As a significant blizzard swept through Green Bay, the Green Bay Packers’ roster has also experienced a substantial shake-up. Last season, 23 players logged at least 468 snaps from scrimmage. In the wake of an active first week of free agency, seven of those key contributors are no longer with the team. This leaves fans and analysts wondering: where does the Packers’ roster stand now? Are they better or worse? This position-by-position analysis aims to provide clarity, with the important caveat that free agency still offers opportunities, and the upcoming draft is a crucial event for further roster building.
Quarterback
The Packers saw Malik Willis depart in free agency. After two commendable seasons as a backup, his departure was anticipated, especially with his opportunity to secure a significant starting contract elsewhere. The team now looks to Desmond Ridder or Kyle McCord, both late-season additions, to fill the backup role. Ridder brings valuable experience with 18 career starts, which offers a degree of stability.
Verdict: Worse. The departure of Willis, despite his backup status, undeniably weakens the quarterback room. It’s highly unlikely that any immediate additions will fully compensate for this loss in the short term.
Running Back
The Packers have decided to retain Josh Jacobs as their primary running back. In a notable decision, they prioritized Chris Brooks for his proven pass-blocking ability over Emanuel Wilson’s established rushing prowess. This strategic choice leaves the team with a gap in the backfield, necessitating the search for a solid No. 2 or co-No. 2 option to complement Brooks. One can’t help but recall the team’s past draft investments, questioning if MarShawn Lloyd will ever emerge as a consistent contributor. Damien Martinez, a seventh-round pick from last year who was recently added to Green Bay’s practice squad, presents an intriguing possibility.
The team is undoubtedly looking to add talent to this position. However, for the moment, they must find a way to replace the 998 rushing yards that Wilson provided over the past two seasons.
Verdict: Worse. The loss of Wilson’s rushing production, coupled with the current uncertainty at the backup running back spot, tilts this position towards a decline.
Receiver
With Christian Watson and Rome Doubs facing free agency, the Packers drafted Matthew Golden and Savion Williams last year. On paper, this suggests the team is prepared for potential departures. However, the departure of Doubs, who signed a four-year, $67 million contract with the Patriots, leaves a significant void. The performance of Golden and Williams will be critical in determining the unit’s success.
Matthew Golden is expected to bring a more explosive threat to the offense than Doubs offered in his four seasons. Golden demonstrated more receptions of 30+ yards last season compared to Doubs, which bodes well for the offense’s big-play potential. However, Doubs was an established presence in the red zone and on crucial third downs. The Packers will need to find new ways to fill that role effectively. The addition of Skyy Moore through free agency might not directly bolster the offensive unit but could significantly impact special teams performance.
Verdict: Worse, until proven otherwise. While there’s potential for the younger receivers to step up, the proven production and reliable presence of Doubs in critical situations will be difficult to replace immediately.
Tight End
Of the Packers’ original nine unrestricted free agents, only one remains without a new team. Tight end John FitzPatrick suffered a torn Achilles in Week 16, a significant blow to the team’s blocking capabilities at the position. His physicality was noticeably absent during the playoff run. With Tucker Kraft recovering from a torn ACL and Luke Musgrave not being a significant factor as a blocker, the Packers face a crucial decision: either find a replacement or hope FitzPatrick is healthy enough to re-sign for the start of the season.
Verdict: Worse. The loss of FitzPatrick’s blocking ability, especially given the injury concerns of other tight ends, creates a significant weakness. The eventual return of Kraft will be paramount to improving this unit.
Offensive Line
This offseason has been particularly eventful for an offensive line that underperformed last season. As anticipated, the Packers allowed left tackle Rasheed Walker to leave in free agency and moved on from guard-turned-center Elgton Jenkins. In a significant move, they re-signed Sean Rhyan. Rhyan stepped in at center for seven games after Jenkins’ season-ending injury and now ranks seventh at the position in average salary. He showed promise while learning on the fly and is expected to improve with a full offseason of preparation.
