Your 2025 Green Bay Packers are finally here. After a roster cutdown day full of intrigue the names are known, the depth chart is set, and we’re on to Detroit. The 53-man list is a living, breathing organism that will undergo plenty of changes as the year progresses, and it’s possible that by the time you read this article, the roster is already different. In the meantime, I’ll go position by position to give you a look at how the group shapes up, and what to watch for from them in 2025. 

Quarterbacks

Jordan Love, Malik Willis 

Not much to parse through here, especially on the 53 man side of things. QB1 is locked up for years to come, and any intrigue with the backup spot will have to wait until next offseason. The Packers will almost certainly be looking for a new backup then, since I expect that Willis has played his way into competition for a starting job somewhere else next year. For now though, the Packers can be content that a top tier backup quarterback wears the Green and Gold. 

Running Backs

Josh Jacobs, Emmanuel Wilson, Chris Brooks, Marshawn Lloyd - IR/DR 

Another position that was pretty chalk all the way through. Josh Jacobs looks to pick up where he left off last year, when he was the heart and soul of this Packers offense. I think a few Packers fans, and national media members, have let Jacobs be overshadowed by the excitement of what Jordan Love’s season will look like. While I maintain that Love did not have a “down” year in 2024, there’s no denying that Jacobs was simply the better player. He put the Packers on his back almost immediately, stepping into a veteran leadership role for this *young Packers team. On the field he was incredible, creating 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns. I expect more of the same in 2025. 

Our short lived look at Marshawn Lloyd in action was plenty to leave Packers fans in anticipation of his return, no matter how his availability throughout the season looks like when it’s all said and done. He’s got the potential to be a perfect compliment for Josh Jacobs, and if he can put injuries behind him, could be an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses. 

I wrote about this in my roster battle prediction article, but I think any discussion about Emmanuel Wilson or Chris Brooks being replaced on the roster was a bit of overthinking. These two players have performed well in Matt Lafleur's offense, and there was never any reason to rock the boat where these two are concerned.

Wide Receivers

Romeo Dobbs, Matthew Golden, Dontayvion Wicks, Jayden Reed, Savion Williams, Malik Heath, Christian Watson - PUP

From a roster construction standpoint, the six spots at the top were always locked in, but keeping seven receivers always made sense as well, considering injuries, not only to Chrstian Watson but to Wicks, Williams and Reed as well. There were plenty of moving parts behind those six, looking to fill that last spot. Over the course of the preseason and training camp, there were an absolute boatload of wide receivers on the roster. Names like Kawan Baker, Julian Hicks, Cornelius Johnson, Isaiah Neyor, and Will Shepard were called on to fill spots and compete. 

Many of these players flashed some incredible upside and proved they belong on the field, but only one could have made the final 53, and that battle always seemed like it was Malik Heath against Mecole Hardman. The two were incredibly different players who would fill significantly different roles on the team. Heath is a possession receiver who makes his name blocking for his teammates on the field, a staple in what the Packers love from their receivers. Hardman boasts a speedy, veteran presence. Both had value on special teams, although again they were contributors in different spots. 

Ultimately, Malik Heath will be the final wide receiver on the roster, meaning that Matthew Golden will likely be the only new addition to see major playing time, for a group that has plenty of questions to answer.

Tight Ends

Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, John Fitzpatrick, Ben Sims 

The law firm of Kraft & Musgrave is returning for its third year of practice, and this could be the year everything really comes together for this promising duo. They’ve got complimentary strengths that allow them to be on the field at the same time, important for a team that could be looking to notably increase its usage of 12 personnel. John Fitzpatrick and Ben Sims form a backup pair that will see tons of special teams play. 

Offensive Line

Rasheed Walker, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins, Sean Rhyan, Zach Tom, Darian Kinnard, Jordan Morgan, Anthony Belton, Donovan Jennings, Jacob Monk-IR/DR, John Williams- PUP

While there is still work to do in determining a starter at Left Tackle and the status of Aaron Banks’ injury, the Packers have a starting five that is more than capable of protecting Jordan Love over the course of the season. The challenge , and what I will be paying close attention to vs Detroit, will be in whether or not they can improve their run blocking, which was closer to the bottom of the league in 2024. Swapping out Josh Myers for Elgton Jenkins is certainly a start, but they’ve got a tough task to begin the season.

