Packers depth chart: Where do Matthew Golden and rookies fit in after NFL Draft?

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What might a Packers post-draft depth chart look like? Glad you asked. Let’s dive in.

Quarterback

Jordan Love
Malik Willis
Sean Clifford

It was a tad surprising the Packers didn’t use one of their eight picks on a quarterback, but it’s not the end of the world that they’re rolling into the offseason with these three. The argument for drafting one was that Willis has one year remaining on his rookie deal and, because of how well he has played with the Packers, might command more on the open market next offseason than they’re willing to pay a backup. Therefore, they should draft a quarterback to develop for a year before taking over as Love’s backup in 2026. Instead, they could draft one in the middle rounds next year. Love is probably a top-12 quarterback in the NFL right now with a good chance to enter the top 10 if he stays healthy. His encore to 2023 wasn’t anything special, but all is hardly lost on Green Bay’s $220 million man.

Running back

Josh Jacobs
Emanuel Wilson
Chris Brooks
MarShawn Lloyd

Jacobs was everything the Packers bargained for last offseason and then some, ranking sixth in the NFL in rushing yards (1,329) and fourth in rushing touchdowns (15) en route to Pro Bowl honors while becoming a leading locker room presence. They received pleasantly surprising contributions from the second-year undrafted back Wilson and Brooks, whom they signed in early September after the Dolphins waived/injured him. The biggest question with this group entering the 2025 season is whether Lloyd can stay healthy. The 2024 third-round pick flashed promise before the season started, but he only played in one game because of injury. He was back on the field Monday for the start of Green Bay’s voluntary offseason program.

Wide receiver

Jayden Reed
Romeo Doubs
Dontayvion Wicks
Matthew Golden
Bo Melton
Malik Heath
Mecole Hardman
Savion Williams
Julian Hicks
Tulu Griffin
Cornelius Johnson

There will be no crowning of Golden just yet. He could become the team’s No. 1 wide receiver by season’s end, but he has to earn it. Christian Watson isn’t included on this list because he’s rehabbing a torn ACL and won’t be available until the second half of the season. One of the more pertinent things said by a member of the Packers during draft week was by general manager Brian Gutekunst. He said they thought Golden had arguably the best hands in the draft. For three players who struggled with drops last season in Reed, Doubs and Wicks, the rookie will be hot on their tails for playing time from the jump. As for the third-rounder Williams, I remember hearing about Josiah Deguara’s versatility when the Packers drafted him in 2020. We saw how that turned out. Regarding the Packers’ creative plans for Williams, I’ll believe it when I see it.

Tight end

Tucker Kraft
Luke Musgrave
Ben Sims
John FitzPatrick
Messiah Swinson
Johnny Lumpkin

Kraft emerged as one of the league’s best young tight ends last season. According to TruMedia, Kraft led all tight ends with 9.1 yards after catch per reception, 2.4 more than George Kittle’s second-place 6.7. While Kraft broke out, Musgrave has done anything but over his first two seasons, largely because of a lacerated kidney in 2023 and an ankle injury in 2024. If he can become the consistent vertical threat it looked like he would early in his rookie season, the Packers could have one of the best tight end duos in the league.

Offensive line

Left tackle: Rasheed Walker
Left guard: Aaron Banks
Center: Elgton Jenkins
Right guard: Jordan Morgan
Right tackle: Zach Tom

Sean Rhyan
Anthony Belton
Kadeem Telfort
Travis Glover
Jacob Monk
John Williams
Donovan Jennings
Trey Hill
Marquis Hayes

Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur have been adamant this offseason that Morgan will compete with Walker to be the starting left tackle. That might be the most intriguing position battle of the summer since Morgan, a 2024 first-round pick and college left tackle who was insistent about playing there in the NFL, primarily played right guard last season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Walker has been steady the last two seasons on Love’s blind side, but the Packers might be preparing for life after him if he earns a hefty second contract next offseason. The rookie second-round pick Belton slots in as a seventh offensive lineman from the jump, but he has the potential to back up a couple of spots and perhaps start next season.

