8 Packers rivals likely heading out of the division in 2024
Even though the Detroit Lions could end up representing the NFC in this year's Super Bowl, the Green Bay Packers are shaping up pretty nicely in the NFC North for 2024 and beyond. With the youngest roster in the NFL, the Packers not only made it into the postseason, but they managed to go on the road and get an upset win against the Dallas Cowboys.
Not to mention, they probably should have upset the San Francisco 49ers on the road as well. As tough as it is to live with the growing pains, the path to the top of the NFC North could be getting a little clearer in 2024, as a number of key players are poised to potentially leave the division.
Which Packers rivals could be on their way out of the NFC North in 2024? Let's look at a bunch of prominent names, starting with the most prominent.
1. Kirk Cousins, QB, Vikings
Kirk Cousins is one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, which is hard to admit, but it's true. Cousins has helped the Vikings to a 50-37-1 record since he's been in Minneapolis, a number of playoff appearances, and an average of nearly 4,500 yards and 33 passing touchdowns every 17 games.
Needless to say, if the Vikings move on from Cousins in 2024, it would be welcomed news for Packers fans.
Cousins is coming off of a major injury, he'll be 36 years old in August, and he's a pending free agent. The timing for the Vikings to move on with so many other contracts hanging in the balance could be right, as painful as that might be. Cousins has done very well with head coach Kevin O'Connell but how many more years does he have left? Would the Vikings have to make other sacrifices on their roster in order to keep Cousins?
I think Cousins will draw plenty of interest around the league and we might have seen the last of him in Minnesota.
Cousins being out of the NFC North could also mean that Justin Jefferson's production takes a step back. Who knows if Jefferson will have the same type of chemistry with a new QB that he has had with Cousins?