Young, developing players so often drive the most important improvement for NFL teams year over year. The Green Bay Packers are no different, despite using free agency more in recent years, and several second- and third-year players must get better to help Matt LaFleur’s team improve in a meaningful way and be better prepared for a long playoff run in 2025.

Between the 2023 and 2024 draft class, the Packers still have 19 players on the 90-man roster, and many will be competing for important roles in 2025.

Here are our picks for the most important young players needing to improve for the Packers this season:

Zach Kruse

Second-year player – OL Jordan Morgan: The Packers were good along the offensive line for most of the 2024 season, but they could be great in 2025 if Morgan — a 2024 first-round pick — takes a step forward, wins a starting job at left tackle or right guard and gives the Packers above average play at either position. Games are won and lost up front, and Morgan provides the Packers a chance to raise their level of play in the trenches on offense this season. Even if, for whatever reason, he’s not a Week 1 starter, Morgan could be a hugely important sixth offensive lineman. Rare is the season in which a team doesn’t need a backup offensive lineman to step in and play important snaps.

Third-year player – DE Lukas Van Ness: We’ll stay in the trenches. Much like the Packers offensive line, the Packers defense was good for most of the 2024 season, but a better, more consistent pass-rush could easily push the group from good to great. A big-time addition wasn’t made, so the Packers are banking on a big leap from Van Ness in Year 3 to power a lot of the improvement in terms of consistently disrupting the passer. He is big and highly athletic but also inexperienced, so it’s possible the light will come on in 2025. Jeff Hafley’s defense will be a true strength if Van Ness is a dependable player at edge rusher this season.

Brandon Carwile

Second-year player – OL Jordan Morgan: Expectations were high when the Packers selected Morgan with the 25th overall pick last year. However, his rookie season effectively became a redshirt year after a shoulder injury that started in training camp limited him to six games and one start. Even when Morgan was healthy enough to compete, he split time at right guard with Sean Rhyan. Now, it’s time to show why he was a first-round pick and win the starting job. Morgan could be the left tackle of the future, but emerging as the starting right guard would be a promising sign in Year 2.

Third-year player – TE Luke Musgrave: It’s easy to be disappointed with Musgrave coming off back-to-back injury-plagued seasons. The Packers hoped they were getting a speedy tight end who could stretch the field, but instead, injuries have prevented Musgrave from showing many flashes. The former second-round pick needs to stay healthy first and foremost, but he must also become a legitimate threat in Green Bay’s passing game. If he does, it could unlock something in the offense and form the perfect one-two punch alongside Tucker Kraft.

Mark Oldacres

Second-year player – LB Ty’Ron Hopper: Hopper was a curious pick in the 3rd round a year ago, and barely saw the field as a rookie. Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper are locked in as Green Bay’s top two linebackers, while the team also extended Isaiah McDuffie and signed Isaiah Simmons in the offseason. Hopper must make real strides in year two to compete for snaps, otherwise he risks fading well into the background.

Third-year player – DE Lukas Van Ness: A broken thumb injury somewhat explains the lack of progress from Van Ness last year, and adjusting to Jeff Hafley’s defensive scheme could also have been a factor, but entering Year 3 as the clear starter opposite Rashan Gary, the Packers’ first-round pick from 2023 needs to develop into a threatening presence on the edge and significantly improve his production through two seasons.

Brennen Rupp

Second-year player – DB Javon Bullard: Bullard had a fine rookie season while moving back and forth from deep safety and in the slot. He was the interchangeable piece in the secondary that the Packers were looking for. Its possible that the Packers could have Nate Hobbs man the slot and a Bullard could focus solely on playing safety. With him potentially staying put at one position it could help him become a more reliable force during his second year in the league. He had no interceptions during his rookie season. Something tells me that the former Georgia Bulldog will make more splash plays this season.

Third-year player – WR Dontayvion Wicks: Drops were a red flag for Wicks coming out of college and that red flag was whipping in the wind last season. If he can clean that issue up, he could be in store for a breakout campaign. Wicks is a good route runner and consistently gets open. None of that matters though if he doesn’t start completing the entire process. He could make people forget about his drops if he cleans things up during his third year in the league.