The Green Bay Packers made significant roster adjustments during the NFL Draft, particularly in areas of need such as safety, linebacker, and offensive line. The Packers made 11 draft picks before adding further talent through undrafted free agency.
Green Bay’s safety room is almost unrecognizable from last season. Anthony Johnson Jr. is the only returning player who started a game. Johnson is joined by free-agent signing Xavier McKinney and three draft picks: Javon Bullard, Evan Williams, and Kitan Oladapo.
Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper were the Packers’ two top-91 linebacker draft picks. Green Bay added five offensive lineman to the roster, including those acquired through undrafted free agency. This increased depth and competition puts several players on the hot seat. Which Packers are at risk of losing their jobs following the 2024 NFL draft?
5. Josh Myers
Josh Myers shouldn’t be concerned about making the Packers’ 53-man roster, but he is no longer assured a starting position at center. Myers has only one year left on his rookie contract, and following the NFL Draft, Green Bay will have several alternatives at center.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported earlier this month that the Packers view Zach Tom as a potential “Hall of Fame” center. If they believe Jordan Morgan can stay at tackle without needing to move inside, they may get the opportunity to have Tom shift to center, with Morgan and Rasheed Walker playing at tackle.
Another candidate is fifth-round choice Jacob Monk. The Duke product has experience at every offensive line position but is listed as a center by the Packers, which is where he will likely play. He has plenty of experience, having made 58 career starts in college. The Packers are excited about Monk, with Brian Gutekunst saying they “really wanted to acquire” him.
Myers is still the leader for the job, but the Packers have more choices than in prior years, so he will have to earn his spot.
4. Keisean Nixon
Keisean Nixon isn’t in any danger of losing his roster spot. The Packers handed him a three-year deal worth $18 million, and Nixon is an All-Pro returner. For now, he is also Green Bay’s starting slot corner. However, maybe not for much longer.
Second-round pick Javon Bullard can play almost anywhere in the secondary, and he brings experience as a nickel back. He was the primary slot corner for Georgia in 2022, playing 510 snaps in that position, per PFF. That season, he broke up three passes and made two interceptions.
Many draft analysts believe Bullard’s best role in the NFL will be as a slot corner.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will move Bullard around, but he could eventually become a better option in the slot than Nixon. The Packers will likely rotate their defensive backs, but there’s a good chance Nixon’s snaps in the slot will decrease this season.
3. Emanuel Wilson
Second-year Emanuel Wilson barely played last season and now faces tough competition for the RB3 job in Green Bay. Last year, Wilson was the third running back to make the 53-man roster behind Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. The Packers have since signed Josh Jacobs to replace Jones and used a third-round pick on MarShawn Lloyd.
Jacobs and Lloyd are roster locks, although the Packers can easily move on from Dillon’s contract. Unless Green Bay keeps four running backs on the roster, Wilson will need to outperform Dillon at training camp and win the RB3 job ahead of him.
But the Packers believe in Dillon. He is a steady runner and pass protector who also provides value as a receiver out of the backfield. With his experience and ability to pick up tough yards in short-yardage situations, the Packers may prefer Dillon to Wilson, who had only 14 carries last season.
2. Sean Clifford
Sean Clifford is under pressure, through no fault of his own. All he has done is overcome criticism that the Packers overdrafted him, shined in the preseason, and then completed his only regular-season pass for 37 yards.
Clifford proved himself as a backup quarterback and excellent teammate, and the Packers won’t want to lose him. However, he now faces serious competition from seventh-rounder Michael Pratt, who never should’ve fallen that far.
“A lot of clubs I spoke with liked his tape and felt he had a chance to become a starter down the road,” writes Bleacher Report NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Several teams would want to sign Pratt if the Packers waived him during training camp. He will likely make the 53-man roster and may even beat Clifford for the No. 2 job behind Jordan Love. Competition is good news for Green Bay, but Clifford is under pressure to retain his job as the backup quarterback.
1. Royce Newman
Green Bay drafted three offensive linemen and then signed two more in undrafted free agency, all of whom could play interior positions in the NFL. It could mean the end for backup Royce Newman, who has struggled over the past two seasons and only has one year remaining on his rookie deal.
The Packers have so much versatility along the line. First-round pick Jordan Morgan will get a shot at tackle but may eventually move to guard. Fifth-rounder Jacob Monk has experience at tackle, guard, and center but will almost certainly play an interior position for the Packers.
Newman became unplayable last season. Per PFF, he allowed 10 pressures, one sack, and one hit despite only starting two games.
Green Bay would create a little over $3 million in cap space by releasing Newman. He may get an opportunity to compete at training camp, but with only one year remaining on his deal, it seems unlikely he will make the 53-man roster.
