The Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl hopes ended in the wild-card round, where they were outclassed by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and the Packers' defense put together a performance worthy of victory, but in the end, the offense let them down.
Several individual defensive performances have earned the attention of the Packers' faithful, and this unit has shown the potential to become a truly elite defense. Grading the Packers' defensive players can help them grasp who the defense will lean on in 2025 and who may need to elevate their game.
Grading every key Packers defensive player after the 2024 season
CB Jaire Alexander: Incomplete
With star cornerback Jaire Alexander only playing six full games this season, it is not fair to hand him a definitive grade. Alexander played just 10 snaps after suffering a knee injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8.
Alexander made two interceptions, including a pick-six in Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans. It is unclear what Alexander's future on the Packers holds, and whether he will continue to play for this team remains to be seen.
CB Keisean Nixon: B-
Keisean Nixon moved from the slot to outside cornerback, often matching up against the opponent's top wide receiver.
Nixon had a bitter end to the season, controversially fumbling on the opening kickoff of the wild-card game, but he did play well down the stretch. Nixon improved his tackling late in the season. In the final four games of the regular season, Nixon had four tackles for loss and a strip-sack against the New Orleans Saints. He also recorded an interception earlier in the season against the Detroit Lions.
Overall, Nixon had a steady end to the season at the outside cornerback position and should continue to thrive in his role.
CBs Carrington Valentine & Eric Stokes (rotation): C
Cornerbacks Carrington Valentine and Eric Stokes surprisingly played in a rotation for most of the season.
To put this analysis simply, it can't continue. Late in the year, Valentine widened the gap between him and Stokes, capped off with two interceptions against the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings.
Stokes had zero pass deflections this year, while Valentine finished with five. This grade would improve if Valentine had full control. Expect Valentine to earn more opportunities next season, while Stokes is one of several Packers players who might not return in 2025.
S Xavier McKinney: A+
Some were skeptical when the Packers handed Xavier McKinney a huge contract in free agency. McKinney was worth every penny, earning first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors for the first time in his career.
With an incredible eight interceptions, McKinney stabilized the ship for a defense that loves forcing turnovers and making big plays. McKinney's ball-hawking ability forced teams to stop testing the secondary deep downfield.
S Evan Williams: A
Expectations were relatively low after the Packers selected Evan Williams in the fourth round. It began to change after his breakout performance against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5 when he made the game-winning pass breakup on fourth down.
Williams contributed in both the pass and run games. He was solid in coverage, but his ability to run downhill and make tackles was particularly impressive. The best example came in Week 7 against the Houston Texans, when Williams ruined a two-point conversion by tackling running back Joe Mixon behind the line of scrimmage.
Williams joined Edgerrin Cooper in the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
S Javon Bullard: B+
Javon Bullard is another rookie safety to show promise in Year 1. The Packers used Bullard interchangeably between nickelback and safety, with the rookie showing the versatility required in Jeff Hafley's scheme.
While Bullard did not make many splash plays, his abilities in coverage and tackling shouldn't go unnoticed. The rookie looked like a veteran for this young team. As a young, high draft pick from Georgia, Bullard will have plenty of opportunities to shine next season.
LB Quay Walker: C
Quay Walker had another up-and-down season. There have been struggles both in the run and pass games, which have made many question whether Walker is capable as a starter. To give credit where it's due, Walker played arguably the best football of his NFL career before his injury against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15, with five tackles for loss over a three-game stretch.
That late-season revival saves Walker from an even lower grade, with hopefully better things to come for the former Georgia Bulldog.
LB Edgerrin Cooper: A
Despite battling injuries and having to patiently wait for his opportunity, Edgerrin Cooper dominated in the second half of the season. Cooper was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week twice this season, most recently against the Seahawks after making a sack and an interception.
The rookie ended the regular season on a tear, with at least one tackle for loss in the final four games, including four in Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings. Cooper is the Packers' most athletic linebacker and continued to fly around the football all season long. The Packers have found a star.
DE Rashan Gary: B-
With just 7.5 sacks and inconsistent play in the regular season, Gary fell short of expectations in 2024. Some of Gary's value is intangible, and his respected ability to hurry the quarterback and generate pressure allows his teammates to finish the job.
Gary has still shown a strong ability to overpower defenders en route to the quarterback and will hopefully continue showing that hard work ethic we know he has.
DE Lukas Van Ness: C+
With just three sacks, Lukas Van Ness has not necessarily had the sophomore season that many anticipated. The positive is that Van Ness showed progress following the Preston Smith trade. Although the numbers were underwhelming, it is clear that Van Ness is becoming more polished as a pass-rusher.
With a packed defensive line, Van Ness will continue to rotate, but keeping him fresh could lead to more explosive plays when the Packers really need it.
DE Kingsley Enagbare: B-
Kingsley Enagbare showed promise in his third season, but like many of his teammates, he has not shown consistency. With 4.5 sacks on the year, Enagbare has been in a rotation with other pass-rushers, such as the aforementioned Van Ness.
Enagbare had back-to-back sacks against the Seahawks in primetime, where Green Bay's pass rush found a lot of success. Hopefully, Enagbare can take another jump next year as the Packers' defensive front remains competitive.
DE Brenton Cox: B-
Brenton Cox is one of the more interesting stories along the defensive line. After being inactive for Green Bay's first nine games, Cox made four sacks in seven games.
Cox's grade could be affected by his lack of play, but it feels unjust not to show him some praise for his solid play in limited action. As another player in this rotational role, it will be intriguing to watch Cox next season to see if he can replicate his success.
DT Kenny Clark: C
For a player who has been elite for quite some time, Kenny Clark was very quiet this season. After making 7.5 sacks in 2023, Clark's one sack in 2024 is rather disappointing. As a defensive tackle, his role is not always about getting sacks, but it was concerning to see his production drop significantly.
Clark still provides solid support in the run game and gets off the ball quickly, but for a player making over $20 million every season, the Packers need much more from him.
DT Devonte Wyatt: B+
In his third season as a pro, Devonte Wyatt was the Packers' best defensive tackle. With five sacks and nine quarterback hits, Wyatt showed both finesse and power in his pass rush. His support in the run game has also been excellent, often forcing opposing running backs to run into a wall in the backfield. As a former first-round pick, Wyatt has started to piece it all together in his third season and can hopefully be a future star for years to come.