The Packers are betting big on youth on offense, and that bet could change the shape of the whole unit.
With Romeo Doubs allowed to leave in free agency and Dontayvion Wicks traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay is preparing to build around a younger core for Jordan Love. At the front of that group are tight end Tucker Kraft, first-round pick Matthew Golden, and Christian Watson, whose upside is obvious even if the injury history keeps him from being a sure thing.
That kind of setup is part of why the Packers and Matt LaFleur are drawing national attention. CBS Sports NFL reporter Greg Podell ranked the league’s top head coach-quarterback combinations and placed LaFleur and Love at No. 5.
“He and LaFleur overcame lackluster play from their offensive line most of the 2025 season,” Podell writes for CBS. “Green Bay’s offensive line allowed a quarterback pressure rate of 40.9% in 2025, the fourth-most in the NFL.
A higher passing volume in the Packers’ offense could also lead to a boost in how people feel about Love. He attempted 439 passes (ranking 19th in the NFL in 2025), but with an offense slightly more tilted toward the pass, Love could produce stats more in line with the league’s more celebrated passers.
That looks to be the case after three-time Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list with two misdemeanors.
“The Packers’ offense could discover a new ceiling with Love having even more on his plate in 2026, which could lead to many more wins for LaFleur. His 76 victories since he became Green Bay’s head coach in 2019 are tied for the third-most in the entire league.”
Green Bay still has plenty to sort out on defense. The cornerback room has to grow up fast in a division packed with high-end wide receivers and quarterbacks, and the pass rush will be a major question without Micah Parsons. The linebackers also need to take a step.
But if Love keeps climbing, if the receivers stay on the field, and if that group proves better than last year’s version, the Packers’ offense could end up carrying the load for a season that looks a lot bigger than the one before it.
In Other News...
Packers Quietly Added A Week 1 Name Fans Should Not Overlook
The Packers spent the final stretch before roster cutdown making the kind of moves that can shape the first month of a season just as much as the headlines from August. One of the quieter changes was the trade of backup quarterback Kyle McCord to Miami for a 2028 sixth-round pick, but the more relevant additions for Green Bay came on the field: veteran tight end Jonnu Smith, running back Kaleb Johnson and tight end Mark Redman all arrived with a chance to matter early.
Johnson is the name that stands out because the Packers may need him sooner than expected with Josh Jacobs still on the commissioner-exempt list. Redman is more of a developmental piece, still waiting for his first regular-season snap, but the depth chart now has a different look than it did a week ago. For a team trying to thread the needle between immediate help and longer-term value, these are the kinds of late roster additions that can quietly end up carrying real weight. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Jacobs Update Could Change The Packers Opener Decision
Josh Jacobs legal situation has taken on added significance for the Packers because the calendar has moved up. His initial court appearance, originally set for Nov. 17, has been rescheduled for Sept. 10, a date that arrives much sooner and could force the issue while Green Bay is still trying to map out its early-season backfield plans. Jacobs is dealing with two misdemeanor charges, battery and criminal damage to property, and he remains on the NFL Commissioners Exempt List as the league continues its investigation.
For the Packers, the timing matters almost as much as the case itself. An earlier hearing creates a chance for the NFL to have more clarity before any long-range roster or playing-time decisions need to be locked in, including whatever the team is thinking about for the opener. The situation is still fluid, but the shift in court date could change the pace of everything around it, from the leagues discipline timeline to Green Bays planning for one of its most important offensive pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Finally Confront A Matthew Golden Problem Fans Saw Early
Brian Gutekunst did not spend much time dancing around the issue when he discussed Matthew Goldens rookie season. The Packers general manager acknowledged the wide receiver was underused, saying Golden simply did not get as many opportunities as he should have after drawing only 44 targets and finishing with 361 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Golden did show more impact late in the season, and Gutekunst pointed to a strong training camp as another reason for optimism heading into this year. For a player Green Bay clearly believes can do more, the real question is whether the offense will finally make good on that early promise and give him a larger role when it matters. [Read more 🡒]