The Green Bay Packers are attempting to navigate through a rocky start to their season, splitting their first four games with a 2-2 record.
Interestingly, they’ve been winless in two starts with Jordan Love and undefeated with Malik Willis under center. But, to be honest, this speaks more to the varying quality of opponents and team performances than any quarterback controversy.
Yet, beyond the wins and losses, some concerning trends are emerging, particularly with certain players whose performances could put their futures in Green Bay at risk.
Josh Myers
Josh Myers is first up on the Packers’ hot seat. After being drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Myers was immediately handed the starting center role. And while he’s held that job ever since, his performance has often left something to be desired. “Serviceable” might be the best way to describe his tenure.
Myers’ current Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 55.9 ranks 28th out of 35 qualified centers this season. That’s not exactly the kind of production you want from someone responsible for anchoring your offensive line, particularly in a league where a strong offensive front can make or break your season.
Unfortunately, Myers’ underwhelming performance in 2023 isn’t an outlier—it’s a continuation of a trend. His PFF grades in previous seasons—54.9 in 2020, 60.4 in 2021, and 54.7 in 2022—paint a picture of a player who has failed to take that next step toward becoming a reliable starter.
For Green Bay, the question isn’t just about whether Myers is the right man for the job in 2024—it’s about the future. Given his mediocre production, it’s hard to see the Packers committing to a contract extension that will significantly raise his pay. As they evaluate their options in the offseason, the Packers are likely to explore upgrades at center, making it increasingly probable that 2024 could be Myers’ last season in Green Bay.
A.J. Dillon
A.J. Dillon isn’t just off to a slow start this season—he’s off to no start at all.
In what feels like the cruelest twist of fate, Dillon showed up to training camp in arguably the best shape of his career. This was a pivotal year for him. After signing a disappointing one-year deal with Green Bay in the offseason, Dillon seemed determined to prove he belonged—not just with the Packers, but in the NFL at large. His motivation was palpable; his physique, transformed. This was going to be the year Dillon silenced the doubters.
And then, disaster struck.
In the second preseason game, Dillon suffered a stinger. What initially seemed like a minor injury quickly spiraled into something much worse. Dillon was later placed on season-ending injured reserve, effectively ending his campaign before it even began.
His absence wasn’t just a loss of depth at running back—it was a missed opportunity for Dillon to re-establish himself as a key player in Green Bay’s backfield rotation.
The harsh reality is that Dillon’s tenure in Green Bay may already be over, through no fault of his own. Injuries have a way of rewriting careers, and with the Packers’ running back room already looking crowded, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Dillon finds himself back in green and gold next year.
Andre Dillard
When the Packers signed Andre Dillard as an unrestricted free agent this offseason, the hope was that he could bolster the offensive tackle depth behind Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom. Dillard was a former first-round pick, once brimming with potential, and Green Bay was betting that a change of scenery might unlock the talent that had so far gone untapped.
He didn’t stand out in the preseason. In fact, he barely made the team after battling with younger, hungrier tackle prospects. But Dillard squeaked onto the 53-man roster, more by default than by performance.
Four games into the season, it’s hard to justify the decision to keep him on the team beyond this season.
Dillard is set to be an unrestricted free agent next season, and barring some unexpected turn of events, it seems unlikely he’ll return to Green Bay. The Packers gambled on Dillard’s pedigree, but at this point, he’s nothing more than a forgotten insurance policy. His story in Green Bay may end as quietly as it began, and the Packers will likely move on without much hesitation.
Eric Stokes
The Packers have a glaring cornerback problem—and Eric Stokes is right in the middle of it.
Green Bay’s decision not to address cornerback depth in the offseason already looks like a mistake. With Jaire Alexander and Carrington Valentine sidelined by injuries in Week 4, Stokes, Keisean Nixon, and the rest of the Packers’ healthy corners were shredded like a confidential document in a paper shredder. It was brutal.
The Packers declined Stokes’ fifth-year option on his rookie contract, meaning he’ll hit free agency in 2025.
Isaiah McDuffie
If the Packers have a cornerback problem, then their inside linebacker situation is an outright crisis.
Switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley was supposed to help shore up Green Bay’s defense. Instead, it has only thrown a harsh spotlight on their glaring issues at linebacker, particularly with Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie.
McDuffie somehow won a starting job alongside Walker in camp, despite the Packers using early draft capital on rookies Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’ron Hopper. However, McDuffie’s grip on that role is slipping. Cooper, in particular, is starting to gain more snaps, and it feels like it’s only a matter of time until McDuffie is relegated to a backup role.
A solid special teams player, McDuffie’s limitations become glaring when he’s asked to play major defensive snaps. He lacks the speed and instincts to be an impact player in the 4-3, and Green Bay needs more from its linebackers—especially with Walker continuing to flounder.
McDuffie is an unrestricted free agent after this season, and while he could land somewhere as a core special teamer, Green Bay has to be looking to upgrade. With promising young players like Cooper and Hopper waiting in the wings, McDuffie’s future with the Packers—and his chances of landing a meaningful contract in free agency—seem dimmer by the week.
Preston Smith
Preston Smith being on this list might raise some eyebrows, especially considering he’s under contract with the Packers through the 2026 season. But there’s a case to be made that his time in Green Bay could be coming to an end sooner rather than later.
Smith has been, once again, a serviceable player this season. He’s solid against both the run and the pass, providing stability as a defensive end who knows how to set the edge. He’s not a liability, and that consistency has been a valuable asset to the Packers’ defense over the years.
But “solid” isn’t exactly what the Packers are paying him for. His cap hit is $14.1 million in 2024, and it only climbs from there—reaching $17.5 million in 2025 and $18.2 million in 2026. For a player who is more reliable than dynamic at this stage of his career, that’s a tough price tag to justify.
Additionally, Green Bay has some intriguing young talent waiting in the wings, players who might be ready for increased roles.
Lukas Van Ness, a former first-round pick, is expected to become a key piece of the defense. Kinglsey Enagbare has flashed potential, and guys like Arron Mosby and Brenton Cox Jr. are developmental pieces who could become rotational players.
The Packers need to weigh their options carefully, but as good as Smith has been for Green Bay, his cap number may ultimately be too big to keep him around.