As OTAs Arrive, Here’s A Prediction How The Packers’ Final Roster Will Look

Quarterbacks (2)

Keep: Jordan Love, Tyrod Taylor.

Cut: Kyle McCord, Kyron Drones.

Analysis: Love has established himself as one of the game’s top quarterbacks. He’s missed two starts each of the last two seasons, though, making the No. 2 QB job critical.

With Malik Willis now in Miami, the Packers are hoping Taylor — who turns 37 on Aug. 3 — is up to the task. Taylor has gone 29-31-1 as a starting quarterback, but must prove this summer he still has tread on the tires.

Running Backs (3)

Keep: Josh Jacobs, Chris Brooks, TBD.

Cut: Marshawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong, Damien Martinez, Jaden Nixon.

Analysis: The biggest question here is whether Lloyd, a third round draft pick in 2024, can stay healthy. To date, the answer has been a resounding “No”, as Lloyd has played just one game and 10 snaps in two years.

Using history as a guide, the best guess is Lloyd won’t make it through the summer. Considering Brooks is strictly a third down back, general manager Brian Gutekunst will need to make a trade for his No. 2 back or sign a street free agent.

Receivers (6)

Keep: Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, Bo Melton, Skyy Moore.

Cut: Will Sheppard, Jakobie Keeney-James, Isaiah Neyor, Brenden Rice, J. Michael Sturdevant.

Analysis: The Packers’ depth isn’t what it’s been after Romeo Doubs (free agency) and Dontayvion Wicks (trade) left this offseason. The group could be better, though, as the explosive trio of Watson, Golden and Reed will see more snaps if they can remain healthy. Williams should see an expanded role in Year 2, Melton has had his moments, and return ace Moore has 48 catches in four NFL seasons.

Tight Ends (4)

Keep: Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, Josh Whyle, TBD (trade or street free agent.

Cut: Drake Dabney, Messiah Swinson, R.J. Maryland.

Analysis: The biggest question is if Kraft, who’s recovering from a torn ACL, will be ready for Week 1? If he’s not, this unit ranks among the NFL’s worst. Musgrave is coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons and Whyle is limited. With or without Kraft, the unit could use one more contributor, and the best guess is that player isn’t on the current roster.

Offensive Line (10)

Keep: LT Jordan Morgan, LG Aaron Banks, C Sean Rhyan, LG Anthony Belton, RT Zach Tom, OT Darian Kinnard, C Jager Burton, OT Travis Glover, C Jacob Monk, G Donovan Jennings.

Cut: T Brant Banks, G John Williams, G Josh Gesky, G Dillon Wade, G Karsen Barnhart, G Dylan Barrett, T Dalton Cooper.

Analysis: This was one of the most disappointing units on the team last season, and the heat is on offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich and line coach Luke Butkus to get more out of the group.

The top five seem set, Kinnard appears to be the top backup, and Burton — a fifth round rookie — is a good bet to stick. The final spots will be highly competitive, though.

Glover was a disaster in the 2024 playoff loss at Philadelphia and missed all of 2025 after having season-ending shoulder surgery, but the Packers need tackles. Jennings was brought back as an exclusive rights free agent.

Monk has played sparingly his first two years and faces a make-or-break summer. And Williams, a seventh round draft pick in 2025, missed his entire rookie season with a back injury.

Edge rushers (5)

Keep: Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Collin Oliver, Brenton Cox Jr.

Cut: Arron Mosby, Nyjalik Kelly, Dante Barnett.

PUP: Micah Parsons.

Analysis: This group lacks sizzle without Parsons, who suffered a torn ACL in December and seems likely to begin the year on the physically unable to perform list. A player to watch this summer will be Oliver, a 2025 fourth round draft pick, who missed all of 2025 with a hamstring injury.

Defensive Tackles (6)

Keep: Devonte Wyatt, Javon Hargrave, Chris McClellan, Karl Brooks, Warren Brinson, Nazir Stackhouse.

Cut: Jonathan Ford, Jordon Riley, Anthony Campbell, Jaden Crumedy.

Analysis: While six might seem like a lot for this positional group, remember the Packers struggled mightily to stop the run the second half of 2025 and might be inclined to keep more big bodies than past years. The final roster decisions between Brinson, Stackhouse, Ford and Riley will be tough ones.

Linebackers (5)

Keep: Edgerrin Cooper, Zaire Franklin, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty’Ron Hopper, Nick Niemann.

Cut: Kristian Welch, T.J. Quinn.

Analysis: This unit seems largely set. The Packers believe Cooper can become a star, Franklin is a steady veteran, and McDuffie has been productive when called upon. It’s time for the third-year Hopper to take a jump, while special teams standouts Niemann and Welch figure to battle for the final job.

Cornerbacks (5)

Keep: Keisean Nixon, Brandon Cisse, Carrington Valentine, Benjamin St. Juste, Domani Jackson.

Cut: Kamal Hadden, Jaylin Simpson, Shemar Bartholomew, MJ Devonshire Jr, Marlon Jones.

Analysis: Nixon and Valentine could be the lone returners from a unit that was mediocre, at best, last season. Second round pick Cisse and free agent addition St. Juste will also compete for starting jobs. If the Packers keep just five corners, the final job is likely to come down to Jackson, a sixth round draft pick, and Hadden, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury late in the 2025 campaign.

Safeties (3)

Keep: Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard (slot), Kitan Oladapo.

Cut: Johnathan Baldwin, Mark Perry, Murvin Kenion.

Analysis: Green Bay’s trio of McKinney, Williams and Bullard rivals most in football. Oladapo played just 6.1% of the defensive snaps in 2025, but played 47.5% of the special teams snaps.

Specialists (3)

Keep: K Trey Smack, P Daniel Whelan, LS Matt Orzech.

Cut: K Lucas Havrisik.

Analysis: The only question here is whether Smack, a sixth round draft choice in April, is ready for prime time. The Packers clearly believe he is after releasing Brandon McManus on May 8. If Smack falters, Havrisik — who kicked in three games last season — is an option.