The 2025 NFL Preseason is in the books. So, in other words, things just got real. The next time you see the Packers on the field, the games matter, every play, every inch of grass yielded and earned now means something. This means that the players who will be out on that field are now all the more critical. The Packers, along with the rest of the NFL, have less than 48 hours to make their 53-man rosters official. But while many of you are wondering which of the 96-man roster are going to make the team, let me remind you that there are hundreds of players around the league who could seemingly come out of nowhere and find themselves on the Packers roster.

This was just proven an hour ago, as the Packers just traded a 2027 6th Round Pick for Eagles offensive lineman Darian Kinnard. Kansas City selected Kinnard with a 5th Round Pick back in 2022, whom the Packers did bring in for a "Top-30 Visit" way back when. The Packers ended up selecting Zach Tom just five spots ahead of Kinnard at 140th Overall, and it's easy to say that worked out very well for them. Although Kinnard has sparingly played, he's made enough of an impression on GM Brian Gutekunst's mind to bring him into the fold, most likely forgoing his current options (RIP Jacob Monk).

Which brings me to this all-new yearly segment, a part of the Gems Series. I'm dubbing it the Practice Squad Pirates.

What qualifies as a Pirate? I'm still refining the definition, but here's what I've come up with so far:

• A player whom the Packers brought in for a pre-draft visit who is now available (includes Senior Bowl/College All-Star/Combine interviews).
• A veteran on a team with a new coach/GM who is not "their player" and is being jettisoned for a player archetype that fits with the new design for the team, but is a "Packers type" of player.
• Veteran at a position of need that might not make the cut of their current roster, but could be seen as an upgrade over the Packers' current depth.

Pirates won't be quite as in-depth as the Gems, as this is a proverbial laundry list of players, and Gems focuses on an individual prospect, but I will share insights into each player highlighted. 

So without further ado, let's look at who made the cut for the 2025 edition of Practice Squad Pirates:

Christian Haynes - IOL, Seattle

We will never know at this point, but I thought with the great relationship between Gutekunst and Seahawks' GM John Schneider, Gutekunst might be able to get Haynes for pennies on the dollar. The Packers were able to get an extended look at him with the joint practices which including him taking snaps at Guard and Center. With the Kinnard trade now official, Haynes will have to hope to somehow make Seattle's active roster/practice squad or latch on somewhere else. But let's not rule out the Packers waiting for his release and adding him to their own PS should he twist in the wind for too long. The Packers had an extended interview with Haynes back at the Senior Bowl AND brought him in for a "Top-30 visit". Kinnard probably erases this possibility, but I'm still curious.

Cole Strange - IOL, New England

Cole Strange is one of the last holdovers from the Belichick dynasty, and he apparently is not faring well with the new administration under Mike Vrabel. This is a stab in the dark, but Strange posted a 9.95 RAS coming out of Chattanooga and has everything you want from a Packers interior lineman....on paper. If released, Strange should find a new home quickly, and it won't be on the practice squad either. Like many of you, I REALLY want Elgton Jenkins back at Guard, so it's gonna take someone like Strange or better to get Gutekunst and Head Coach Matt LeFleur to change their minds. Kinnard has no experience at Center, so Strange has a closer than impossible odds of being a pickup over Haynes mentioned above.

Donovan Peoples-Jones - WR, New Orleans

Okay, before you crucify me, let me cook....Mecole Hardman is making this roster. He's making it because the talent after Golden/Reed/Watson/Doubs is good but questionable. Let's blow the whole thing up. Peoples-Jones had a visit with the Packers via Zoom during 2020. He's a veteran who's played on a couple of teams, and you could do a lot worse than him competing with Hardman for WR5. AND he plays special teams. So he and Hardman can be out there on kick/punt return without having to worry about our promising youth at the top of the depth chart being exposed more to injury than they need to be. If the Saints let him go, he's at least worth a practice squad look to soak up the offense before seeing time, but he can immediately hop out on teams if necessary.

UPDATE: The Saints have released Peoples-Jones, he is free to sign with any team.

