The Green Bay Packers kick off on Tuesday their organized team activities (OTAs), and it's time for roster battles and for young players to show how much they can contribute this year.
The most recent time we made this exercise, the draft had just been over, so it's the perfect time for an update.
Quarterbacks (4)
- Starter: Jordan Love
- Depth: Malik Willis, Sean Clifford, Taylor Elgersma
Since the last version, the Packers signed a fourth quarterback, Canadian standout Taylor Elgersma. Presumably, that will give Jordan Love more room to breathe during OTAs and training camp.
Running backs (6)
- Starter: Josh Jacobs
- Depth: Emanuel Wilson, MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, Amar Johnson, Jalen White
The Packers didn't draft any running backs during a strong draft for the position, a good sign for MarShawn Lloyd. Johnson and White were added as UDFAs, while Chris Brooks fights for a roster spot as a special teamer.
Wide receivers (12)
- Starters: Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks
- Depth: Matthew Golden, Christian Watson, Savion Williams, Mecole Hardman, Malik Heath, Bo Melton, Julian Hicks, Cornelius Johnson, Jadon Janke
The Packers ended up not signing Julian Fleming, who also unfortunately was involved in a serious car accident. The team also cut Tulu Griffin and signed Jadon Janke.
Overall, the team overinvested (in a good sense) in the position, drafting Golden and Williams with two of their first three picks. It's a long-term perspective, because only Reed and Wicks had contracts beyond 2025. Watson will start the season on the PUP list.
Tight ends (6)
- Starter: Tucker Kraft
- Depth: Luke Musgrave, Ben Sims, John FitzPatrick, Messiah Swinson, Johnny Lumpkin
No big investments here, but they re-signed John FitzPatrick. The team is clearly comfortable with Kraft and Musgrave.
Offensive line (16)
- Starters: Rasheed Walker, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins, Sean Rhyan, Zach Tom
- Depth: Jordan Morgan, Anthony Belton, Kadeem Telfort, John Williams, Travis Glover, Jacob Monk, Donovan Jennings, Trey Hill, Tyler Cooper, Brant Banks, J.J. Lippe
This is a fascinating group. The Packers drafted Belton and Williams, then signed Cooper, Banks, and Lippe as UDFAs. Walker, Rhyan, and Tom are entering the last year of their deals, and Tom is the only one who will most likely get an extension. Morgan and Belton will both have opportunities to win the left tackle and right guard jobs. Since the last update, the Packers cut Marquis Hayes.
Defensive tackles (9)
- Starters: Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt
- Depth: Karl Brooks, Warren Brinson, Colby Wooden, James Ester, Keith Randolph Jr., Nesta Jade Silvera, Nazir Stackhouse
The Packers drafted Brinson to replace what they lost in TJ Slaton. Stackhouse was added as a UDFA, but he is a candidate to be more impactful than an usual undrafted piece.
Edges (9)
- Starters: Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness
- Depth: Kingsley Enagbare, Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver, Brenton Cox Jr., Arron Mosby, Deslin Alexandre, Jeremiah Martin
The Packers drafted Sorrell in the fourth round, and his pro-ready physical tools make him an intriguing rotational piece. Collin Oliver will start his journey as a defensive end, but can jump to linebacker too. Cox and Mosby will fight for roster spots after finishing 2024 strong.
Linebackers (7)
- Starters: Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker
- Depth: Isaiah McDuffie, Ty'Ron Hopper, Isaiah Simmons, Kristian Welch, Jamon Dumas-Johnson
They didn't draft a true off-ball LB, but signed Simmons and Welch in free agency, plus added Dumas-Johnson as a rookie free agent. McDuffie got a two-year deal, and Walker is also expected to get some type of extension.
Cornerbacks (11)
- Starters: Jaire Alexander, Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs
- Depth: Carrington Valentine, Micah Robinson, Kamal Hadden, Kalen King, Isaiah Dunn, Gregory Junior, Tyron Herring, Johnathan Baldwin
Probably the weakest room of the roster, especially if Alexander is traded or released—but that's far from a guarantee at this point. The big signing was Nate Hobbs, and they also added a seventh-round pick in Robinson and some future deals/undrafted free agent types. Last week, the team cut Kaleb Hayes and signed Gregory Junior.
Safeties (7)
- Starters: Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams
- Depth: Javon Bullard, Zayne Anderson, Kitan Oladapo, Omar Brown, Kahzir Brown
After spending a lot of resources on the safety position last offseason, there wasn't much left to do now.
Special teamers (3+1)
- Starters: Brandon McManus, Daniel Whelan, Matthew Orzech
- Depth: Alex Hale (IPP)
The Packers re-signed Whelan as an exclusive-rights free agent and gave McManus a three-year deal to keep their ST operation rolling after a strong finish in the 2024 regular season. Alex Hale doesn't count towards the 90-man roster limit because he's a part of the International Pathway Program.
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