Depth wise, what started as a seeming strength of the team has turned into an area of nervousness. With Travis Glover on IR for the entirety of 2025, and the struggles of Anthony Belton, Donovan Jennings and Jacob Monk through the preseason, the depth is suddenly shaky. The offensive line remained remarkably healthy through 2024, but the law of averages says that’s unlikely to happen again in 2025. 

The team took a major step to address this in trading for G/T Darian Kinnard from the Eagles. He’s a major floor raiser for the offensive line, and someone I think the team would be comfortable playing ~100 snaps this season, if it came to that. He fits nicely with what the Packers like to do on offense, and has shown off nice movement skills. At 322lbs, he also fits the recent Packers trend of bringing in heavier linemen. 

The Packers may need Kinnard to fit in quickly, depending on the status of Elgton Jenkins and Aaron Banks for week one, and there’s a world where he may be the first man off the bench in week one, depending on how much trust the coaching staff has in Anthony Belton.  

Defensive Tackles

Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, Warren Brinson, Nazir Stackhouse 

The Packers had a couple of tough choices to make here. The entire group had a rough 2024, starting with Kenny Clark’s down year, the result of a (injury) suffered in week one against Brazil. While Clark chose to tough it out, he did not look like his normal self. Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden did not build on their impressive rookie 2023 seasons, and Devonte Wyatt was always just sort of… there. The Packers took a major leap of faith early this offseason however, allowing TJ Slaton to walk in free agency, and only bringing in a pair of late or undrafted rookies in Brinson and Stackhouse. The perceived lack of depth at defensive tackle was one of my biggest concerns for the team after the draft. 

However, the group has looked improved over the preseason, especially from third year players Karl Brooks and the newly moved-to-one-tech Colby Wooden. Keeping all six defensive tackles on the team was a long shot, but ultimately it seems the Packers really love the defensive upside that all of these players bring. You’ve got tons of versatility in the form of Kenny Clark and Colby Wooden who can play both 3 tech and 1 tech, Nazir Stackhouse is your traditional nose tackle run stuffer, and a couple of fun 3 tech options in Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks and Warren Brinson. 

Edge Rushers

Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Kingsley Enagbare, Brenton Cox Jr, Colin Oliver - PUP

I don’t need to reiterate in this article how much is riding on this group in 2025. The Packers pass rush in 2024 was nowhere near the levels it needed to be in order for this squad to compete for Super Bowls, even as the rest of the defense improved around them. And there should be some credit given to their (especially Rashan Gary) improvement against the run, but edge rushers aren't here to stop the run. They’re here to get at the quarterback. 

Just as with the DTs, defensive line coach Demarcus Covington has his group looking like new in 2025. Lukas Van Ness looks poised to have the breakout season we’ve all been waiting for, following a dominant showing all preseason / training camp. Kingsley Enagbare was the team’s highest graded player over the course of the preseason, per PFF. Brenton Cox was also flashing the dominant talent he’s always possessed, but never put together. 

Is there a world where the pass rush turns from a liability to a major strength for this team? Absolutely. But I’d caution fans from putting expectations too high, considering the massive challenge that the group has in front of them. Just like everyone else, the rushers will be facing a massive litmus test in week one against (possibly) the best pair of tackles in the league. 

Linebackers

Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty’ron Hopper 

I mentioned last week during my defensive roster battle article, but how strange does it feel to be actually excited about the linebackers in Green Bay? Edgerrin Cooper is a budding superstar, Quay Walker looked like he was finally coming into his own during parts of 2024, and there was nobody who improved more in 2025 than Ty’ron Hopper, according to Matt LaFluer himself. He’s been nothing short of a revelation over the course of the preseason, and I think there’s little doubt we are going to see a rotation at LB3 between him and Isiah McDuffie. If Hopper can continue to build on his success, I do wonder how it affects the team’s contract negotiations with Quay Walker. Or, does Walker suddenly become trade bait at the deadline? We might be getting ahead of ourselves a bit, though.

