Green Bay Packers 2019 season awards

Handing out awards from the 2019 season of the Green Bay Packers.

The Green Bay Packers won 13 regular season games, captured the NFC North title, earned a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs and vanquished the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round playoffs at Lambeau Field during a captivating and enthralling first season under coach Matt LaFleur.

At the time of writing this post last year, LaFleur had not yet been hired as the new Packers coach. Fast forward 12 months and LaFleur has crafted the greatest first season in the history of the legendary Packers franchise, even if the run ended in anti-climatic fashion during the NFC Championship Game in San Francisco.

It’s time to hand out some awards for 2019:

Offensive MVP: RB Aaron Jones

Jones played in all 18 games and established himself as one of the NFL’s star running backs. He finished his 2019 season (regular and postseason) with 1,202 rushing yards, 19 rushing touchdowns, 55 catches, 505 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, 1,707 total yards and 23 total touchdowns, a new team record. How special was his season? Jones became just the 13th player in NFL history to score at least 23 touchdowns in a single season. He joined names such as Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, LaDainian Tomlinson, Terrell Davis and Marshall Faulk as the only players to ever score that many times in a year.

Defensive MVP: OLB Za’Darius Smith

Smith joined Charles Woodson and Reggie White among the most impactful additions in the history of the franchise. A highly disruptive player and an immediate leader in the locker room, Smith helped set the tone for the Packers’ revival. Over 18 games, he produced 15.5 sacks, 41 quarterback hits and 18 tackles for losses. He led the NFL in total pressures, quarterback hits and expected sacks, despite being double-teamed more than any other edge rusher. He made the Pro Bowl as an alternate but was snubbed from the All-Pro team. Teammates voted him the defense’s captain.

Special Teams MVP: K Mason Crosby

The veteran kicker was nearly perfect in 2019. He made 22 of 24 field goals and 46 of 47 extra points over 18 games, giving him an overall kick percentage of 95.8. He was a perfect 14-for-14 on kicks under 40 yards. Twice, he beat the Detroit Lions with game-winning field goals as time expired. He also ranked sixth in average kickoff distance. Crosby, who turns 36 in September, is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Breakout player: CB Kevin King

After two injury-plagued seasons, King stayed mostly healthy in 2019 and produced a breakout third season. Over 805 snaps, King intercepted a team-high five passes, broke up 15 passes and tallied his first sack. Opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of 84.5 when targeting him in coverage. Three of his five interceptions came in the fourth quarter with the Packers protecting leads, including two in the end zone (vs. Vikings, vs. Raiders).

Best Offensive Rookie: OL Elgton Jenkins

The Packers’ second-round pick took over for Lane Taylor at left guard in Week 3 and made 16 straight starts. He didn’t give up a sack during the regular season and graded out as one of the NFL’s 10 best left guards, per Pro Football Focus. An All-Rookie team selection, he was likely the best rookie interior lineman in 2019. Jenkins could have Pro Bowl potential in future seasons.

Best Defensive Rookie: S Darnell Savage

Savage missed two games with an ankle injury and ended his first season with a dud of a performance against the 49ers in the NFC title game, but he still flashed the speed and playmaking ability that made him the top defensive back drafted in 2019. He intercepted two passes and forced two fumbles while allowing only 17 completed passes into his coverage. Like Jenkins, he was named to the NFL’s All-Rookie team. Savage needs to cut down on missed tackles in his second season.

Play of the Year: Jamaal Williams TD, Week 8 at Chiefs

An insane throw and catch from Aaron Rodgers and Jamaal Williams gave the Packers a fourth-quarter lead in primetime in Kansas City. On third down, Rodgers rolled to his right under heavy pressure and flung a pass to the corner of the end zone. Waiting for it was Williams, who made the catch and kept two feet inbounds despite heavy coverage from linebacker Ben Niemann. Watching live, most assumed it was a throwaway. Matt LaFleur said it might’ve been the best touchdown pass he’s ever seen. It certainly ranks among the most impressive throws in the Hall of Fame career of No. 12.

