Five Green Bay Packers Veterans Who Will Be Fighting for Jobs After the 2025 NFL Draft

The Green Bay Packers added eight players in the 2025 NFL Draft and addressed many of the team’s needs. But of course, as is true in any draft, the new players will be challenging returning players for either starting positions or roster spots. The players on this list may or may not lose their roster spots, but their roles on the team and their playing time may be significantly reduced because of the players the team drafted this season. Here are five Packers veterans who will be fighting for jobs this season after the  2025 NFL Draft:

Five Packers Veterans Who Will Be Fighting For Jobs After the 2025 NFL Draft, Numbers Five and Four: WRs Bo Melton and Malik Heath

With the Packers selecting two wide receivers in the first three rounds of the draft, the returning veterans will be fighting for roster spots. The team will not keep more than six receivers to start the season even without counting the injured Christian Watson.

That leaves players like Bo Melton and Malik Heath, who have been with the team for the last two seasons in a depth role, to fight for their jobs. Assuming there are no trades and major injuries, there just won’t be room for players like Melton and Heath on the roster.

Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and rookies Matthew Golden, and Savion Williams will all be guaranteed a roster spot. That leaves just one remaining spot for the rest of the receivers to fight over. Melton or Heath could be cut or stashed on the practice squad.

Number Three: WR Mecole Hardman

The Packers signed Mecole Hardman as a free agent this offseason but after the draft, his chances of making the team went down significantly. As described above, the receiver room is very crowded. The question now becomes whether Hardman can make the roster primarily as a return specialist.

It seems that GM Brian Gutekunst may have signed Hardman as an insurance policy in case he couldn’t land a receiver early in the draft.

If the Packers find another option as a return specialist, Hardman’s career in Green Bay could be over before the season even starts.

Five Packers Veterans Who Will Be Fighting For Jobs After the 2025 NFL Draft, Number Two: G Sean Rhyan

Sean Rhyan may not be in danger of losing his roster spot, but his starting job could certainly be up for grabs. The Packers added Aaron Banks in free agency and then drafted offensive lineman Anthony Belton in the second round. Belton played tackle in college, but the Packers believe he can play any position along the offensive line except center.

Rhyan could get competition for his starting job from Belton or from last year’s top pick Jordan Morgan who will also compete at left tackle.

Even if Rhyan keeps his job this season, his chances of getting a second contract with the Packers went down with the additions of Banks and Belton. This season will be the last one on Rhyan’s entry-level deal. He will have to step up if he wants to continue to start and to remain a Packer beyond 2025.

Number One: OT Rasheed Walker

Rasheed Walker has been a feel-good story for the Packers, but clearly, the team has brought in competition for him. Walker started as a seventh-round pick out of Penn State who barely saw action as a rookie. By Week 2 of his second season, he was the team’s starting left tackle.

In two seasons as the starter, Walker has established himself as a capable player who does a good job protecting the quarterback’s blind side. However, with the addition of Belton in the draft and Morgan being healthy again, Walker will have competition for the starting left tackle spot.

Walker will also be entering the final year of his contract this season, so he needs to step up not only to remain a starter, but to lock down another contract, whether it’s in Green Bay or elsewhere.