Packers' updated roster after a wild first week of NFL free agency

It's been a crazy new league year for the Green Bay Packers. Since the legal tampering period opened on Monday, the team signed safety Xavier McKinney and running back Josh Jacobs.

Several internal free agents have been re-signed, prominently running back AJ Dillon and cornerback/kickoff returner Keisean Nixon.

And general manager Brian Gutekunst also decided to release running back Aaron Jones and left tackle David Bakhtiari, two of the most important pieces of the offense over the last decade.

Now that the dust has settled, let's take a look at the current state of the roster and where things are likely to go, from here.

Quarterbacks (3)

• Presumed starter: Jordan Love
• Backups: Sean Clifford, Alex McGough

How we got here: Love proved in 2023 that he is the future, so not much to add there. Gutekunst mentioned that he's comfortable with Clifford as his QB2 after taking him in the fifth round last year, but he is also open to add more quarterbacks to the room. McGough, a former USFL MVP, is probably just a camp arm and practice squader.

Running backs (5)

• Presumed starter: Josh Jacobs
• Backups: AJ Dillon, Emanuel Wilson, Ellis Merriweather, Henry Pearson (FB)

How we got here: Jacobs has been brought in to replace Aaron Jones as the primary starter because he's younger and presumably more durable. Dillon wasn't expected to be re-signed, but his market was cold and the Packers decided it was worth it. Wilson and Merriweather are more developmental pieces, and Pearson is a FB/TE hybrid who could replace Josiah Deguara in that role.

Wide receivers (9)

• Presumed starters: Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed
• Backups: Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, Malik Heath, Samori Toure, Grant DuBose, Thyrick Pitts

How we got here: The Packers used six draft picks to get receivers in the last two drafts, so depth is certainly not an issue. Maybe they don't have a clear number 1 or even clear starters, but Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love have taken advantage of that.

Tight ends (5)

• Presumed starter: Luke Musgrave
• Backups: Tucker Kraft, Ben Sims, Tyler Davis, Joel Wilson

How we got here: Gutekunst took Musgrave and Kraft on day 2 last year. Even though it's rare for rookie tight ends to have immediate impact, both played at a high level. Now, the team expects even more, including to allow the staff to utilize both at the same time. Ben Sims is an interesting developmental piece they claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings in 2023, and Tyler Davis is an impactful special teamer.

Offensive linemen (9)

• Presumed starters: Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, Zach Tom
• Backups: Luke Tenuta, Royce Newman, Caleb Jones, Kadeem Telfort

How we got here: David Bakhtiari was released and Yosh Nijman is still a free agent, so the tackle depth took a hit. They have solid young starter in Walker and Tom, but not much beyond that. The situation is more concerning on the interior, where Jon Runyan left. Right now, Sean Rhyan is the right guard, and Royce Newman is the swing IOL. Don't be surprised if Gutekunst decides to take three linemen in the draft.

Interior defensive linemen (6)

• Presumed starters: Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton
• Backups: Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, Jonathan Ford

How we got here: The Packers got two day 3 DL last year, and that put them in a more comfortable situation, especially because Karl Brooks had immediate impact as a sixth-rounder. Clark is still the leader of the unit, while Slaton and Wyatt rotate depending on the situation. Unlike last year, it will be rare to see three interior defensive linemen on the field at the same time because of the defense's transition to a 4-3 base.

Edge (10)

• Presumed starters: Rashan Gary, Preston Smith
• Backups: Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, Brenton Cox Jr., Keshawn Banks, Arron Mosby, Deslin Alexandre, Deandre Johnson, Kenneth Odumegwu

How we got here: Gary and Preston are the veterans and leaders - Smith took a paycut to stay. Lukas Van Ness, last year's first-round pick, is the primary backup at this point since Enagbare tore his ACL in January and is expected to miss a significant part of the regular season. The other players will fight for roster spots, and maybe for the fourth place in the rotation if the Packers don't sign anybody else.

Linebackers (4)

• Presumed starters: Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie
• Backups: Kristian Welch, Christian Young

How we got here: The Packers made some bad high investments at the position, including taking Quay Walker in the first round and paying big money to extend De'Vondre Campbell. Now Campbell has been cut, and Walker will have to be the primary starter. At this point, McDuffie is a starter because he played a lot last year and he has experience with Jeff Hafley, but the team will probably need to add more pieces, even though the market is thin after a week of moves.

Cornerbacks (7)

• Presumed starters: Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Keisean Nixon
• Backups: Carrington Valentine, Corey Ballentine, Zyon Gilbert, Anthony Johnson

How we got here: Jaire is the star of the unit, but beyond that it's wide open. Stokes might be the starter, but at this point it's hard to say for sure that he's above Valentine on the depth chart. The nickel position is a concern, and the Packers would ideally want to upgrade from Nixon, who would become a rotational defensive player and a special teamer.

Safeties (5)

• Presumed starters: Xavier McKinney, Anthony Johnson Jr.
• Backups: Benny Sapp III, Zayne Anderson, Tyler Coyle

How we got here: McKinney was a really needed addition and the only player with a secured spot. Anthony Johnson Jr., last year's seventh-round pick, would be the team's second safety at this point, but the trend is they will add more pieces. Darnell Savage and Jonathan Owens left the team in free agency, but Rudy Ford is still available.

Special teams (4)

• Presumed starters: Anders Carlson, Daniel Whelan, Matt Orzech
• Backup: Jack Podlesny

The kicker competition is the big factor here after sixth-round pick Anders Carlson had a tough rookie season, which included a huge miss against the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round. So, right after the season, the team added former Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny. Punter Daniel Whelan is back under an exclusive-rights free agent tender, and veteran long snapper Matt Orzech is under contract for two more seasons.