The Green Bay Packers have always taken a long-term approach to the NFL Draft. They usually target players with traits and upside, even if those prospects need a year or two before they are ready to make a major impact. It’s a philosophy that has served them well over the years. However, their long-term plans at running back are unclear.
I’ll start with Josh Jacobs. He’s nearing his 30s, which is usually when running back production begins to decline. He found the end zone 13 times on the ground last season, but some of the underlying numbers weren’t as encouraging.
Jacobs averaged 3.9 yards per carry, the second-lowest mark of his career, and ranked 37th out of 49 qualifying running backs in EPA generated. He’s still a good player, but it’s fair to wonder how much longer he’ll be able to carry the workload Green Bay asks of him.
The 2019 first-round pick is set to carry a $14.5 million cap hit in 2026, which climbs to $16.6 million in 2027. That’s a significant investment for a running back entering his 30s, and I’m not even sure he’ll still be with the team next year if his production declines.
Then there’s MarShawn Lloyd, a player the Packers drafted two years ago. His talent has always been obvious. Even in the limited clips we’ve seen, you can tell how naturally he moves compared to other running backs. He’s a smooth, fluid athlete with plenty of explosiveness.
The problem is that injuries have defined his NFL career. He has only managed six rushing attempts through his first two seasons. After missing all of 2025, it’s difficult to know what Green Bay can realistically expect from him heading into this year.
“We’re very optimistic, but we’ve all been optimistic before. So we just gotta wait and see,” Packers running backs coach Ben Sirmans said about Lloyd’s progress this offseason.
Even if Lloyd manages to stay healthy all season, how can the Packers ensure it wasn’t an exception? It’s not his fault he’s been hurt, but it’s hard to imagine Green Bay finishing the 2026 season convinced he is the long-term answer at running back. He’s not going to be the starter, so his opportunities will likely be limited, making it even harder for him to put together the kind of season that would erase those doubts.
The rest of Green Bay’s running back room doesn’t inspire much confidence. Chris Brooks is a solid third-string option and one of the most underrated pass-blocking backs in the NFL. Still, he’ll be 27 next year and has never looked like a long-term starter.
Damien Martinez, Jaden Nixon, and Pierre Strong Jr. will battle for a roster spot during training camp. However, it’s hard to see any of them developing into anything more than depth pieces.
So, running back is the position group I could see undergoing the most turnover between this season and next. Unless MarShawn Lloyd completely changes the narrative of his career, Brian Gutekunst is going to have a lot of work to do next offseason. With Josh Jacobs getting older and no clear long-term answer behind him, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Green Bay make a major investment at the position in 2027.
