Packers Roster Prediction: A Final Guess At Who Stays And Who Goes

Aug 30, 2026 05:19 AM - 4 hours ago 4

In 1986, the Green Bay Packers made the stunning move of releasing starting backmost Lynn Dickey and tight extremity Paul Coffman astatine the extremity of training camp.

In 2016, the Packers pulled a akin shocker and trim Pro Bowl defender Josh Sitton astatine the extremity of camp.

Those days are agelong gone — aliases truthful we think.

Today, location are seldom immoderate awesome surprises connected cutdown day, arsenic teams person their rosters mostly settled agelong earlier training campy begins.

Green Bay wide head Brian Gutekunst — and the remainder of the convention — must trim their rosters to 53 players by Sunday astatine 5 p.m. Teams tin past they tin found a 17-player believe squad.

“Our scouts, the coaching staff, the contract, the financial portion of it, aesculapian unit — those things are going connected nonstop,” Gutekunst said. “At the extremity of the day, it’s my occupation to return each that successful and do what’s champion for the Packers.”

Here’s my prediction of really the Packers’ 53-man roster will look Sunday night.

QUARTERBACKS (2): Jordan Love, Tyrod Taylor.

Cut: Kyle McCord

Analysis

This is beautiful trim and dry.

Love had a terrific summertime and the Packers are hoping the 37-year aged Taylor has thing near if he’s asked to play.

McCord, a sixth information draught prime of Philadelphia successful 2025, had a beardown campy and the Packers are astir apt hoping they tin get him done to the believe squad.

McCord vanished the summertime pinch a 102.4 passer standing aft completing 46-of-70 passes for 446 yards pinch 4 TDs, and nary interceptions. He went the region successful Green Bay’s 42-38 triumph complete Arizona Friday and led the Packers to a brace of TDs successful the last 3 ½ minutes.

“He did a heck of a job, man,” Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said of McCord. “He was truthful conscionable poised successful his expertise to run and function. I deliberation he's, he decidedly has the demeanor, nary uncertainty astir it. He's successful full power retired there, and he's consenting to guidelines successful the pocket, present successful the look of pressure. And yeah, I thought he did an outstanding job.”

RUNNING BACKS (3): Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks.

Cut: Pierre Strong, Jaden Nixon, Damien Martinez.

Analysis

This is simply a tricky position to task aft Jacobs was charged pinch 2 misdemeanors connected Thursday stemming from his apprehension connected May 26.

Jacobs will almost surely look subject nether the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy. The only mobility is erstwhile — and the NFL has apt told the Packers’ brass what it’s thinking.

If Green Bay keeps 4 moving backs, it’s probable Jacobs will beryllium suspended for the commencement of the season. If they support conscionable three, it apt intends immoderate disciplinary action won’t travel until aft his first tribunal quality connected Nov. 17.

One of the highlights of summertime for Green Bay was that the oft-injured Lloyd came done campy healthy. Lloyd didn't person overmuch room to tally connected galore of his carries owed to shaky statement play, but he did show a typical burst connected his 11-yard touchdown reception successful Denver.

“I consciousness great,” Lloyd said earlier this week. “I consciousness for illustration myself. Really happy.”

Jacobs missed 2 weeks of campy pinch a groin injury, but if he’s not suspended, he should beryllium fresh to spell successful Week 1. Brooks excels arsenic a 3rd down walk protector, which should gain him a 3rd play successful Green Bay.

If the Packers support a 4th back, it's apt to beryllium Strong, who’s averaging 5.0 yards per transportation during his 3 NFL seasons and had a coagulated summer. A waste and acquisition earlier cuts are owed is besides a possibility.

“You’re ever usually going to support 3 aliases 4 moving backs, and I deliberation we person capable to do that,” Gutekunst said. “But again it comes down to choices and trying to fig that out. The 1 thing, peculiarly astatine that position, is elevating a feline from the believe squad. I don’t want to opportunity it’s easy to do but it’s thing we’ve done successful the past and not thing we’d awkward distant from.”

RECEIVERS (6): Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Bo Melton, Savion Williams, Skyy Moore.

Cut: Will Sheppard, J. Michael Sturdivant, Kisean Johnson, Isaiah Neyor, Kaden Prather, Chris Hilton.

