The Green Bay Packers look primed to make another run over the second half of the season. They’ve won three straight games to improve to 9-3 on the season and seem to be clicking on both sides of the ball following an impressive win over the Miami Dolphins.
However, even though the team is clicking as a whole, there are several individual performers who have left a lot to be desired this season. Here are five Packers making it easy for Green Bay to say goodbye in 2025 and beyond.
Andre Dillard
The Packers’ signing of Andre Dillard was a low-risk, medium-reward insurance policy heading into the season. With uncertainty surrounding the development of young offensive tackles Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom, Green Bay sought a veteran option as a safety net in case of injury or poor performance.
Luckily for the Packers, that safety net hasn’t been needed. Walker and Tom have exceeded expectations, with the latter ranking an impressive 6th among 75 qualified offensive tackles, per Pro Football Focus. Walker, while not quite at Tom’s level, has been steady, coming in at 47th. Both players have remained healthy, giving Green Bay a solid, consistent duo on the edges.
This consistency has left Dillard as little more than a spectator. Through 11 games, he’s logged just four offensive snaps, a testament to both the durability of the starters and Dillard’s place on the depth chart. For a player who was likely hoping to resurrect his career and compete for a starting role, this season hasn’t offered much of an opportunity.
As Dillard approaches free agency, re-signing with Green Bay feels unlikely. The Packers appear set at offensive tackle heading into 2025, and Dillard is likely searching for a team where he can compete for meaningful playing time. While he hasn’t been a problem for the Packers, his quiet one-year tenure makes him an easy player to let walk in the offseason.
Josh Myers
Josh Myers entered the NFL as a second-round pick in the 2021 draft with a reputation as a cerebral center who could anchor the Packers’ offensive line for years. His high football IQ and ability to diagnose defensive schemes were seen as assets that would complement Green Bay’s system.
Fast forward to 2024, and it’s clear Myers hasn’t lived up to the billing.
While his mental acumen has remained an asset, the physical side of his game continues to lag behind NFL standards. Through 11 games, Myers is posting a career-low Pro Football Focus grade of 51.7, ranking 36th out of 37 eligible centers. His inability to win at the point of attack has been a consistent issue, leading to struggles in both pass protection and the run game. Simply put, Myers’ performance has not been up to par for a team with championship aspirations.
With Myers set to hit unrestricted free agency in the offseason, the Packers appear poised to move on. Re-signing him would likely require a multi-year investment, a move Green Bay is unlikely to make given Myers’ declining production.
Instead, the Packers could pivot to internal options like Elgton Jenkins—who has the versatility to slide into the center role—or younger players such as Sean Rhyan or Jacob Monk. The draft is also a viable avenue to address the position.
For Myers, the writing is on the wall. While he’s had moments of promise, the Packers appear ready to look elsewhere to solidify the middle of their offensive line heading into 2025.
TJ Slaton
Sticking with the big fellas in the trenches, but shifting to the defensive side of the ball, TJ Slaton finds himself on increasingly shaky ground when it comes to his long-term future in Green Bay.
Slaton teased fans and coaches alike with an impressive preseason performance. His combination of raw power and surprising burst for a player his size caught the eye, and he earned a starting role over Devonte Wyatt as the Packers’ interior defensive line rotation took shape. Slaton looked poised to take a major step forward in his development.
Unfortunately, the regular season has told a very different story.
Slaton has been a liability in the heart of Green Bay’s defense. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranks 106th out of 120 eligible interior defensive linemen—a far cry from the level of play the Packers expected. His inability to consistently shed blocks and disrupt plays has led to his demotion on the depth chart, with Wyatt reclaiming the starting role and rookies Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks eating into his snaps.
The transition to Jeff Hafley’s 4-3 defensive scheme may not be the best fit for Slaton’s skill set. As a 3-4 nose tackle, he might thrive as a space-eater who frees up linebackers to make plays. But in a 4-3 alignment that demands more agility and pass-rushing ability, he’s struggled to find his footing.
With unrestricted free agency looming in 2025, Slaton needs to make a compelling case for a second contract. Right now, it’s hard to see Green Bay prioritizing a player who’s failed to capitalize on his opportunities. Unless he can show marked improvement down the stretch, Slaton’s days in Titletown may be numbered.
Isaiah McDuffie
The Packers’ linebacker situation has been one of the team’s most glaring weaknesses in 2024, and Isaiah McDuffie has unfortunately been part of the problem rather than the solution.
While Green Bay has navigated other positional uncertainties, the linebacker corps—featuring Quay Walker, McDuffie, and Eric Wilson—has consistently underperformed.
For McDuffie, this season was a chance to prove he could transition from a special teams ace to a reliable defensive contributor. However, the results have been underwhelming.
McDuffie’s motor and effort are undeniable, but his lack of elite athleticism and instincts limits his impact. He often struggles in coverage against quicker backs and tight ends, and his tackling in space has been inconsistent at best. When paired with Walker, who has his own issues diagnosing plays, the duo has failed to stabilize the Packers’ second level.
Green Bay’s draft investment in young linebackers like Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’ron Hopper underscores the team’s recognition of the need for upgrades. Both rookies have flashed potential and could demand more snaps as the season progresses. Looking ahead to 2025, the Packers have plenty of options, including dipping into the linebacker pool in the draft or spending on a proven free agent to bring much-needed consistency to the position.
As for McDuffie, his value to the team will likely be recalibrated. He remains a standout on special teams and could return in that role, but it’s clear he doesn’t project as a long-term solution in Green Bay’s defensive plans. The Packers need more dynamic playmakers at linebacker, and McDuffie’s ceiling simply isn’t high enough to warrant a starting role moving forward. He’s a free agent after the season and could move on from Green Bay.
Eric Stokes
Eric Stokes’ NFL career has been a rollercoaster—and not the fun kind. For a player drafted in the first round with such high expectations, his four seasons with the Green Bay Packers have been defined by fleeting promise and prolonged frustration.
Stokes came into the league like a breath of fresh air in 2021. As a rookie, he demonstrated impressive instincts and speed, earning a reputation as a young cornerback on the rise. He wasn’t a lockdown defender just yet, but his ability to stick with receivers and make plays gave the Packers hope they had struck gold. That rookie season seemed like a solid foundation to build on, a springboard for stardom.
Then, the sophomore slump hit—hard. Stokes struggled in coverage during his second season, frequently finding himself out of position and unable to close gaps on opposing receivers. Quarterbacks began targeting him with more regularity, and the numbers backed up what the eye test revealed: he had regressed.
Injuries made matters worse. Over the next two seasons, Stokes battled serious setbacks, spending more time on the injury report than on the field. The speed and athleticism that were the hallmarks of his rookie success now seem diminished, leaving him a shell of the player he once was.
This year, Stokes has been healthy, but that’s about the only positive thing to say. His struggles have continued, and he’s now an afterthought in the Packers’ cornerback rotation, playing only when injuries or desperation force the coaching staff’s hand. Green Bay’s decision to decline his fifth-year option for 2025 was a clear sign that they’re ready to move on, and Stokes has done little to change their minds.
For Stokes, this season feels like the final chapter of his Packers tenure. It’s a tough ending for a player who once held so much promise, but both sides appear ready to part ways. A fresh start elsewhere may be exactly what he needs to try and salvage his career.