Best Moment: Adrian Amos interception, Week 1

A special moment for a newcomer in a familiar place helped the Packers escape Chicago with a season-opening win over the rival Bears. With the Packers protecting a 10-3 lead late at Soldier Field, safety Adrian Amos – a former Bear playing his first game with the Packers– ranged to his right and intercepted Mitchell Trubisky in the corner of the end zone. The takeaway was the highlight of a dominant defensive performance and a perfect way for Amos to announce his arrival in Green Bay.

Worst Moment: First half in SF

Almost two months after falling behind 23-0 in an eventual 37-8 blowout in San Francisco, the Packers returned to Levi’s Stadium for the NFC Championship Game and laid another first-half egg, committing two turnovers and giving up three rushing touchdowns en route to falling behind 27-0 to the top-seeded 49ers. The Packers’ chances of playing in a Super Bowl were essentially over after 30 minutes. A magical season ended with a loud and disappointing dud in the Bay Area.

Biggest Disappointment: WR Geronimo Allison

Allison came back from last year’s season-ending injury and produced one of the least efficient seasons by a receiver in the NFL in 2019. He played over 600 snaps but managed to produce only 287 receiving yards on 34 catches and 55 targets. He averaged 8.4 yards per catch and 5.2 yards per target. He suffered from drops and fumbles but was a willing blocker. Allison produced more receiving yards in five games in 2018 (303) than he did in 16 games in 2019. Honorable mention: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who started the season as the No. 2 receiver and ended as a non-factor who couldn’t get on the field.

Best Addition: OLB Za’Darius Smith

Preston Smith produced 12 sacks, Adrian Amos steadied the safety position, Billy Turner played almost every snap at right guard and both Elgton Jenkins and Darnell Savage made the All-Rookie team, but Za’Darius Smith is the runaway winner here. He crafted a strong case for All-Pro and Defensive Player of the Year recognition. Za’Darius Smith became the rare big-money free-agent signing to actually outperform his contract in the first season.

Worst move: Bringing back TE Jimmy Graham

Graham made a few big catches during the team’s playoff win over the Seahawks, but the league’s highest-paid tight end still labored through another unproductive season with the Packers. He caught only 38 passes and scored just three touchdowns in 2019. GM Brian Gutekunst could have admitted his mistake and cut bait after one year, but he doubled down on the move and gave Graham a second season. In terms of return on investment, bringing back Graham was a mistake.

Most underrated player: CB Chandon Sullivan

The Packers claimed him off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles in May. He then spent all summer making plays and forcing his way onto the 53-man rsoter. Sullivan wasn’t done. He leapfrogged Josh Jackson and Tony Brown on the cornerback depth chart and eventually settled in as the No. 4 corner, playing primarily in the slot and even some at safety. Sullivan ended up playing 350 defensive snaps and almost half the team’s special teams snaps. Amazingly, Sullivan allowed only 11 catches, 3.9 yards per target and a passer rating of 34.3 against his coverage in 2019. He broke up six passes and intercepted Dak Prescott.

Best Season Cut Short: DB Raven Greene

Greene was well on his way to carving out a significant role in Mike Pettine’s defense before an ankle injury all but ended his season early in the second half of Week 2. In Week 1, Greene played 55 snaps as a dime linebacker, using his speed, intelligence and physicality to give the Packers a versatile player in the front seven. The Packers later got mixed results from several different players at the position. Greene was re-activated to the roster before the NFC title game but didn’t play. He could play a factor in 2020.

Player to Watch in 2020: TE Jace Sternberger

The rookie tight end didn’t catch a pass during the regular season, but he came back after missing the start of the season with an ankle injury and proved willing and capable as a blocker, both inline and as an H-back. In the postseason, he showed some juice in the passing game. If he can continue to get bigger and stronger and more comfortable in the offense, there’ll be a legitimate opportunity for Sternberger to break out as the Packers’ No. 1 tight end next season.

One other player to watch: QB Aaron Rodgers

Matt Ryan’s numbers exploded in this offense in his second season. Jared Goff’s numbers exploded in this offense in his second season. Jimmy Garoppolo’s numbers exploded in this offense in his second (full) season. Sensing a trend? If Rodgers and LaFleur advance the scheme together and Gutekunst adds a few more weapons, the Packers offense could see a similar explosion in 2020. The potential for major improvement on offense should be a primary source of optimism entering next season.