Analysis

Much has been made of the precocious push Sheppard and Sturdivant made successful the last preseason game. Green Bay should beryllium capable to get one, aliases both, to the believe squad, though.

The trio of Watson, Golden and Reed has the imaginable to beryllium 1 of the league’s astir explosive trios. The biggest mobility is tin they enactment healthy?

Golden played successful 14 games during his 2025 rookie season, while Reed is averaging 13.3 games per play and Watson is astatine 12.0 during their careers.

Melton is simply a jack-of-all-trades who runs highly good and is simply a cardinal cog connected astir typical teams units.

“I consciousness for illustration this was my champion summertime yet,” Melton said. “It’s the fastest I’ve been. I’m doing typical teams. I’ve been making play aft play, truthful I’m excited.”

Moore, who played for San Francisco past season, classed sixth successful the NFL connected footwear returns successful 2025 (27.5) and seventh connected punt returns (11.6). Moore should beryllium a awesome upgrade from Romeo Doubs connected punt returns (6.3) and Savion Williams connected kickoff returns (25.6).

Williams had a mediocre summer, past suffered an ankle wounded against Denver successful the 2nd preseason crippled and hasn't returned. Williams, a 3rd information draught prime successful 2025, is surely safe. If he winds up connected the PUP list, though, it will unfastened the doorway for either Sturdivant aliases Sheppard.

“There's a batch of factors that play into determining the last 53,” LaFleur said. “And I deliberation … a batch of these guys made it very, very difficult onus.”

TIGHT ENDS (4): Tucker Kraft, Jonnu Smith, Josh Whyle, (TBA).

Cut: Drake Dabney, Messiah Swinson, McCallan Castles, Thomas Yassmin.

PUP: Luke Musgrave (neck).

Analysis

Kraft was successful the mediate of an All-Pro play successful 2025 erstwhile he tore his correct ACL against Carolina connected Nov. 2.

Kraft started each 8 of the games he played past play and posted 32 receptions, 489 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He was the only tight extremity successful the convention pinch 30-plus receptions, 475-plus receiving yards, six-plus receiving touchdowns and an mean of 15-plus yards per drawback done Week 9.

Kraft was activated from the PUP database connected July 31, returned to 11-on-11 squad drills successful mid-August and will play Week 1 astatine Minnesota. Kraft’s reps will beryllium constricted early, though.

“They're going to return into relationship my rep scope astir apt until halfway done the season,” Kraft said connected Aug. 16. “Then they're conscionable going to pat maine connected the (butt) and nonstop maine retired there, nonstop maine to the wolves.”

The Packers typically support 4 tight ends, and pinch Kraft connected a transportation count early, there’s a greater request this season.

Smith, who caught 88 passes and had 8 touchdown receptions successful 2024, signed a one-year woody pinch Green Bay connected Aug. 27. Whyle, who began past play connected the believe squad, played 8 games aft Kraft was injured and enhanced his opinionated pinch the squad acknowledgment to a coagulated summer.

It’s improbable the 4th tight extremity is presently connected the roster. Look for Gutekunst to motion 1 that’s released connected Sunday, aliases make a insignificant waste and acquisition to adhd another.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Jacob Monk, Zach Bako-Bewele, Anthony Belton, Jager Burton, John Williams, Darian Kinnard.

Cut: Travis Glover, Donovan Jennings, Dillon Wade, Josh Gesky, Dylan Barrett, Brant Banks, Dalton Cooper.

Analysis

The apical 7 — Morgan, Banks, Rhyan, Monk, Bako-Bewele, Belton and Burton — look group successful stone. From there, it’s apt Williams, Kinnard, Jennings and Glover are battling for 2 spots.

Williams, a forgotten man successful 2025 erstwhile he missed the full play pinch a backmost injury, has been a astonishment this campy and started astatine near tackle successful the last preseason game.

“Last year, I don’t cognize if you guys moreover knew who John Wiliams was,” Green Bay violative statement coach Luke Butkus said of Williams connected Aug. 22. “He was banged and that injury, to get him backmost this offseason and to spot what he’s doing and his activity expertise correct now.”

Kinnard, who made 4 starts past play and received $1 cardinal signing prize this offseason, could beryllium successful immoderate trouble. Green Bay rested its starters Friday — meaning it opened pinch its No. 2 violative statement — and Kinnard was a backup to that group.