While there was a time, before the preseason games began, that it looked like Isiah Simmons would be battling for playing time, all the way up to the LB3 spot. That hype has crashed down, and instead, he’s been handed the pink slip. While that wasn’t impossible to see coming, what’s surprising is Kristian Welch also being shown the door. The Packers will keep only four linebackers on the 53, and I think it’s extremely possible that we see another move here, possibly as early as today. 

Cornerbacks

Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, Carrington Valentine, Bo Melton, Kamaal Hadden, Micah Robinson 

Cornerback has been a major stress point for this roster, going all the way back to maybe the 2022 season, when the pair of Jaire Alexander and rookie Eric Stokes looked to be a top ten tandem in the league for a while. Instead, neither are on the team. Alexander  is no longer a Packer, as the Packers choose to trade the high-end upside he can provide for a bit more stability at the position, while Stokes’ body and instincts at the position betrayed his sky high potential. 

The trio of Hobbs, Nixon and Valentine is an interesting experiment. They’ve all got a bit of positional flexibility between the nickel and boundary, but none are the kind of player you’d want matched up one-on-one with the best players in the league. How will Jeff Hafley decide to best utilize the trio? We’ve seen small hints and whispers of it already, but expect heavy disguises, rotations, and a heavy dose of help from the next position group on the list. 

There’s another tier of players right below those three, and it’s Bo Melton. Melton was the darling of Packers training camp, as it became more and more obvious that his position switch was no desperate attempt to stay on the roster, but a legitimate change made for his, and the team’s, best interest. He left behind a crowded receiver room with no room for him, and has become a solid piece of depth for the cornerbacks. Meanwhile, the four man race at the roster bubble featured a tier of similarly talented, young players, but Kamaal Hadden and Micah Robinson will get the nod to begin the year.

Safeties

Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Kitan Oladapo, Zanye Anderson 

The safety room continues to be an exciting blend of youth and upside. Superstar Xavier McKinney headlines the list, but I’m so intrigued to see what year two has in store for Evan Williams, Javon Bullard and Kitan Oladapo. 

As I alluded to in the cornerback section, I expect a large dose of safety help to hide some deficiencies in the cornerback room. We already know Javon Bullard spent tons of time in the nickel slot last season, in fact He was one of only five players in the entire NFL last season that played at least 250 snaps at both safety and slot corner. More impressively, he’s the first rookie to do so since 2007. While his quality of play is up for debate, the versatility he provides the Packers with is not. While I expected the Packers to lean into this over the course of training camp (maybe even turning Bullard into a full time nickel), this did not happen, and Bullard instead spent most of his time at the spot where the Packers selected him: safety. 

He’s still behind Evan Williams on the depth chart, but Williams quietly had a poor second half of the season last year, and by no means has an untouchable hold over that second safety position. Even Kitan Oladapo could make his name known in this competition, and wherever happens this season between the three, I’m expecting a wild training camp battle next year. 

Xavier McKinney is the glue that holds this defense together, and he’ll be handed the heavy task of creating a no fly zone on his half of the field, every time he drops back into coverage. Opposing teams ended 2024 by just never throwing at him, and if McKinney can prove he’s on the same level in 2025, the rest of the secondary has a chance of keeping its head above water. 

Special Teams Notes

While there was never any question as to who would be handling the kicker/punter duties in 2025 (what a breath of fresh air that was, compared to 2024), it was still exciting to see Brandon McManus and Daniel Whelan show off their talent all preseason. There's a legitimate argument to make that McManus was the most impressive player in training camp, and that Whelan was the most impressive player in the preseason. Green Bay is a tough place to kick the ball, especially late in the year when that ball gets rock hard in the cold, but Packers fans can breathe easy knowing that they've got the guys for the job. 

Injury Notes

Travis Glover and Omar Brown are on the Injured Reserve list, and though they do not count towards the 53 man roster, are still under contract with the Packers.