There’s a considerable amount of projection involved in assessing this unit’s future. The Packers drafted Jordan Morgan in the first round to play left tackle, and he is now poised to receive his opportunity. He has only played the position once in a game, during Week 18 against the Vikings.
Verdict: Probably better. There’s potential for significant improvement, but this hinges on several factors: Morgan’s development at left tackle, Aaron Banks remaining healthy at left guard, Year 2 progress from Rhyan and right guard Anthony Belton, and Zach Tom staying healthy at right tackle.
Defensive Tackle
The Packers’ defensive line was not strong enough last season. Instead of reinforcing the unit, General Manager Brian Gutekunst made a subtraction by trading away 25-year-old Colby Wooden. While Wooden was not a significant pass-rushing threat, he was the unit’s most effective run-stopping defensive tackle. The team’s response was to sign Javon Hargrave, a former standout under Jonathan Gannon. This move is expected to bolster the pass rush. However, the impact on run defense remains a question mark.
Verdict: It depends on the down and distance. The addition of Hargrave should improve the pass rush, but the loss of Wooden’s run-stopping ability creates a potential vulnerability against the run.
Defensive End
The Packers also struggled at the defensive end position. Rashan Gary’s production drop-off in the latter half of the season was stark, with zero sacks or tackles for loss in his final 10 games after a strong start. Even lesser-known players like Collin Oliver and Shemar Bartholomew recorded tackles for loss. General Manager Brian Gutekunst’s decision to trade Gary and acquire a fourth-round pick from Dallas in exchange for getting out of his contract could be viewed as a masterstroke or a significant misstep. Kingsley Enagbare, the team’s best run-stopping end, signed with the Jets.
Combined, Gary and Enagbare played 1,121 snaps. The concept of “addition by subtraction” is appealing, but the evidence that newcomers like Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox, and Oliver can provide the necessary production is currently lacking. Even a player of Micah Parsons’ caliber might not have been able to elevate Gary’s performance in the latter part of the season.
Verdict: Worse. The departure of Gary and Enagbare, particularly given their combined snap count and the uncertainty surrounding their replacements, significantly weakens the defensive end position. A healthy Parsons might be the most impactful addition any team makes this offseason, highlighting what the Packers have lost.
Linebacker
The Packers traded Colby Wooden to acquire Zaire Franklin from the Colts. After three seasons of elite production, Franklin’s performance dipped in 2025, and he will turn 30 in July. The Packers are banking on Franklin experiencing a bounce-back season and delivering the high-level production that eluded Walker over the last three seasons. While Walker had his limitations, he was a significantly better tackler than Franklin.
Verdict: Worse, on the field. While the trade may be beneficial from a big-picture financial and compensatory pick perspective, the on-field impact of losing a more reliable tackler in Walker for a declining Franklin is a downgrade. Linebackers can remain productive into their 30s, so this move could potentially swing either way, but the immediate outlook is a step back.
Cornerback
The four-year, $48 million contract awarded to Nate Hobbs last year was considered a questionable decision even at the time. The Packers seemingly overestimated the ability of a cornerback who had primarily played in the slot and had a history of injuries to transition to an outside starting role and remain healthy. The team subsequently released Hobbs and signed Benjamin St-Juste for less than half the per-season cost. St-Juste has shown flashes of potential, particularly in a reserve role with the Chargers last year, earning him a chance to compete for a starting position.
Verdict: Better. The move to St-Juste, while a gamble, represents a more financially sound and potentially more effective solution at cornerback, offering a chance for significant improvement.
Safety
The only change at the safety position was special-teams standout Zayne Anderson signing with the Dolphins. The safety unit is expected to remain one of the team’s strongest positions.
Verdict: Worse, due to the loss on special teams. However, this departure is largely irrelevant to the defensive unit’s effectiveness, which remains a strength.
