Do the Packers have enough blue-chip talent to contend for a Super Bowl?

Over the last few years, players like Davante Adams, David Bakhtiari, and Jaire Alexander were part of these exercises, but Adams and Bakhtiari are now gone. Alexander is entering his seventh season in the league, while also being expensive (the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL) and missing a lot of playing time because of multiple injuries.

Rashan Gary could theoretically reach blue-chip level, but he hasn't played at an elite level yet — and seeing who was picked in The Athletic Football Show's draft, with Nick Bosa at 15th and TJ Watt not picked whatsoever, it's hard to argue that Gary should be there.

Individual awards

To support the point of the lack of big stars, the only Packers player to be selected as an All-Pro over the last two years is kick returner Keisean Nixon. Jaire Alexander (2022), Elgton Jenkins (2022), and Kenny Clark (2023) have been Pro Bowlers. That's not exactly a decorated team. The fact can be explained by the youth of the roster, but these players do have to take a step forward.

Who can develop?

Outside of Jordan Love, the best young player on the Packers roster is Zach Tom. The only right tackle taken was Detroit Lions' Penei Sewell, and Tom is not in the same tier at this point. He might never be, but he has a shot. Elgton Jenkins is also a top guard, but it doesn't seem like he will develop into an elite, blue-chip type of player.

The lack of cheap, elite talent on the Packers roster is probably a result of questionable processes in the first round of the draft.

Rashan Gary was a raw project, and even though he has developed, it took a significant part of his rookie deal. Darnell Savage was a disappointment. Eric Stokes has handled significant injuries, while Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt were questionable decisions, and the results haven't been good either.

At this point, on defense, Lukas Van Ness and free agent addition Xavier McKinney seem to be the best options to go to an elite level, but that's also far from a certainty.

Does it matter?

It's truly difficult to win a championship without big stars. The Kansas City Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Chris Jones — they still had Tyreek Hill in 2019. The Los Angeles Rams had Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, and Cooper Kupp. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had Tom Brady, Mike Evans, and Lavonte David.

So, while it's viable to have a strong team without real stars, it's hard to pull off a championship run with a team full of good, not great pieces.

The Packers gave a first step in their development timeline. Now, some good pieces need to have some sort of leap to really open up a Super Bowl window.