The Green Bay Packers return to the practice field for organized team activities this week, beginning an important four-month stretch for several players on the roster.
It's the first real opportunity to see the new additions in green and gold, and perhaps some early indications of how the positional battles will shake out.
Time is running out for several players on the roster. Some are fighting for snaps, while others are battling for a spot on the 53-man roster. These four Packers need to make a fast start.
Four Packers who need to make a fast start to OTAs
Kyle McCord, QB
For a brief moment, it looked like Kyle McCord might've been the Packers' replacement for Malik Willis. The outlook is now far more bleak after the arrival of veteran Tyrod Taylor.
Barring something unexpected, Taylor will enter the season as Jordan Love's backup. McCord will battle it out with undrafted rookie Kyron Drones for a position on the practice squad.
All is not lost for McCord. Green Bay is a dream landing spot for young quarterbacks. McCord's mission now is to prove himself over the next few months and, at the very least, earn a spot on the practice squad as the QB3.
However, Taylor's arrival undoubtedly complicates things for McCord. The Packers almost certainly won't keep three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. It puts McCord in a tough spot, and he'll need a fast start this summer.
Jacob Monk, OL
The Packers experimented with Jacob Monk at guard during the preseason last summer, and it went horribly wrong. It proved that Monk is a center only, but that creates a problem.
Green Bay made Sean Rhyan one of the highest-paid centers in the league this offseason, and then drafted Jager Burton, who offers future starting potential. The Packers haven't trusted Monk, and he is running out of opportunities. It's difficult to see where he fits on the 53-man roster.
Bo Melton, CB/WR
Green Bay moved Bo Melton from wide receiver to cornerback last summer, only for the veteran to play zero defensive snaps and 96 offensive snaps.
Melton needs clarity on his role. Is the cornerback experiment over? Do the Packers still believe there's potential for him on defense? Losing Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks naturally creates more opportunities at wide receiver if the Packers want Melton to play in his more comfortable position. He also contributes on special teams, which helps.
But here's the reality: At cornerback, the Packers now have Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Benjamin St-Juste, Brandon Cisse, and potentially even Domani Jackson ahead of him. At wide receiver, there's Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, and Savion Williams. Don't forget about Tucker Kraft's targets, either.
So what is Melton's best role? Is his versatility enough to earn a roster spot? Those are the questions needing answers.
Nazir Stackhouse, DT
There was some excitement when the Packers signed Nazir Stackhouse as an undrafted free agent a year ago, with the hope that he could replace T.J. Slaton as a run-stopping nose tackle. It just didn't work out.
Stackhouse received a PFF run-stop grade of just 44.5 and an overall grade of 43.5. Not great. He also only played 159 snaps across 13 games while offering little on special teams.
Even after trading away Colby Wooden, the Packers have strengthened the defensive line by adding Javon Hargrave and Chris McClellan. And with Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, and Stackhouse's college teammate, Warren Brinson, part of the rotation, the Packers have far more depth at the interior spots.
That could further decrease Stackhouse's snaps. He is also far from guaranteed to make the 53-man roster. The Georgia product needs to show what he can do to have a realistic shot, and it begins at OTAs.
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