Bottom of the roster training camp battles are often won far from the spotlight. While fans focus on  quarterbacks, first-round picks, and high-profile veterans, some of the most important roster decisions occur at the back end of the depth chart. For the Green Bay Packers, there is an intriguing competition entering the 2026 season that  may be more important than at first glance. That’s the battle between Jonathan Ford and Nazir Stackhouse for what could be the final defensive tackle spot on the 53-man roster.

With Green Bay transitioning into a 3-4 defensive front under defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, the importance of interior defensive line depth has never been greater. The Packers have invested heavily in the position this offseason, adding veteran Javon Hargrave, drafting Chris McClellan, and continuing to develop young players such as Warren Brinson. That leaves limited room for reserve defensive tackles, making every snap during training camp and the preseason critical.

The question becomes simple: Whose the best depth piece for Green Bay’s defensive line?

The Case for Nazir Stackhouse

Stackhouse enters camp with one significant advantage: familiarity with the current roster and coaching staff.

The former Georgia standout made Green Bay's opening-day roster as an undrafted rookie in 2025, extending the Packers' impressive streak of undrafted rookies making the team. He appeared in 13 games and recorded 12 tackles while serving primarily as a rotational run defender.

At 6-foot-4 and roughly 327 pounds, Stackhouse possesses the prototypical size teams seek in a traditional nose tackle. His college tape at Georgia showcased a player capable of occupying multiple blockers and creating opportunities for linebackers behind him. During the Bulldogs' national championship runs, Stackhouse developed a reputation as a reliable run stuffer rather than a flashy pass rusher.

That skill set could be particularly valuable in Gannon's defense. A true 3-4 front requires players who can anchor against the run and clog interior rushing lanes. While Green Bay added Hargrave to improve its interior pass rush, the defense still needs players willing to do the dirty work on early downs.

The organization also appears to value Stackhouse's developmental potential. Packers.com highlighted him as one of the team's intriguing second-year defensive linemen entering 2026 after he successfully earned a roster spot as a rookie.

Perhaps most importantly, Stackhouse has youth on his side. At just 24 years old, there is still room for growth. Teams are often more willing to keep a younger player with upside than a veteran whose ceiling is already known.

The Case for Jonathan Ford

If Stackhouse offers upside, Ford offers experience.

Originally drafted by Green Bay in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Ford has taken an unconventional path back to the Packers. After spending time with the organization and later the Chicago Bears, he returned to Green Bay late in the 2025 season when injuries ravaged the position. He was then re-signed again this offseason.

Unlike Stackhouse, Ford has spent multiple years in NFL systems. He understands the demands of professional football and has proven he can stick around despite roster churn.

Ford also has something Stackhouse lacks: experience in multiple defensive schemes. That versatility could prove valuable when coaches are evaluating players for the final few roster spots.

The Packers' struggles against the run late in the 2025 season likely influenced their decision to bring Ford back. After allowing significant rushing production in several games, Green Bay searched for additional interior depth and viewed Ford as someone capable of helping stabilize the position.

There is also the reality that Ford has spent four years fighting for NFL opportunities. Players with that type of experience often enter camp understanding exactly what coaches want. They know how to prepare, how to maximize preseason snaps, and how to avoid costly mistakes.

When roster spots come down to minor details, experience matters.

Why Stackhouse Has the Edge

While both players have legitimate arguments, Stackhouse likely has the inside track.

Several offseason roster projections have included Stackhouse among the Packers' defensive tackle keepers while projecting Ford on the outside looking in. In these projections, Stackhouse is the sixth and final member of the defensive line group, leaving Ford either on the practice squad as additional depth or on the street. 

The reasoning is understandable.

The Packers already know what Ford is. He is a dependable depth option capable of providing emergency snaps. There is value in that, but teams generally reserve final roster spots for players who could become more than backups.

Stackhouse still has that possibility.

The former Georgia defensive tackle was a productive college player who entered the NFL with a reputation as a run defender. While his rookie season was relatively quiet, young defensive linemen often take longer to develop than players at other positions. It is not uncommon for interior defenders to make significant leaps in Years 2 and 3 once they adjust to NFL strength and conditioning programs.

Additionally, Green Bay's current defensive tackle room already features several experienced players. Hargrave, Devonte Wyatt, and Karl Brooks provide a blend of veteran leadership and established production. That makes it easier for the Packers to carry a developmental player such as Stackhouse rather than prioritizing another veteran depth piece. Add in the fact that he is under contract for beyond just 2026 while players such as Wyatt and Brooks are in the final years of their deals and Green Bay will want that young cheap talent for 2027. 

What Will Decide the Battle

The deciding factor may ultimately come down to one simple question: Who can stop the run?

The Packers struggled at times in that area during 2025, and the move to a 3-4 front only increases the need for reliable interior defenders. Coaches will closely evaluate which player consistently holds his ground at the point of attack, sheds blocks, and creates opportunities for linebackers such as Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin to make plays. If the Packers defense is going to take a step forward and really become a championship level unit in 2026, the run defense needs to improve. 

Special teams could also become a factor. Players fighting for the final roster spots often need to contribute outside their primary position. Whichever player proves more valuable on field-goal units and other special-teams packages could gain a significant advantage.

Prediction

This competition should be one of the more closely watched battles during training camp, but Stackhouse enters as the favorite.

Ford's experience and familiarity with the organization make him a legitimate contender, and he could ultimately earn a practice-squad role if he fails to crack the initial 53-man roster. However, Green Bay has consistently shown a willingness to develop young defensive linemen, and Stackhouse's combination of size, youth, and upside fits what the Packers typically value in depth players.

Unless Ford clearly and undoubtedly outperforms him throughout camp and the preseason, expect Nazir Stackhouse to win the final defensive tackle spot and continue his development as a rotational run defender in Green Bay's evolving defensive front.