Packers' best candidates to win major NFL awards in 2024 (2024)

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) throws a pass during the second quarter of the wild card playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, January 14, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Pick: QB Jordan Love

NFL MVP is a quarterback award. Every year since 2013, or 11 straight years, a quarterback has been named MVP. Winning the award in 2024 might be a stretch for Love, who has started only 18 career regular season games, but his incredible second half of the 2023 season — when Love was arguably the best quarterback in football — keeps alive the possibility. The second-year starter will command one of the NFL’s most advanced offenses, and he’ll have ascending weapons all around him. If the Packers are elite and Love’s numbers improve even slightly over 2023, he’ll be a top MVP candidate.

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – JUNE 04: Head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers watches action during the Green Bay Packers Minicamp at Ray Nitschke Field on June 04, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Pick: Matt LaFleur

Well, obviously. LaFleur has three 13-win seasons and four playoff appearances in five seasons, but he’s received little to no love for NFL Coach of the Year. If the Packers are truly elite in 2024, he’ll have to be considered. It’s a shame he wasn’t a true finalist last year when he helped turn Jordan Love and the NFL’s youngest team into world-beaters down the stretch, but there will be no denying his status as a top coach if he can push the Packers to another big season. Keep in mind, this award rarely goes to the best coach; it is typically given to the coach of the team that “improved” the most year over year. But going from nine wins in 2023 to 12 or 13 wins in 2024 would certainly qualify, right?

Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is shown during the team’s mini camp Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Pick: Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley

Hafley is actually entering a perfect situation for an assistant coach hoping to earn top honors. He’s taking over an underperforming group that is filled with talent and investment, and if he can create meaningful improvement right away, the Packers will almost certainly be one of the NFL’s top teams. Keep in mind, the defensive coordinator of a team with a playcalling head coach has won the award each of the last three seasons. Can Hafley have a Dan Quinn-like impact immediately for the Packers defense?

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) is shown during the team’s mini camp Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Pick: RB Josh Jacobs

Jacobs is only one year removed from producing over 2,000 total yards as the engine of the Raiders offense. He won’t be the centerpiece in Green Bay, but the Packers offense has a well-designed run game, a quarterback/passing game capable of taking pressure off the run game and plenty of opportunities for a running back to create impact as a receiver. Jacobs probably won’t get close to 400 touches in 2024 (he had 393 in 2022), but there’s a good chance he’ll handle a bigger workload than Aaron Jones, and touchdown chances should be plentiful. Generally speaking, running backs have a far better chance of winning OPOY than MVP.

Sep 24, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Rashan Gary (52) during the game against the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Pick: DE Rashan Gary

Gary will be another year removed from his ACL injury, and he’ll enter the 2024 season coming off a healthy offseason. Having Gary available as a full-time player could mean big production and big numbers, especially in a new defense designed to create sacks and TFLs with disruption up front. He was a wrecking ball at times in 2023 but eventually faded down the stretch. Don’t expect a similar fade in 2024. Healthy and in his prime, Gary could be a game-wrecker for Jeff Hafley. Keep in mind: a pass-rusher has won this award nine of the last 10 seasons. Kenny Clark is a darkhorse here — he could be fully unleashed in the new 4-3.

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (32) runs through drills during rookie minicamp on Friday, May 3, 2024, at the Don Hutson Center in Green Bay, Wis.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Pick: RB Marshawn Lloyd

Admittedly, there isn’t a great pick here. First-round pick Jordan Morgan isn’t going to win the award, even if he’s a plus starter along the offensive line. Lloyd will enter training camp as nothing more than the No. 3 running back, but that could change quickly. In the scenario where Josh Jacobs is injured, Lloyd could become a very important player. He’s dynamic, both as a runner and receiver, and it isn’t rare for rookie running backs to provide instant impact. That said, a running back hasn’t won the award since Saquon Barkley in 2018.

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – MAY 03: Edgerrin Cooper #56 of the Green Bay Packers participates in drills during the rookie minicamp at Ray Nitschke Field on May 03, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Pick: LB Edgerrin Cooper

A true off-ball linebacker hasn’t won DROY since 2018, but Cooper will have a chance. He should be a Day 1 starter, he’ll play next to a similarly athletic linebacker in Quay Walker, and he’ll play behind a stacked defensive line. Throw in Jeff Hafley’s willingness to blitz, and Cooper could be a playmaker in Year 1. He’ll need to go well over 100 tackles and produce sacks, interceptions and takeaway plays to have a chance to win, but Cooper did plenty of playmaking during his final two seasons at Texas A&M. We’ll see if he can hit the ground running for Hafley and the Packers in 2024. Javon Bullard is another option here.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) scores a touchdown against Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) during their football game Sunday, December 3, 2023, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.

Pick: WR Christian Watson

Watson missed eight games and was limited in several others due to never-ending hamstring injuries in 2023. After spending the offseason searching for answers on the injury front, Watson is healthy and brimming with confidence to start 2024. Comeback Player of the Year has become a quarterback award — the last six winners have been quarterbacks — but what if Watson stays healthy and truly explodes in production in 2024? Jordy Nelson won the award after catching 97 passes and leading the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2016. Maybe Watson can do something similar. The biggest problem here is probably competition. There’s this guy named Aaron Rodgers coming back after playing only four snaps last year, and others — such as Nick Chubb, Deshaun Watson and Kirk Cousins — are also coming back from major injuries.