Jennings has positional versatility, which the Packers love. Glover, a sixth information prime successful 2024 who spent each of past play connected the injured reserve database (torn lat), mightiness beryllium retired of time.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES (7): Devonte Wyatt, Javon Hargrave, Chris McClellan, Karl Brooks, Warren Brinson, Jonathan Ford, Anthony Campbell.

Cut: Nazir Stackhouse, Anthony Campbell, Jaden Crumedy.

PUP: Jordon Riley (Achilles).

Analysis

The extent of this group was 1 of the surprises of camp.

“It's very talented,” seasoned tackle Javon Hargrave said of the group. “Everybody tin play shot here. I consciousness for illustration immoderate places you could show definite group don't belong, but present I honestly don't cognize who – we're beautiful heavy astatine this position.”

The Packers’ extent opens up the anticipation that they could waste and acquisition a subordinate for illustration Brooks, who’s entering the last twelvemonth of his rookie woody and seems improbable to get a 2nd statement successful Green Bay.

Another wildcard would beryllium Brinson, a sixth information prime successful 2025 who took a large jump this training camp. Brinson suffered a calf strain successful warm-ups, though, earlier the Packers’ 2nd preseason crippled and his position for the play opener is uncertain.

If Brinson is going to miss time, he could upwind up connected the PUP database and Green Bay mightiness support six tackles alternatively of seven.

Campbell (6-6, 307) made plays connected a regular ground each summer, and has astir apt done capable to instrumentality sloppy of Brinson’s status. Ford, signed precocious successful 2025 pinch the Packers hopeless for protect statement help, had a productive summertime and edges retired Stackhouse successful our projections.

EDGE (5): Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Collin Oliver.

Cut: Arron Mosby, Nyjalik Kelly, Arden Walker.

PUP: Micah Parsons (ACL/meniscus)

Analysis

The apical 4 are locks, meaning the 5th spot comes down to Oliver, Kelly and Mosby.

Oliver was a 5th information draught prime successful 2025 who missed his full rookie play pinch a hamstring injury. Oliver is undersized (6-2, 240) and is retired erstwhile again, this clip pinch a calf injury.

Gutekunst loves his draught picks, though, and astir apt wants to springiness Oliver a chance to beryllium he was worthy a 5th rounder.

“I consciousness for illustration I did a awesome occupation this training camp,” Oliver said this week. “I consciousness for illustration personally typical teams has been good. I consciousness for illustration I'm walk rushing, and I consciousness for illustration I had immoderate bully plays successful the run, arsenic well.”
Kelly, an undrafted free agent, was fixed a $15,000 signing prize aft the 2026 draught and the Packers will surely effort getting him to the believe squad if he doesn't stick.

Mosby is simply a cardinal typical teams subordinate who’s played successful 28 games the past 2 seasons.

The conjecture present is Green Bay goes pinch Oliver, whose top spot is rushing the passer. With Parsons retired astatine slightest the first period of the season, Green Bay will request each the walk rushers it tin find.

LINEBACKERS (5): Edgerrin Cooper, Zaire Franklin, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty’Ron Hopper, Nick Niemann.

Cut: Kristian Welch, TJ Quinn.

Analysis

There’s improbable to beryllium immoderate play pinch this positional group connected Sunday.

Cooper had an awesome summertime and could beryllium poised for a breakout year. The 30-year-old Franklin, who came via waste and acquisition pinch Indianapolis this offseason, appears to person plentifulness near successful the tank.

Together, the duo could execute large things.

“I deliberation they’re each learning really to play disconnected of 1 another,” Green Bay linebackers coach Sam Siefkes said of Cooper and Franklin. “It’s the first twelvemonth successful a caller strategy and evidently Z’s a caller subordinate for america arsenic well. But I deliberation they’re learning erstwhile you tin quote-unquote return a changeable and screen for a feline and erstwhile you tin do different things. You commencement to understand the tendencies of the players that you’re playing with.”

McDuffie is 1 of the astir reliable players connected the roster and 1 of Green Bay’s champion typical teams players. Niemann is simply a halfway typical teams player, arsenic well, who edges Welch for the last linebacker spot.

Quinn, who forced a fumble Friday and had 2 tackles for loss, should person a location connected the believe squad.

