Three hottest seats on the Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers exceeded expectations in 2023, coming within a win of advancing to the NFC Championship Game. Expectations are high heading into the 2024 campaign, but the team will need to see improvement from several players if it wants to take the next step. 

With that in mind, here are three Packers on the hottest seats. 

Wide receiver Christian Watson 

A second-round pick in 2022, Watson was supposed to be quarterback Jordan Love's No. 1 target this past season. Instead, after a promising rookie year, he had a disappointing season, finishing with 28 catches for 422 yards and five touchdowns. 

A nagging hamstring injury cut his season to just nine games, but another short season might have the Packers looking elsewhere. 

The Packers are undoubtedly hopeful that Watson can be a significant part of the team's offense this season. However, if they can't depend on him, plenty of options are ready to take his reps, including Dontayvion Wicks, Romeo Doubs and Green Bay's leading receiver, Jayden Reed (64 catches, 793 yards, eight TDs). 

Cornerback Jaire Alexander 

A shoulder injury and one-game suspension limited Alexander to only seven contests during the regular season before he returned for the Packers' playoff run. However, when he was on the field, the former All-Pro looked like a shell of his former self. 

The sixth-year pro struggled, especially in coverage. Alexander allowed a 64.6 reception percentage, the highest since his rookie year (71.8 percent). 

Adding stud free-agent safety Xavier McKinney shores up a shaky Packers secondary. However, they'll be relying on Alexander to bounce back and lead a cornerback group with its own question marks, including the oft-injured Eric Stokes, veterans Corey Ballentine and Keisean Nixon and second-year player Carrington Valentine.

Cornerback Eric Stokes 

When it comes to players needing to prove they can stay healthy, Stokes might be at the top of the list. After staying healthy during his time at Georgia, the Packers first-round pick in 2021 hasn't had the same luck in Green Bay. 

After surgery on a Lisfranc fracture prematurely ended his second season with the Packers, a hamstring injury in 2023 derailed his comeback, limiting him to only three games. Since starting 14 of 16 games his rookie year, Stokes has played in just 12 games over the past two seasons and in only three games since Week 9 of 2022. 

Stokes likely shows up to training camp ready to contribute with a clean bill of health. However, after such a long road back and an extended time away from the field, he must show he's worthy of being leaned on.