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The\u00a0Green Bay Packers\u00a0has added only two external pieces in free agency so far,\u00a0signing guard Aaron Banks\u00a0and\u00a0cornerback Nate Hobbs. It\u2019s still a deep and strong roster, but there are real question marks.<\/p>\n
The top of the wide receiver group, especially while\u00a0Christian Watson is out, the edge defenders, defensive tackles, and cornerbacks are all positions that can still be improved, either via second wave of free agency or\u00a0the draft.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a look at the current situation of the Packers\u2019 90-man roster, position by position.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no big issues at quarterback, with\u00a0Love being the franchise player. Maybe Brian Gutekunst is willing to draft another young passer because Clifford and\u00a0Michael Pratt\u00a0didn\u2019t work out, especially because\u00a0Willis is entering the final year of his deal.<\/p>\n
The running back room was already strong last year, with Josh Jacobs having a Pro Bowl season. Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks are solid backups entering the final year of their deals, while\u00a0Lloyd is coming back from injury\u00a0after a tough rookie season. AJ Dillon is now gone, but he hadn\u2019t played last year anyway. Overall, it\u2019s a strong unit, but it might be a need a year from now depending on how Lloyd performs.<\/p>\n
The depth is unquestioned, but the lack of a top weapon is still a concern. Moreover, Christian Watson is expected to miss significant time to start the season because of an ACL injury he suffered in Week 18. Jayden Reed has been the most productive receiver on the team, but the Packers need\u00a0more out of their outside options. Wide receiver is one of the biggest needs of the roster.<\/p>\n
Kraft has established himself as a top 10 tight end in the NFL, but Musgrave regressed in Year 2. If the former second-round pick can return to the form he showed in the first half of his rookie season, there\u2019s potential for an elite unit. Ben Sims has also been a useful roster piece.<\/p>\n
The Packers have\u00a0six starting-level offensive linemen, and last year\u2019s first-round pick\u00a0Jordan Morgan\u00a0can challenge Sean Rhyan at right guard or, ideally, Rasheed Walker at left tackle. Andre Dillard is still unsigned and could offer some depth at tackle, but for now they are ok with Telfort and Glover as the backups. The lack of interior depth is an issue, but not as pronounced when Morgan is healthy.<\/p>\n
Brian Gutekunst added some depth pieces to the defensive line with future contracts trying to find rotational pieces, but DT is still a big need\u2014and it wouldn\u2019t surprise if they take on in the first round of the draft. TJ Slaton left in free agency, so now Wyatt\u2019s and Brooks\u2019 roles will be bigger, and Wooden might have to grow<\/p>\n
Another need upfront. The Packers not adding an edge rusher in free agency is probably the biggest surprise, because the lack of production behind Rashan Gary last year was concerning\u2014and Gary himself didn\u2019t do nearly as much as the Packers would hope. Probably, the plan involves developing Van Ness, but there hasn\u2019t been much proof of concept throughout his NFL career so far. Brenton Cox flashed in the second half of last season and might become a real piece<\/p>\n
The Packers will probably want to add more bodies to the linebacker room after losing Eric Wilson in free agency, but the priority was to keep Isaiah McDuffie. Cooper and Walker are projected to be the starters, and Hopper can have a bigger role with these circumstances.<\/p>\n
Cornerback might not seem like a need looking at it now, but\u00a0Jaire Alexander will probably be traded or released. Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs both can play outside, but are primarily slot corners. Yes, they will play as boundaries, but adding more outside cornerbacks for the short- and long-term is one of the urgent needs for Green Bay<\/p>\n
After a complete rebuild of the group last offseason, it is in a much better shape now. McKinney is an All-Pro, Williams was an All-Rookie Team member, and Bullard showed positional versatility to play deep or in the slot. Even guys like Zayne Anderson and\u00a0Kitan Oladapo, who were primarily special teamers, performed well on defense when needed in 2024. It\u2019s one of the best and deepest rooms on the roster.<\/p>\n
This group is probably closed after the Packers signed McManus to a three-year extension and Whelan to an exclusive-rights free agent tender. Orzech is entering the final year of his deal, but he\u2019s been fine. Kicker Alex Hale is a member of the\u00a0International Pathway Program, so he doesn\u2019t count against the 90-man roster limit and will probably spend the season on the practice squad with a roster exemption.<\/p>\n
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