5 PLAYERS WHO ARE DEFINITELY ENTERING THEIR LAST YEAR WITH PACKERS

If there's one thing we know is true about Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur, it's that they aren't afraid to say difficult goodbyes. The last three offseasons have been proof of that as the Packers have traded or cut all of Davante Adams, Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Jones, and David Bakhtiari in consecutive offseasons.

Among others.

So which current Packers players are playing in their final year with the team in 2024? There could be even more notable names departing in the 2025 offseason. Let's take a look at a handful of situations worth monitoring around the roster.

1. Eric Stokes, cornerback

After a strong rookie year in which he racked up 14 passes broken up, former first-round pick Eric Stokes has fallen off the map a little bit. That hasn't prevented the Packers from seemingly putting a lot of faith in him for the 2024 season, but this might be his last real chance to stick around as a fixture for the Green Bay defense.

Stokes has missed 22 games over the last two seasons, including all but three games in the 2023 season. The Packers now have players on the roster who have stepped up in his place and started some games for them, but the decision not to draft any cornerbacks in 2024 until the seventh round (Kalen King) is indicative that there's still at least some level of faith that Stokes can turn things around.

Even considering the Packers may still have some faith, it's hard to see Stokes sticking around beyond this year given his recent injury history. The former first-round pick out of Georgia could be looking for a new home in 2025.

2. AJ Dillon, running back

As good as he looks this offseason (and he does look good), it's hard to envision a future for AJ Dillon with the Green Bay Packers beyond the 2024 season. In fact, it's still a little tough to envision what his role is going to be in 2024 given the fact that offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich has stated the Packers want to get rookie MarShawn Lloyd involved right away.

We'll see what happens.

But Dillon is a former second-round pick who could parlay a strong preseason into a RB1 or RB2 role elsewhere, maybe even before the 2024 season begins. He's a big, strong back who had a real shot last year to cement himself as a possible RB1 in Green Bay with how long Aaron Jones spent injured, but he couldn't seize the role. The additions of Josh Jacobs and MarShawn Lloyd have put Dillon's standing with the Packers -- beyond 2024 -- in serious question.

3. Royce Newman, offensive line

At this point, we may all just be waiting for this shoe to drop. What haven't the Packers done to indicate that Royce Newman is likely on the outside looking in of this team's plans, both present and future?

He may not make it out of training camp.

The former fourth-round pick was effectively replaced in the rotation last year despite the Packers rotating bodies at guard, and now there are a handful of incoming rookies -- including first-round pick Jordan Morgan -- gunning for jobs. It doesn't feel likely at all that Newman has a place on this team. He might be gone before the 2024 season even starts as the Packers look to start fresh with their young depth along the interior offensive line.

4. Jaire Alexander, cornerback

It would be a little shocking to see the Packers move on from both Eric Stokes and Jaire Alexander in one offseason, but I guess you never know. Maybe they move on from one guy and not the other, but the possibility of moving on from Jaire Alexander needs to be discussed.

Alexander was given a team-imposed suspension last year and you could sense some growing friction between he and the organization (obviously) before that. Next year, he's slated to count over $25 million against the salary cap with a potential of $17.5 million in cap savings if the Packers make him a post-June 1 release.

It's possible we see wholesale changes at the cornerback position next offseason but I would feel a lot more confident about Alexander being cut or traded if the Packers had found someone -- anyone -- in the 2024 NFL Draft (at least, someone in the first couple of days).

5. Josh Myers, center

We saw the Packers move on from Jon Runyan Jr. this past offseason, and with the market expected to stay hot for interior offensive linemen, you can't help but wonder if Josh Myers could be the next to go.

Green Bay is understandably supremely confident in their ability to draft and develop offensive line talent. They could utilize 2024 fifth-round pick Jacob Monk in this role going forward, or perhaps we could simply see them reload with a rookie. If Myers is commanding north of $10 million per season on the open market, I wouldn't be shocked if the Packers passed on trying to re-sign him just like they did with Runyan in 2024.

As great as it would be to have continuity at all five spots on the offensive line, the Packers might have the chance to actually upgrade this spot and get cheaper/younger in the 2025 offseason.

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This article was originally published on lombardiave.com as 5 players who are definitely entering their last year with Packers.

2024-06-30T11:12:21Z dg43tfdfdgfd