Defensive tackle

Kenny Clark
Devonte Wyatt
Karl Brooks
Colby Wooden
Warren Brinson
Nesta Jade Silvera
James Ester
Keith Randolph

We can talk all we want about the Packers needing better pass rush from their edge defenders, but Clark is getting paid more than $21 million per year and had one sack last season despite playing in all 17 games. Not since his rookie season, when he started two games, has Clark had fewer. The Packers likely will exercise the fifth-year option for Wyatt at an estimated $13.9 million (per Over The Cap). Twenty-five interior defensive linemen make more than that annually, so it’s reasonable to guarantee his 2026 salary at that number. Maybe the rookie sixth-round pick Brinson doesn’t play as much as T.J. Slaton did right away, but he’s a similar space-eater who can clog up the middle after Slaton signed with the Bengals in free agency.

Defensive end

Rashan Gary
Lukas Van Ness
Kingsley Enagbare
Brenton Cox Jr.
Aaron Mosby
Barryn Sorrell
Collin Oliver
Deslin Alexandre
Jeremiah Martin

Was it stunning that the Packers didn’t use a Day 1 or 2 pick on an edge rusher after last season’s inconsistencies rushing the quarterback? Not necessarily. Maybe Gutekunst truly believes that his returning crop is good enough. At the very least, he added competition at the bottom of the rotation in the fourth-rounder Sorrell and the fifth-rounder Oliver, who played linebacker at Oklahoma State but will start in the edge room in Green Bay. No player on the team faces more pressure this season than Van Ness. It’s time to put up or shut up in Year 3 as a 2023 first-round pick. Gary needs to be better, but he also could use Van Ness or someone else to take double teams and chips away from him.

Can Lukas Van Ness live up to his first-round pick status this season? (Photo by Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)

Linebacker

Edgerrin Cooper
Quay Walker
Isaiah McDuffie
Ty’Ron Hopper
Kristian Welch
Isaiah Simmons

Think of Simmons as a potential replacement for Eric Wilson, who can play defense in a pinch but will factor primarily on special teams. Same with Welch, who returns to Green Bay after being released in the 2024 preseason. Atop this depth chart is a potential All-Pro in the making in Cooper, the 2024 second-round pick. He likely would’ve been a Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist if he didn’t miss three games in the second half of last season. As for Walker, look for him to sign an extension this offseason. Only six linebackers make more annually than what Walker’s fifth-year option would guarantee (about $14.8 million in 2026, per PTC), so the Packers probably don’t want to go that route. Gutekunst has maintained he wants Walker here for the long term, though.

Players I didn’t spot in Packers team photog Evan Siegle’s 154-picture gallery from the first day of voluntary workouts:

Jaire Alexander
Christian Watson
Romeo Doubs
Elgton Jenkins
Matt Orzech

Banks, Hardman, Lloyd and the QBs in action.

Full gallery: https://t.co/EjXtOwpgEb pic.twitter.com/4INytpthBo

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) April 28, 2025

Cornerback

Jaire Alexander
Keisean Nixon
Nate Hobbs
Carrington Valentine
Kalen King
Kamal Hadden
Micah Robinson
Isaiah Dunn
Kaleb Hayes

Let’s see how long this story holds up with the first name on that list. As of the time it’s being written on Tuesday afternoon, Alexander is still on the team. If he stays and remains healthy, the Packers suddenly have an impressive cornerback room. If the Packers trade or release him, do they sign a veteran free agent like Rasul Douglas or ride with two natural nickel corners on the outside in Nixon and Hobbs? The Packers are high on both as outside corners, but Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown may have something to say about that.

Safety

Xavier McKinney
Evan Williams
Javon Bullard
Zayne Anderson
Kitan Oladapo
Omar Brown

If Alexander doesn’t return, Bullard remains in the slot like last year. But what if Alexander stays and he starts on the outside with Nixon? The Packers are paying Hobbs $12 million per year, so he’s starting at nickel. Does that relegate the 2024 second-round pick to the bench, assuming Williams holds onto his starting role alongside McKinney? If anything, that would give the Packers even better depth, which is never a bad thing.

Special teams

Kicker: Brandon McManus
Punter: Daniel Whelan
Long snapper: Matt Orzech

IPP player: Alex Hale

I’d be surprised if the Packers brought in competition for any of their three specialists. Hale technically is for McManus, but the Australian holds the International Player Pathway program roster exemption and isn’t legitimate competition for a kicker who earned a second contract with the Packers after his strong audition last season. Whelan had a stellar second NFL season in 2024 and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia loves his veteran long snapper.

(Top photo of Matthew Golden: Sara Diggins / Imagn Images)

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