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Packers quarterback Jordan Love.
With OTAs now in the rearview, the Green Bay Packers have entered the long break between their spring workout program and 2025 NFL training camp.
Over the past month, the Packers received their first opportunity to see how their new and returning players will mesh with each other for the forthcoming 2025 season. In a significant decision, the Packers also move on from two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander, officially releasing him on June 9 after exploring trades and restructures.
Now, the team must wait until rookies report for training camp on July 18 — with veterans to follow on July 22– to reconvene for further evaluations. In the meantime, here’s an early projection for who will make the initial 53-man roster following OTAs:
GettyPackers backup quarterback Malik Willis.
Quarterback (2): Jordan Love, Malik Willis
The Packers do not have any major questions about the quarterback position coming out of their 2025 OTAs. While the team could feature quite a bit of Sean Clifford and former CFL standout Taylor Elgersma during the preseason, they are vying for the No. 3 quarterback role behind Love, the unquestioned starter, and Willis, the likely backup.
Cut: Sean Clifford, Taylor Elgersma
Running Back (3): Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, Emanuel Wilson
The Packers struck gold with Jacobs in 2024 free agency and will lean on him as their lead back again in 2025. The hope is Lloyd — who missed most of his rookie season with an injury — will bounce back in his sophomore outing and convincingly claim the No. 2 spot in the rotation, but Wilson ran for 502 yards and four touchdowns as the change-of-pace back to Jacobs last year. Lloyd’s status as a former third-round pick should keep him safe from the roster bubble, but don’t discount Wilson or Chris Brooks as his rivals.
Cut: Chris Brooks, Amar Johnson (R), Jalen White (R)
GettyPackers first-round rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden.
Wide Receiver (6): Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Dontayvion Wicks, Savion Williams, Mecole Hardman Jr.
The Packers have a much-discussed logjam at wide receiver coming out of OTAs with all of their primary contributors returning along with three new additions in Golden (2025 first-round pick), Williams (2025 third-round pick) and Hardman (free-agent signing). While that will allow them to stay potent at the position, it also means winning a depth spot will prove difficult for Malik Heath and the others, even if Christian Watson starts the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list amid his ACL recovery.
PUP List: Christian Watson (ACL injury)
Cut: Malik Heath, Sam Brown Jr. (R), Julian Hicks, Cornelius Johnson
Tight End (3): Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, John FitzPatrick
Kraft had a breakout season for the Packers in 2024 and figures to return as their top player at the position. Meanwhile, Musgrave — a 2023 second-round pick — is looking to bounce back from an ankle injury that wiped out most of his second season in 2024 and could earn a reasonable share of the passing targets, if he returns to rookie form. The third spot in the rotation is where things could get interesting, though FitzPatrick overtook Ben Sims as the team’s No. 3 tight end last year and could start the season in the same role unless Sims pushes him to the bubble in a hard-fought camp battle.
Cut: Johnny Lumpkin, Ben Sims, Messiah Swinson
GettyPackers first-round guard Jordan Morgan.
Offensive Line (10): Rasheed Walker, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins, Jordan Morgan, Zach Tom, Anthony Belton, Sean Rhyan, Jacob Monk, John Williams, Travis Glover
The Packers lost starting center Josh Myers in 2025 free agency, but they feel confident about their new alignment after moving Jenkins to center, signing Banks to take over for him at left guard and drafting Belton in the second round to compete at left tackle. The room should also have two of the most intriguing roster battles of camp for the Packers between Walker and Belton at left tackle and Morgan and Rhyan at right guard. The depth spots belong to recent draft picks like Monk and Williams for now, but don’t be surprised if the Packers shake things up further — maybe even signing another vet.
Cut: Brant Banks (R), Tyler Cooper (R), Trey Hill, Donovan Jennings, J.J. Lippe (R), Kadeem Telfort
Defensive End (6): Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver, Brenton Cox Jr.
There are legitimate questions about whether the Packers should pursue another edge rusher for their defense before training camp, especially with more than $35 million left in cap space. For now, though, the nods go to the established talent and the two rookie draft picks — Sorrell (fourth round) and Oliver (fifth round) — even though the position group has higher expectations for 2025. This projection guesses the Packers will keep six edge rushers on their initial 53-man roster, but Cox would be the next man cut if the team decided to only keep five.
Cut: Deslin Alexandre, Arron Mosby
GettyPackers defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt
Defensive Tackle (5): Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Warren Brinson, Colby Wooden, Karl Brooks
Nazir Stackhouse is an intriguing interior defender who might have the best chance of continuing the Packers’ 20-year streak of having an undrafted rookie on their initial 53-man roster, but making the roster could require someone else to falter. Clark and Wyatt are the heavy-hitters of the group and are locks to make the team, while the sixth-round rookie Brinson is also a safe bet. Beyond them, Wooden, Brooks and Stackhouse could all contend for depth spots in the rotation; though, the rookie loses out — for now.
Cut: James Ester, Keith Randolph Jr., Nazir Stackhouse (R), Nesta Jade Silvera, Cameron Young
Linebacker (5): Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, Isaiah McDuffie, Isaiah Simmons, Ty’Ron Hopper
The linebacker position is one of the strongest for the Packers in 2025 after they added Simmons — who can double as a defensive back — and extended McDuffie for two years. Hopper is an outlier after playing 18 defensive snaps as a rookie, but the 2024 third-rounder is primarily competing for a spot on special teams in camp and has too much upside still to lose his spot. There is an outside shot that undrafted rookie Jamon Dumas-Johnson pushes for the roster if Hopper struggles, but he is a long shot for now.
Cut: Jamon Dumas-Johnson (R), Kristian Welch
GettyPackers cornerback Keisean Nixon.
Cornerback (5): Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, Carrington Valentine, Micah Robinson, Bo Melton
The departure of Alexander raises significant questions about the Packers’ cornerback room following the spring workout program. While general manager Brian Gutekunst has expressed confidence in Nixon, Hobbs and Valentine to hold things down, he has also candidly admitted the rest of the group are largely “unknowns.” That could lead the Packers to sign another veteran off the free-agent market — or potentially make a trade — before starting the regular season. But for now, the nods go to the rookie Robinson and Melton, whom the Packers are hoping can convert smoothly from receiver to corner to retain his special-teams value.
Cut: Johnathan Baldwin, Isaiah Dunn, Kamal Hadden, Tyron Herring (R), Gregory Junior
Safety (5): Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Kitan Oladapo, Zayne Anderson
The Packers invested heavily in the safety position in 2024 and may have found three long-term contributors in the process. McKinney is an All-Pro starter who will continue to help lead Green Bay’s secondary while Williams and Bullard — the latter of whom is expected to play in the slot — look like shoo-ins to play featured roles again in 2025. Oladapo — a 2024 fifth-round pick — and Anderson should also return because of their special-teams value; however, the rookie Kahzir Brown could make things interesting.
Cut: Kahzir Brown (R), Omar Brown
GettyPackers specialists Matt Orzech (left), Daniel Whelan (right) and Brandon McManus (middle).
Specialist (3): Brandon McManus, Matt Orzech, Daniel Whealan
No qualms about how the specialist positions will play out for the Packers. They have consistency at all three positions after signing McManus to a three-year, $15.3 million extension during the offseason. Right now, the Packers don’t even have rival punters or long snappers on the roster for Whealen and Orzech, respectively. Alex Hale could once again win the Packers’ emergency kicker job for 2025, but that’s a practice-squad role.
Cut: Alex Hale
