Where Isaiah McDuffie fits into the Green Bay Packers' inside linebacker corps has been a question all offseason. It's only a matter of time before rubber meets the road, with training camp marking a pivotal potential tipping point.
It's a crowded group at linebacker. Edgerrin Cooper is the present and future at the position, and veteran Zaire Franklin was acquired to be the sidekick. 2024 third-round pick Ty'Ron Hopper is still a part of the club's plans (for now), too; see the problem here?
There are only so many spots up for grabs in Titletown, so McDuffie will have to fight for his. That's why he's among Rucker Haringey of FanSided's three most likely Green Bay players "to get traded or cut before Week 1" this season.
"If [McDuffie] fails to nail down a starting spot at middle linebacker he could turn into an intriguing trade target for teams looking to upgrade their run defenders," Haringey wrote.
Isaiah McDuffie will need to fight for his spot this summer
With McDuffie set to hit unrestricted free agency after 2026, the Packers may be more inclined to put their time and resources elsewhere. No contract extension appears imminent, which might make him "the odd man out," as Haringey illustrated.
Getting Franklin, whom Green Bay landed in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts, up to speed is a top priority. Not to mention, maximizing Hopper's development entering a make-or-break Year 3 is atop the to-do list.
Turning 27 on July 21, McDuffie still has plenty to offer — just maybe not for Green Bay. He recorded 92 tackles (three for loss), one sack, one pass deflection and an interception across 17 contests this past campaign. His efforts yielded a solid 69.4 overall Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade, good for 30th out of 88 qualified linebackers.
Moreover, McDuffie proved to be a sure tackler, which the numbers bear out. His 5.2 percent missed tackle rate was the fourth-lowest among 67 LBs who logged at least 500 snaps last year, per PFF ($).
For what it's worth, McDuffie's contributions in the kicking game and as a respected voice in the Packers' locker room could be his saving grace. He's served as a team captain and core member of their third unit, logging a career-high snap rate as a specialist in 2025 (72 percent).
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