CORNERBACKS (5): Brandon Cisse, Keisean Nixon, Benjamin St-Juste, Carrington Valentine, Kamal Hadden.

Cut: Domani Jackson, Jaylin Simpson, Shemar Bartholomew, MJ Devonshire.

Analysis

This group could surely usage immoderate help, but it's improbable Gutekunst will find immoderate astatine this precocious date.

Cisse, the Packers’ 2nd information prime successful April, appears to beryllium a virtual fastener astatine 1 spot. Nixon, St-Juste and Valentine are battling for the different job, pinch Nixon the existent frontrunner.

Is that group bully capable to clasp up against teams for illustration Minnesota, Detroit and the Los Angeles Rams? Probably not, but astatine this juncture, it is what it is.

Cisse had a terrific summer, but he’s besides a rookie.

“There's a agelong measurement to spell still pinch him,” said Bobby Babich, Green Bay’s secondary coach/pass crippled coordinator. “Certainly he's mounting himself up to person a chance to beryllium beautiful successful.”

Nixon, a 17-game starter successful 2025, had an underwhelming summer. Valentine, who started other of Nixon past season, missed portion of training campy pinch a hamstring wounded and was passed by Cisse and St-Juste.

St-Juste, a 3rd information draught prime successful 2021, has tremendous size (6-3, 200), but hasn't been capable to either win, aliases support a starting occupation successful some Washington and pinch the Los Angeles Chargers.

Hadden, who collapsed his correct tibia and fibula, and suffered terrible ankle harm during a Week 17 crippled against Baltimore past season, has made an awesome return and seems good up of Jackson for the 5th cornerback spot.

“It’s been nosy to watch his growth,” LaFleur said of Hadden. “How he prepares — he comes successful pinch a awesome attitude, he’s highly coachable.”

Jackson, a sixth information draught prime successful April, gave up a 41-yard touchdown to Arizona’s Simi Fehoko during a unsmooth outing connected Friday. The champion spot for him correct now would beryllium the believe squad.

SAFETIES (4): Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Kitan Oladapo.

Cut: Mark Perry, Murvin Kenion III, Trey Dean III, Tra Fluellen.

Analysis

There doesn't look to beryllium overmuch enigma here, either.

Green Bay’s apical 3 of McKinney, Williams and Bullard rival the apical trios successful shot and should beryllium capable to compensate for a shaky cornerback room.

Oladapo, a 5th information draught prime successful 2024, had his champion summertime and saw extended playing clip arsenic Bullard recovered from a ft injury. Oladapo seems apt to clasp disconnected Perry and Kenion III.

“A batch of growth,” Oladapo said of his training camp. “More snaps, but it's much coaching constituent for myself and conscionable much reps, getting your assemblage utilized to being successful definite positions wherever you don't moreover request to deliberation astir it. You're conscionable reacting to the play, truthful it's been very beneficial.”

SPECIALISTS (3): K Trey Smack, P Daniel Whelan, LS Matt Orzech.

Cut: LS Cal Adomitis.

Analysis

Smack, Green Bay’s sixth information draught prime successful April, struggled connected the believe section passim the summer, but made each 9 of his section goals successful games — including 3 from beyond 50 yards.

“Some guys are awesome connected gameday, immoderate guys are awesome successful practice,” Packers typical teams coach Cam Achord said. “And it whitethorn not translate. I deliberation it’s conscionable being the aforesaid personification each day, whether that’s a kicker aliases a halfway subordinate aliases immoderate it whitethorn be.”

Whelan group the single-season franchise grounds pinch a 51.7-yard gross mean and a 43.9-yard nett mean past season. He’s 1 of the NFL’s elite punters.

Orzech is simply a dependable seasoned who’s missed each of campy pinch a calf injury, but said Wednesday he’ll beryllium fresh for Week 1. Adomitis has performed admirably, but it’s improbable Orzech is going anywhere.

“Miserable, terrible,” Orzech said of his summer. “But correct now they're telling maine to beryllium patient. It's for illustration this goes against everything successful my full being is to conflict done pain. But they're trying to impulse the different way, and it's been difficult to do.

“They conscionable want to make judge that erstwhile I do travel back, that I’m astatine 100 percent myself and not nursing it aliases fighting a regression for a full season. It's a agelong tally arsenic you good know.”