Packers intriguing position group features a rising star and key additions trying to deliver more consistent impact in 2025

The Green Bay Packers added more than one external free agent to only two positions this offseason. The first was obvious, cornerback, because the roster also lost several pieces. The other is sneaky surprising, though: off-ball linebacker. Since the end of last season, general manager Brian Gutekunst signed former first-round pick Isaiah Simmons and brought back Kristian Welch. It's an interesting group of players trying to make more impact in 2025.

This is another article in our Packers positional breakdown series, and it's about the linebackers.

The biggest hope

A big part of why the Packers didn't have a deep playoff run last year was the lack of real blue-chip talent. But based on how last season went, Edgerrin Cooper is the piece who has the most realistic path to make a leap to the elite level.

"I think he's got superstar potential, I really do," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said during his podcast after the season. "It was a huge learning curve coming from Texas A&M to here. And you saw, the more he played, the better he got, and the more consistent he got. It's going to be a great offseason for him. I think he's planning on staying in town. Hopefully we can get him bigger, faster and stronger."

Even playing just 491 defensive snaps in 2025, he made the All-Rookie Team and established himself as a rising star in the NFL. Cooper had 11 pressures, 3.5 sacks, 87 tackles, 35 stops, and a 93.8 passer rating when targeted. He also had an interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

The starters beyond Cooper

The other projected starting linebacker is Quay Walker. Entering his fourth NFL season, the former first-round pick has never lived up to his draft status and the Packers didn't pick up his fifth-year option—despite a desire to keep him beyond 2025. Now, though, Walker will be in a contract year and has to keep ascending like he did to some degree late last season. A solid tackler, he still has significant problems in coverage.

A better fit to play alongside Cooper might be Isaiah McDuffie, a smart player to be in the middle of the field and even call defensive plays. He received a two-year extension in the offseason, a clear sign that the Packers trust him to be a solid veteran presence.

Depth pieces