Green Bay’s new additions are stirring up plenty of excitement ahead of the 2024 season, with free agency splash signing Xavier McKinney leading the safety room, and another talented rookie class settling in.

But if the Packers are to kick on from last year and establish themselves as true contenders, it will more likely be improvement from returning players that makes the biggest difference.

Here are five prime candidates for a breakout season in 2024:

Christian Watson

At the wide receiver position, there were plenty of options to choose from.

Just two days ago, head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters Romeo Doubs had an “outstanding spring”, going on to say: “I can’t think of a bad day he’s had out there”.

Jayden Reed broke the franchise rookie record for receptions in 2023, and the hype is building ahead of his sophomore campaign. Jaire Alexander recently said of Reed: “He reminds me of a young Randall Cobb… but he’s better.”

Dontayvion Wicks flashed elite skills in his somewhat limited playing time as a rookie as well, but ultimately, Watson is the most unique, and has the biggest upside of any Packers receiver.

He took the league by storm in the second half of his rookie year, and when Watson was healthy in 2023, the stratospheric potential remained evident.

With persistent hamstring injuries now hopefully behind him, a rising star in Jordan Love at quarterback and a handful of running mates to draw attention away, Watson could have a big 2024.

Luke Musgrave

Fellow second-year tight end Tucker Kraft also has a fair shout, although his pec injury could mean a slower start to training camp and therefore the regular season.

Musgrave had his own injury problems, mostly the lacerated kidney he suffered in the Packers’ November win over the Chargers, but showed why he was a top-50 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft as a rookie

The former Oregon State Beaver has rare traits, in particular his receiver-like speed. Green Bay has so many toys for LaFleur to play with on offense, and the creativity with which he gets the ball in his pass-catchers’ hands is impressive.

Musgrave’s first NFL touchdown versus the Rams was a perfect example of this. If defenses get too locked in on the Packers’ collection of talented wide receivers and forget about Musgrave, he will make them pay.

Devonte Wyatt

A constant menace as a pass rusher, without the stats to truly show it, Wyatt figures to be a big factor in 2024.

Jeff Hafley’s new defensive scheme should allow Green Bay’s defensive linemen to focus more on penetrating and disrupting, rather than plugging gaps. This will be music to Wyatt’s ears as he looks to find another gear this season.

Wyatt was an over-aged rookie and is already 26 years old entering his third year in the NFL. The expectation was he would be able to make a splash right away, especially as a first round pick, but that has not quite transpired.

It is fair to give Wyatt the benefit of the doubt after having Joe Barry as a defensive coordinator for his first two years, but this will be a pivotal season for him.

Quay Walker

Walker was picked before Wyatt in the same draft, and similarly will be hoping to make the leap in year three.

If the linebacker progressed in his second season, it was not anything groundbreaking. Like Wyatt, he will be hoping the change in scheme will be beneficial, turning him from a read-and-react linebacker, which never suited him, into a downhill, attacking force.

After a shakeup at the position this offseason, Walker is now the player with the most starting experience in Green Bay’s linebacker room.

He will have plenty on his plate as he looks to be a leader, wear the ‘green dot’ and be the communicator on defense, as well as improve his own game after two seasons which have been mediocre at best. The 2024 campaign will be telling as to just how good Walker can become.

Carrington Valentine

The talk of OTAs and minicamp, Valentine appears primed to hit the ground running in his second season and compete aggressively for a starting spot at cornerback opposite Alexander.

Thrust into the lineup regularly as a rookie seventh-round pick, Valentine took his lumps but overall acquitted himself well, and has put on significant extra poundage in the offseason to aid his physical style of coverage.

LaFleur was full of praise for Valentine. On the second-year corner’s offseason, he said: “It’s been outstanding. We challenged him to put on weight after the regular season, he came back and definitely looks bigger”.

Between Alexander, Valentine and Keisean Nixon, Green Bay’s cornerbacks will annoy the hell out of opposition receivers if nothing else.