Nov 27, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) throws a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The Green Bay Packers will be looking to take their entire roster from playoff caliber to championship caliber during the 2024 off-season.  That is an extremely impressive position to be in after trading away future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers just one off-season ago.

Jordan Love and the young group of weapons around him had an incredible 2023 campaign.  However, one bruising playmaker could help take them to the next level.

The Green Bay Packers Host Bruising Running Back

Oct 7, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

According to Insider Easton Butler:

The Packers invited Badgers RB Braelon Allen, LS Peter Bowden, and IOL Tanor Bortolini to their Local Pro Day.

Braelon Allen has a third-round 2024 NFL Draft grade according to Bleacher Report. Bleacher Report offensive skill position scout Derrik Klassen said:

“Allen is a throwback to a different time in football. Allen is all of 6’2″, 245 pounds and he runs like it. He’s a hammer between the tackles, and it’s not easy to bring him down with just one tackler unless you chop him down at the ankles like a massive tree.

Allen is nimbler than he looks, too. He isn’t going to shake anyone out of their shoes, but he’s rather graceful navigating behind the line of scrimmage. Allen still needs to iron out some of his work on passing downs, but he’s such a young player with rushing potential worth investing in.”

Everyone likes to discredit the power that Braelon Allen possesses, but as we see below he can truck you if you’re not careful.

His issues come from the inconsistency of his pad level, not his lack of power or strength. pic.twitter.com/YtL0NkVdmM

— Jeremy (@PopesFFH) March 22, 2024

The Packers Could Very Well Be Interested In Braelon Allen

Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen (0) takes off on a 50-yard run during the third quarter of their game Saturday, November 25, 2023 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Wisconsin beat Minnesota 28-14.

If the Packers draft Allen in 2024, he could contribute right away in the NFL. Over the last few seasons, Green Bay went through a youth movement at the quarterback, wide receiver, running back, and tight end positions.

Pairing Braelon Allen with Josh Jacobs (long term) and AAJ Dillon (short term) would create for an incredible backfield.

Green Bay Packers Pegged To Steal Playmaker Away From 3 Rivals

Nov 27, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur meet on the field after Eagles win at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The Green Bay Packers have a chance to become a legit Super Bowl contender just two seasons after they traded away future Hall of Fame Quarterback Aaron Rodgers.  Jordan Love and his extremely young but talented group of weapons put the league on notice in 2023.

This off-season will be focused on getting the defense up to championship caliber.  New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley brought an entirely new defensive coaching staff to Green Bay.  One that will expect more from the defense than what we’ve seen in recent years.

There is one addition floating around that could help the defense do exactly that.

The Green Bay Packers Pegged To Leapfrog Multiple Rivals To Acquire Defensive Back

Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean (3) catches a punt at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, October 21, 2023 in Iowa City. DeJean returned the punt for a touchdown and it was later called back after review ruled he fair-caught the punt. © Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus highlighted how the Packers could steal Cooper DeJean from multiple rivals:

GREEN BAY PACKERS TRADE UP TO NO. 21 WITH THE MIAMI DOLPHINS FOR IOWA CB COOPER DEJEAN

Trade terms: Packers receive Pick No. 21; Dolphins receive Pick Nos. 25 and 169 and a 2025 third-round pick

The Packers leapfrog some defensive back-needy teams in the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 22, the Minnesota Vikings (who currently hold the No. 23 overall pick) and the Dallas Cowboys at No. 24.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has traded up in the first round for defensive backs twice already in his young career, adding cornerback Jaire Alexander and safety Darnell Savage.

Here, Green Bay acquires arguably the most versatile defensive back in the class. DeJean could step in and push for the starting outside cornerback job opposite Jaire Alexander with health questions surrounding 2021 first-round cornerback Eric Stokes.

He could also provide insurance if Alexander pushes for a trade elsewhere, which doesn’t seem like an impossibility, or he could line up at safety next to free-agent splash acquisition safety Xavier McKinney.

DeJean is a tier-one athlete, with Iowa entrusting him with some return duties in 2023. DeJean had a beautiful punt return for a touchdown against Minnesota, fielding the ball off a bounce, spinning out of a tackler’s grasp and taking off for what would’ve been a walk-off game-winner if not for a penalty.

As a defender, DeJean allowed completion percentages below 50% and passer ratings when targeted below 50.0 in each of the last two seasons, with seven total interceptions.

Cooper DeJean returned the punt for a touchdown but it was ruled back because he called for a fair catch 🤯pic.twitter.com/oJ4XWfMDxR

— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) October 21, 2023

The Packers Secondary Would Get A Massive Boost From Cooper DeJean

Adding a young, versatile weapon like Cooper DeJeanw would be huge for the Packers’ defense. Jaire Alexander and Xavier McKinney are two of the best in the game at their positions.  Adding DeJean into the mix, learning from those veterans, and bringing that type of versatility is exactly what new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley needs.

Taking him away from the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys would just be a plus.