Five observations about the Packers first regular season depth chart

The Green Bay Packers released their first unofficial depth chart of the 2024 regular season over the weekend. And, ok, we have to take that with a grain of salt considering they would obviously not reveal much of their plans. But at the same time, it's valid information for the external public to understand how the team has shared snaps in practice and how the Packers are more likely to begin the season — even though everything might change over the next few weeks.

So, let's analyze five important topics of discussion from the depth chart.

Right guard battle

Rookie first-round pick Jordan Morgan had surpassed Sean Rhyan over training camp, but a shoulder injury hindered what the Packers planned for him. Now, Rhyan is expected to be the starting right guard to begin the season. The third-year player had a strong training camp, according to the coaching staff, and his experience within the system and in the NFL gives the Packers more confidence that he will play at a competent level early on.

Last year, Rhyan played progressively more throughout the season, sharing snaps with Jon Runyan Jr. When Runyan signed with the New York Giants in free agency, Rhyan became the obvious option at right guard — until the Packers took Morgan.

The rookie has positional flexibility, but the Packers want him to play right guard to start his NFL career. It's possible that Morgan will eventually start in 2024, but that's not the likely outcome in the first few games.

Starting WR trio

The Packers have six wide receivers on the 53-man roster, and four of them are capable of being wide receiver one this season. Since it's hard and rare to play four-WR sets, someone will have to wait. And the expectation is that Dontayvion Wicks begins the season as a backup. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are listed as the starting outside receivers, while Jayden Reed starts in the slot.

Matt LaFleur has already made it clear that all receivers will have a role, so who is starting or not isn't as big of a topic as it could be on other teams. But it's still notable that the Packers see Watson, Doubs, and Reed ahead of Wicks.

TE competition

Luke Musgrave isn't perceived as a great blocker, but the Packers are still willing to bet on his receiving ability and on his speed to create another element to the offense. Tucker Kraft is a more complete tight end and probably a better schematic fit to Matt LaFleur's unit, but Musgrave is the option to be listed as the starting tight end.

Just like it happens with the wide receivers, Musgrave and Kraft are expected to split snaps — and eventually play together in two-tight end sets. But the former second-round pick has the early advantage to play more time in 2024.

D-line rotation

Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, and Kenny Clark are the obvious starters along the defensive line, but the fourth spot is up for grabs. Even though the Packers think former first-round pick Devonte Wyatt is an excellent fit because of how disruptive he can be to penetrate in the backfield, he is still seen as a part-time player because of his inefficiency to stop the run.

Therefore, TJ Slaton is still the starting defensive tackle alongside Clark. Slaton is the best run defender of the Packers' front, and he can also bring some juice to the pass rush here or there.

At the end of the day, Green Bay will rotate both defensive linemen, plus Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden, but Slaton will probably have more snaps (at least over the first few games).

Rookie safeties

Anthony Johnson Jr. started the season as a starter but didn't even make the 53-man roster. So, it's rookies Javon Bullard and Evan Williams who will share the field with free agent addition Xavier McKinney. According to the depth chart, Bullard will get the first chance.

The Packers don't designate specifically who will be the free safety and who will be the strong safety, mostly because they will be interchangeable. But Bullard is listed with the starting unit, while Williams stays with the twos.

Another interesting aspect of the safety depth chart is that Zayne Anderson, viewed as a special teamer, is listed with the twos ahead of rookie Kitan Oladapo, who missed a significant part of training camp with a toe injury.