Today we discuss 3 Green Bay Packers with the Most to Prove in the 2025 season. The Packers didn’t dominate headlines this offseason by backing up the money truck for an external free agent or pulling off a flashy trade. Cornerback Nate Hobbs and left guard Aaron Banks weren’t cheap, but improvements to close the gap between the Packers and the NFC’s elite need to come from within.
Brian Gutekunst said that it’s time for the Packers to compete for championships in 2025, so which players have the most to prove to make that happen? Let’s examine 3 Green Bay Packers with the Most to Prove in 2025.
Rashan Gary
The first of 3 Green Bay Packers with the most to prove in 2025 is pass rusher Rashan Gary. In 2026, Gary will be entering his age 29 season, and the Packers can save almost $11 million with a pre-June 1st release, or $19.5 million with a post-June 1st release. He is clearly an important player for Green Bay as their best pass rusher, but had a relatively quiet 2024 season. His PFF pass-rush grade has declined in each of the last three seasons, with an ACL tear playing no small part. He was in the middle of a career year when he suffered the devastating injury, ranking 11th in the NFL in pass rush win rate in 2022. He fell to 21st in the league in 2023 and then plummeted to 48th last year, his lowest rank since his rookie year.
It is worth noting he has become a much more solid run defender since defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley took over, which matters. He had career highs in run stops (33) and tackles (31) last season, and his lowest missed tackle percentage (8.7%) of the last three seasons. If the 2025 Green Bay Packers pass rush has any hopes of improvement it hinges on Rashan Gary.
Luke Musgrave
Our 2nd of 3 Green Bay Packers with the most to prove is Tight End Luke Musgrave. Musgrave’s rocky first two years are more due to a lacerated kidney and ankle surgery than his lack of skill. Nonetheless, he hasn’t been the dynamic field-stretcher the Green Bay Packers thought he would be when he got off to a roaring start in summer 2023 as a second-round rookie. There’s nothing Musgrave can do to unseat fellow 2023 draft pick Tucker Kraft as the feature tight end, but the emergence of another versatile tight end who can make plays down the field could take the Green Bay’s offense to the next level.
Jayden Reed
Lastly on our 3 Green Bay Packers with the most to prove is Wide Receiver Jayden Reed. Reed looked like a future WR1 in 2023, 64 catches, 793 yards, 8 touchdowns, all as a rookie. But in Year 2, the sure hands turned shaky. The explosion turned inconsistent. And the drop rate ballooned to a staggering 12%. In 2024 Reed compiled 55 catches, 857 yards and 6 touchdowns, not exactly the season 2 jump we were all hoping for. The final 6 games really put a damper to a the bright start to the season for Reed. In his last 6 games he accumulated 15 catches, 210 yards and 0 touchdowns. For the Green Bay Packers to go where they want to, Reed will need to take his game to the next level.
Make sure to check out last weeks article – Green Bay Packers Breakout Candidates: https://packerstalk.com/2025/06/13/green-bay-packers-breakout-candidates/
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Joseph is an avid Packers fan since the age of five who enjoys giving his opinions on his favorite team! The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary – Vince Lombardi. Go Pack Go!
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