Van Jefferson - WR, Tennesee

Similar to People-Jones, Jefferson's career hasn't panned out like many thought he would. He plays teams and has found some tidbits of success. I like him as a back-of-the-roster addition who can also play teams. Like Hardman, he doesn't have any prior affiliation to the Packers, but never say never.

Darnell Washington - TE, Pittsburgh

I had to list him so you guys won't bash me about Peoples-Jones/Jefferson too much. This is all but a hell no. But Gutekunst did bring him in for a visit back in 2023. He's still got that 9.88 RAS, and from the little bit I've seen from him in camp and last season, the potential is still there. Why he can't get on the field is beyond me; the Steelers just brought on Jonnu Smith to seemingly be their TE2, and Washington is battling Connor Heyward for TE3. If Pittsburgh lets him go, does Gutekunst make the call, and who is he replacing I might add?

Jamin Davis - LB, New York Jets

If you all remember, Gutekunst snagged Davis off waivers from Washington last season, and the Vikings snatched him up days later. It wouldn't be hard to see a reunion should he not stick with the Jets. Just have to wait and see. Even with Isaiah Simmons on board, I'm still not happy with that position group, and neither should Gutekunst or Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley.

UPDATE: The Jets have released Davis, he does not have to pass through waivers and can sign with a new team immediately.

Isaiah Land - LB, Indianapolis

The Packers got a look at Land during joint practices in Indy, so they could potentially be interested. Land initially came into the league as a UDFA with the Cowboys, and they couldn't figure out that he's not a Defensive End in the pros. Land seems to have found a home at LB, and the Colts seem to experiment with him inside and outside. I like him inside on early downs, where the game might be a bit simpler for him, but I'd rotate him outside on 3rd down to rush the passer, too. Ty'Ron Hopper has transformed his game significantly since his rookie year, so this is probably out; however, give Isaiah McDuffie some competition in practice if possible.

Azeez Ojulari - Edge, Philadelphia

With his career marred by injuries, Ojulari has found a way to carve out playing time for a team even as loaded as the Eagles. With that being said, Ojulari may be looking for a new home given Philly's stacked roster. I wonder did Gutekunst ask about him when he traded for Kinnard? With Brenton Cox looking as good as he did during the preseason, the Packers are probably satisfied, but again, never say never.

Isaiah Foskey - DE, New Orleans

The Packers did bring in Foskey for a visit back in 2023. The Saints snagged Foskey at 40th Overall, and the Packers took Luke Musgrave at 42nd. Would they have taken Foskey had he been available? We'll never know.... But should he not make the team or practice squad for the Saints, his 9.61 RAS might be worth a spot on the PS to see what's there.

Damarri Mathis - CB, Denver

Mathis isn't a bad player, he's just on perhaps the most talented secondary in the NFL. I don't have any proof that the Packers did speak to Mathis at the Senior Bowl, but he was a standout. The Packers didn't take a defensive back until Tariq Carpenter in 2022, opting for Romeo Doubs and Zach Tom in the 4th Round. Mathis was long gone by then, anyway, at 115th Overall. I like the promise of the DB group, but I'm still a bit skeptical. Mathis erases those questions and competes immediately for CB2 or CB3.

Adoree Jackson - CB, Philadelphia

It's hard to follow Eagles nation (those fans are ROUGH), but I'm hearing Jackson is getting "freezed" out by DC Vic Fangio. The Eagles are stacked at all positions, so maybe they can afford to let the veteran Jackson go? He makes the boundary for the Packers soooo much better.

Damon Arnette - CB, Houston

The talent is there, but has he left his past behind completely? The Texans would be crazy to let him go, but he is buried on their roster (which I'm not mad at given who's playing). If they do let him go, Gutekunst NEEDS to make this call. He actually tried to make the call a couple of months ago, when Arnette was out of the league and playing for the UFL's Houston Roughnecks, the Packers tendered him an offer. Arnette turned it down for the Texans (which I'm not mad at either, we know how it is). Out of everyone listed, this is the player I probably want more than anything; Arnette becomes CB2 easily on this roster.

There's going to be a lot of wheelin' and dealin' across the league in the next couple of hours. Will any of these Pirates make the Packers' active roster or practice squad? Only time will tell.

#GPG