The 2024 offseason brought not one, but two new names into the Green Bay backfield that had many thinking they would take the leap from the middle of the pack when it came to run-game production. The obvious was Josh Jacobs but third round pick Marshawn Lloyd was a hot name in the pre-draft process who also ended up in Green Bay. He averaged 7.1 yards per carry at USC in 2023 and tore up the pre-draft process which included a 4.46 forty. The performance he put on display during preseason team activities created a vision for him being an explosive play-threat to complement the every down role of Jacobs. Unfortunately, multiple injuries (ankle, hamstring, hip, and appendicitis) limited his rookie year to just ten snaps. He currently has a clean bill of health and the coaches have simply labeled 2024 as a “redshirt year” with currently ready to be a “full go”.
Wilson went undrafted in 2023 after spending his college career at the Division II level. He began in Denver but didn’t make it to training camp. The door was all but shut. He was scooped up by Green Bay in May 2023 and got his feet wet as a rookie with 121 yards on 26 carries. The injuries to Lloyd and a season-ending neck injury to primary backup AJ Dillon opened the next door for Wilson to be the number two. He responded with a very-solid 4.8 yards per carry, eighth best in the NFL among the 50 backs with over 88 carries.
Prediction: Lloyd
Drafting a back in the third round is a sign you view him as a starter or number one backup to a bellcow. Jacobs is the bellcow and that won’t be disputed after finishing seventh in the league with 1,410 rushing yards and fourth in the league with 319 carries. But let’s not forget what happened the last time Jacobs went over 300 carries (2022). He tied a career low 13 games and set new career lows with 805 yards and 3.5 yards per carry the next season. The plan was to get Lloyd in to take some pressure off and the number one area to do that will be in the passing game. Even though Jacobs is solid there (37+ catches each of the past four years), but Lloyd has been impressing the coaching staff in the passing game since he put on the Green and Gold.