The 2024 Green Bay Packers defense had its best EPA (Expected Points Added) per play performance since the 2010 Super Bowl team. They ranked in the top ten for both EPA against the pass and run, and were strong in takeaways, despite missing star cornerback Jaire Alexander for much of the season and struggling to maintain consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
A key factor in their success was the improvement of their run defense, largely credited to coach Jeff Hafley. Another major boost came from the acquisition of safety Xavier McKinney, who emerged as arguably the team’s most valuable player in 2024. McKinney started all 17 games, making 88 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, and a career-high eight interceptions, earning him First-Team All-Pro honors.
As McKinney enters his second year with the Packers, expectations are high for him and the defense as a whole. Pro Football Network’s Jacob Infante named McKinney a leading candidate for Green Bay’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, noting that McKinney’s play elevated significantly after joining the team. He finished eighth in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season and will need to maintain similar production to climb higher this year.
McKinney’s eight interceptions in 2024 matched the total interceptions by the entire Packers safety group over the previous two seasons combined. He has been a key leader in the secondary, also playing a major role in developing rookies Evan Williams and Javon Bullard. If the group stays healthy, Green Bay could have one of the top safety units in the league.
McKinney was one of only two defensive players from Green Bay to make the Pro Bowl last season, alongside defensive end Rashan Gary. He is viewed as the cornerstone of the Packers’ defense, and their goal of moving from a solid to an elite defense in 2025 likely depends on his continued leadership and performance.
