For 21 consecutive seasons, an undrafted free agent has made the Green Bay Packers' roster. Last season, that player was Nazir Stackhouse. The Packers carry a deep and talented roster, so cracking the 53-man group is never a given — but it's far from impossible. Brian Gutekunst drafted just six players last weekend, and none of the rookie tryout players appear to be signing a contract with the team. That leaves the door wide open for another undrafted free agent to make his mark.

Making the team comes down to two things: talent and opportunity. Some undrafted free agents earn their spot on pure ability. Others aren't the most talented players in the room, but they find themselves in the right situation at the right time and make the most of it. Both paths are in play for this year's crop. With OTAs and training camp right around the corner, all ten will get their shot. Here are the three with the best case for those final roster spots.

J.Michael Sturdivant

Just a month ago, the Packers had a bit of a logjam at receiver. Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, and Skyy Moore were all slated to make the team. A couple of weeks later, the Packers shipped Wicks to Philadelphia for a pair of draft picks, clarified the pecking order among the remaining receivers — opening the door for someone new to carve out a role. That someone could be J. Michael Sturdivant.

Sturdivant is a 6'2", 207-pound wideout out of Florida with a 9.96 RAS score — a great athlete with terrific speed and elite jumping ability. Both Lance Zierlein and Dane Brugler projected him as a 5th-6th round pick. Brugler elaborated: "Sturdivant accelerates well for his size to stack vertically and gain a step on top of coverage. He is more smooth than sudden in his route running, and his momentum can get away from him at times, which is why he is at his best on runway routes. His drop rate improved each season (8.3 percent in 2024 to just 3.6 percent in '25), and he gives his quarterback some wiggle room with ball placement. Sturdivant needs to introduce more urgency and nuance to his play, but he has juice for a bigger target and shows a decent feel for the position."

If a sixth receiver is going to push for a roster spot, Sturdivant has a real case. The coaching staff will salivate over his athletic traits, and his toughness and adequate blocking skills will earn him extra credit with Matt LaFleur. But making the team likely comes down to special teams. He doesn't have a deep resume there, though he has logged time on kick return, punt return, and punt coverage units. His most realistic path to a roster spot might be as a jammer or flier — and if he can nail down one of those roles, the athletic tools are there to make a case.

J. Michael Sturdivant (WR, Florida) has made a couple of nice plays in one-on-ones pic.twitter.com/eRQsVFWESR

— Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) January 24, 2026

Jaden Nixon

The draft came and went without the Packers adding to the running back room. If everyone stays healthy, they won't need to. The pecking order is clear: Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, and Chris Brooks — in that order. The problem is that "everyone stays healthy" is a stretch. Lloyd has yet to prove he can stay on the field for any extended stretch, and Jacobs, who battled injuries throughout last season, isn't getting any younger. Beyond those three, Damien Martinez and Pierre Strong Jr. are both question marks. That leaves a potential opening for someone new — and that someone could be Jaden Nixon.

Nixon is undersized at 5'9", 189 pounds, but he has a knack for the explosive play. He had four touchdown runs of 50-plus yards and a kickoff return for a touchdown last season. Plays like that would get anyone noticed. The biggest knock on him coming out is that he tested poorly. He ran a 4.54-second 40-yard dash, which is fine, but his jumping and agility scores were both poor, resulting in a 3.20 RAS score. The tape tells a different story than the athletic numbers, though. Over 52 collegiate games, Nixon totaled 1,973 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns, added 61 receptions for 480 yards, and chipped in four receiving scores — a well-rounded resume for a change-of-pace back.

The Packers are one minor injury away from needing someone new to step up in the backfield, and Nixon has a case to be that guy. He was never UCF's primary ball carrier, but his skill set translates well to a complementary role — catching the ball out of the backfield, providing a change of pace, and spelling Jacobs when needed. He's not going to be an every-down bellcow like his cousin Adrian Peterson, but that's not what the Packers would be asking of him. Nixon could also factor into the return game if needed, though Skyy Moore figures to handle the bulk of those duties. It's a long shot, but if the chips fall right, Nixon could make a real case for a roster spot.

Josh Gesky

Offensive line depth has been a major concern dating back to last season, particularly on the interior. Sean Rhyan, Aaron Banks, and Anthony Belton will start, but it gets thin in a hurry after them. Jacob Monk and Donovan Jennings have been in the building for several years now, but neither has done much to inspire confidence that they can step in without the offense skipping a beat. Given how banged up the offensive line was last season, the Packers needed to add some insurance — backups who could fill in without being a liability. That someone could be Josh Gesky.

If the Packers were putting together a wish list for a backup offensive lineman, Gesky checks most of the boxes. He started 34 games at Illinois, earned All-Big Ten honors three times, and posted a 9.61 RAS score — above-average athleticism for a big man. The Packers also brought him in for a Top 30 visit, signaling genuine interest well before draft weekend. Dane Brugler's scouting note captures him well: "Gesky enrolled at 260 pounds, played at around 330 pounds in 2025, and weighed under 310 pounds for his pro day — he has a big-boned frame that he can fill out or make leaner, depending on what is needed…Though his redirect skills are marginal, he has adequate feet and eager hands to set up shop and get into a punch-ready position. He is a coach-pleaser, with a blue-collar mindset as a worker." Exactly what the doctor ordered.

The backup offensive line spots are very much up for grabs. Monk, Jennings, and fellow rookie Jager Burton will all be in the mix, but Gesky has as good a shot as anyone. He brings the kind of experience that should let him compete from day one. His former coach, Bret Bielema, went as far as saying he believes Gesky could outlast any of Illinois' 2026 NFL draft class — and that he could be a starter early in his career. That's a notable endorsement from a well-respected Big Ten coach. The Packers probably aren't expecting Gesky to push for a starting job anytime soon, but he has a real shot at carving out a home as the ninth or tenth offensive lineman on the roster.

The #Packers signed Josh Gesky to the practice squad...

Gesky allowed only 3 sacks on 1,213 career pass blocking snaps. https://t.co/XYmi8Jw6b6 pic.twitter.com/c3CClG7irc

— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) April 26, 2026