The NFL Draft is officially behind us. The Green Bay Packers didn’t engineer a trade, made all their selections, and added eight new players to their roster. They also reportedly came to terms with 11 undrafted free agents.
If my math is correct (I was told there would be no math), that brings Green Bay’s roster to 91 players. Alex Hale remains Green Bay’s International Pathway designated player, so they get to keep an extra kicker around.
Even with the roster currently full, three positions stand out to me that could use upgrades before the start of offseason workouts and training camp.
Cornerback
This is more about Green Bay’s cornerback depth, because they have their starters pretty much set. Jaire Alexander is the wild card. While he remains on the roster and reportedly participated in virtual meetings this past weekend, all signs indicate he’ll play elsewhere in 2025.
Nate Hobbs, Keisean Nixon, and Carrington Valentine are likely the three starters. Javon Bullard could start in the slot depending on where Hobbs plays, but the Packers paid Hobbs like an outside corner, so that’s where I’m guessing he’ll line up. The issue is the depth behind them.
The bench looks extremely inexperienced with Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine, and Robert Rochell signing elsewhere this offseason. The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Kamal Hadden last year, and he played in only two games as a practice-squad call-up for the Packers, only on special teams. Kalen King was Green Bay’s seventh-round pick last year, but they cut him in camp, and he never made it off the practice squad. Their only other addition outside of Hobbs was Micah Robinson, a seventh-rounder out of Tulane.
If they don’t make any more veteran additions, the Packers are one injury away from playing someone with no meaningful career snaps.
Inside Linebacker
The inside linebacker position is the thinnest on the roster. With only six players under contract, the Packers will have to add bodies to get through the offseason and preseason games – I cannot imagine Edgerrin Cooper and Quay Walker playing much this summer. They swapped Kristian Welch for Eric Wilson to bolster special teams and add some veteran experience at the end of the depth chart.
They reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with free agent and eighth-overall pick Isaiah Simmons. He should help, but he will be on his third team in as many seasons and is available deep into the free-agent cycle. It’s fair to wonder how much he moves the needle.
Green Bay didn’t draft an inside linebacker this year but signed Kentucky’s Javon Dumas-Johnson as an undrafted free agent. He had a draftable grade from many analysts but ultimately went unchosen through seven rounds. Dumas-Johnson could be a steal for the Packers and someone to keep an eye on to extend Green Bay’s remarkable streak of keeping at least one undrafted free agent on the roster.
Given Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper’s injury history, each of whom missed multiple weeks last year, and the uncertainty around whether Ty’Ron Hopper can play defense at the NFL level, I would expect Green Bay to be in the market for another veteran who can play defensive snaps in an emergency.
Tight End
This might take some people by surprise, especially with defensive tackle and edge rusher being other needs. The difference is that at those positions, the Packers addressed them with draft picks and undrafted free-agent additions. They have done nothing to add competition to the tight end room and appear content to “run it back” with last year’s group.
Tucker Kraft is a star in the making — no concerns there. Luke Musgrave can be a meaningful contributor in the passing game if he can stay healthy, which is no small feat considering he has missed almost as much time as he has played. Ben Sims and John FitzPatrick return after seeing action last year with Musgrave out, but neither made much of an impact, combining for just five catches and 44 yards. Messiah Swinson and Johnny Lumpkin round out the depth chart but seem to be nothing more than camp bodies.
Kraft played 85% of the offensive snaps last year, an unsustainable workload at such a demanding position. He’s too important to Green Bay’s offensive success, and they need him as fresh as possible for the postseason. They need to find a way to maintain at least average production at this crucial position in Matt LaFleur’s offense when Kraft isn’t on the field, or if Musgrave again finds himself on the shelf.
Of course, injuries will heavily influence which positions must be replenished or upgraded throughout the summer and into the season. What looks like a solid group now can change in an instant. Still, the roster is in pretty good shape at this moment. The Packers must add depth rather than major starting-caliber additions at these positions. Look for the bottom of these depth charts to be churned before Week 1 kicks off.
