it happens.

Packers QB Jordan Love – Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports

A Win-Win For The Organization

The Green Bay Packers organization has set itself up well for the future, no matter what happens this season. Love signed an extension this offseason, but it only goes through 2024. If Love is good, the Packers can sign him to a long-term deal, and the team can build around him. The young receivers will have multiple years to build rapport and the defense will hopefully flourish with the talent that they have already. But what happens if things go bad?

Let’s say Love is not ready for the starting job. He struggles with accuracy and other parts of the offense. While for 2023, that stinks, this draft is an easy one to find a good quarterback. I highly doubt the Green Bay Packers will be bad enough to take Caleb Williams, but he isn’t the only prospect in the draft.

Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., Quinn Evers, and Bo Nix are some of the players that also might go in the top ten of the draft. Then players like Spencer Rattler, KJ Jefferson, and JJ McCarthy could be later-round steals that turn into something. They aren’t tied to Love long-term, so if they are bad this year, they could easily reset the quarterback position.

The 2023 Green Bay Packers are in a great place in terms of the future. They have the potential to be good now but also have the flexibility in order to go in a different direction if the current roster does not perform. It is what makes the Green Bay Packers one of the smartest organizations in football. This year is going to be fun. It could be very frustrating, but watching all of this young talent is going to be a good time.