Green Bay Packers MarShawn Llyod Shares What He Brings To Team

The Green Bay Packers backfield has undergone some major changes this offseason. In free agency, they made a splash by signing former Las Vegas Raiders star running back Josh Jacobs to a three-year deal.

For a few hours, it looked like the Packers would have the best backfield tandem in the NFL with Jacobs joining Aaron Jones. But, Jones was eventually released and signed with the rival Minnesota Vikings to face his former team twice.

The Packers also re-signed AJ Dillon, providing another power element to their running back room. But, the overhaul wasn’t complete in free agency. In the 2024 NFL Draft, Green Bay made another addition, selecting USC running back MarShawn Lloyd.

In two seasons with the Trojans and one with South Carolina, Lloyd carried the ball 291 times for 1,621 yards and 19 touchdowns. An explosive runner out of the backfield, he wasn’t overly involved in the passing game.

Through 32 collegiate games, Lloyd caught only 34 passes. He made the most of those opportunities, gaining 452 yards and scoring two more touchdowns. Despite the limited passing game experience, Lloyd is confident that is one of the strengths he will bring to the Packers’ backfield.

“Very comfortable in the passing game,” said Lloyd after being drafted. “Definitely I feel like coach Lincoln Riley put me in really good positions to be able to, not having much routes but being very effective with it. I believe I had something like 17-plus yards a reception.

“I’m just being utilized in it as much as possible. I played with a team that had really good skills on the outside, a really good quarterback. So you know, it was just more of when things worked out, and I feel like it definitely worked out in the runs, the long run for sure.”

Lloyd is certainly correct in his assessment about being a big-play threat in the passing game. 17.8 yards per reception is an elite number, one normally seen by deep ball threats at wide receivers, not running backs.

His combination of speed and power is something the Packers like a lot. If they can get the ball into his hands in space, opponents are going to have their hands full trying to stop him.

In years past, the Packers have been a two-running back team. But that could change in 2024 as Lloyd brings a different dynamic to the mix as a change-of-pace player behind Jacobs and Dillon.