Projecting the Packers depth chart entering training camp

The Green Bay Packers surprised a few people last season, but they enter 2024 with increased expectations.

Jordan Love proved he is the Packers' long-term answer at quarterback, and a young receiving corps showed tremendous upside for the future. They arrive at training camp with the opportunity to build on last year's success and prepare for a huge season that awaits.

Various positional battles will continue across the roster between now and the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil. Some players are competing for starting jobs, while others are simply trying to secure a spot on the 53-man roster.

Breaking down the depth chart helps highlight the positions where the Packers are deepest while also placing the spotlight on the biggest positional battles.

It's clear how much talent this team has, but big decisions lie ahead for head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst.

Projected Green Bay Packers depth chart ahead of training camp

Quarterbacks

• Starter: Jordan Love
• Backup: Michael Pratt
• Others in line: Sean Clifford

Jordan Love proved he can become the next great Packers quarterback at the backend of last season, leading the team to an impressive 6-2 finish with 18 touchdowns and only one interception. Love put together the perfect playoff debut, throwing for 272 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-32 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

The real drama begins behind Love on the depth chart. Green Bay may end up keeping three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, but only one of them can back up Love. In contention are second-year Sean Clifford and rookie Michael Pratt.

Clifford did everything right in his rookie year. He made impressive throws in the preseason, built a good relationship with Love, and was ready to step in if needed. But Pratt is here to provide real competition.

The seventh-round pick was projected to get drafted much higher, and we're already seeing why. Pratt turned heads during OTAs by making impressive throw after impressive throw. He looked anything but a rookie seventh-rounder. Clifford struggled during minicamp, opening the door for Pratt to take over backup duties. It should make for a fascinating battle at training camp.

Running backs

• Starter: Josh Jacobs
• Backup: MarShawn Lloyd
• Others in line: AJ Dillon, Emanuel Wilson, Jarveon Howard, Ellis Merriweather

Green Bay revamped its running back room this offseason. General manager Brian Gutekunst surprisingly released Aaron Jones at the start of free agency, creating the necessary cap space to sign his replacement, Josh Jacobs. The former first-team All-Pro led the NFL in rushing in 2022 and aims to recapture that form in Green Bay. Jacobs will lead a talented Packers backfield and has the opportunity to dominate behind a far better offensive line than the one he ran behind with the Las Vegas Raiders last season.

The Packers continued to build their running back depth by drafting MarShawn Lloyd in the third round. His combination of speed and athleticism gives Green Bay's rushing attack something it lacked following Jones' departure. Lloyd's arrival could decrease Dillon's role on offense.

Dillon is back, but he may have to settle for the No. 3 job while fending off competition from second-year Emanuel Wilson, who is a player to watch at training camp. Wilson showed promise in his rookie season and will aim to secure a roster spot with a strong performance this summer. Dillon will need to be at his best to hold onto the No. 3 job.

Wide receivers

• Starters: Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed
• Backups: Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, Malik Heath
• Others in line: Grant DuBose, Samori Toure, Julian Hicks, Dimitri Stanley, Rory Starkey, Jalen Wayne

The Packers have no shortage of talent at wide receiver. How the depth chart shakes out will be fascinating. Critics say Green Bay lacks a true WR1. While it's a fair point, the Packers find success because of their various options in the passing game. The top four all bring something different to the table, allowing Matt LaFleur to find favorable matchups.

And just because it may seem that the Packers don't have a "true WR1" now, it could change rather quickly. Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks combined for 1,374 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. They are both breakout candidates, with Jordan Love predicting they will "take the league by storm."

A healthy Christian Watson is bad news for opposing defenses. He could also become the No. 1 target for Love. Romeo Doubs has offered consistency but also showed Pro Bowl potential in his playoff debut, catching six passes for 151 yards and a touchdown in the victory over the Cowboys.

No matter which receiver emerges as the top target—and we may see an even distribution—the Packers win with depth.

Beyond the top four, Green Bay has already received key contributions from Bo Melton and Malik Heath. Head coach Matt LaFleur is a huge fan of Melton, saying he "brings so much value" to the team. Considering he is likely the WR5, the Packers are in a great position.

Heath is presumably the WR6 entering training camp, but other receivers on the roster bubble could have something to say about that. Second-year Grant DuBose battled injuries last summer but enters 2024 with a point to prove. Former draft pick Samori Toure will also aim to retain a roster spot. And who knows, maybe another receiver on the roster will step up in the same way Heath did last summer.

Tight ends

• Starter: Luke Musgrave
• Backup: Tucker Kraft
• Others in line: Ben Sims, Tyler Davis

The Packers didn't need to make any changes at the tight end position after the impact Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft made in their rookie seasons.

Musgrave only played 11 games due to injury but still put up 352 yards and a touchdown, excellent numbers for a rookie tight end. Once he went down with injury, Kraft stepped up, catching 26 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns in the final seven games of the regular season. Together, Musgrave and Kraft form what could become the best tight end pairing in the league.

Ben Sims played well in the No. 3 role last year but faces competition from a returning Tyler Davis, who missed all of the 2023 season due to a torn ACL. Davis was previously a core special teams player for the Packers, a role he will likely resume if he makes the 53-man roster. Sims and Davis will compete for the top backup job behind Musgrave and Kraft.

Offensive line

• Starters: Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, Zach Tom
• Backups: Jordan Morgan, Jacob Monk, Royce Newman
• Others in line: Luke Tenuta, Kadeem Telfort, Caleb Jones, Travis Glover, Andre Dillard, Donovan Jennings, Lecitus Smith

Green Bay made some significant changes along the offensive line this offseason after losing veterans David Bakhtiari, Yosh Nijman, and Jon Runyan Jr. Gutekunst used three draft picks to replace the departing veterans, including a first-rounder on Arizona left tackle Jordan Morgan.

Morgan isn't guaranteed to start in his rookie season, but the Packers are cross-training him at tackle and guard, opening more opportunities to earn snaps in year one. Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom are the projected starters at tackle after playing well last season, which means a move to guard might be Morgan's best route to a starting job initially.

Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins is likely locked in at left guard unless the Packers move him to center to replace Josh Myers. That seems unlikely, as Myers remains the most likely starter in the middle of the line despite entering the final year of his contract.

The biggest question mark among the starting five is at right guard. Sean Rhyan is the frontrunner to replace Runyan as the starter, having seen an increase in snaps at the backend of last season. Morgan provides the most competition, but he doesn't have much right guard experience. Shifting from left tackle requires not only a change in position, but Morgan would also be playing on the opposite side of the line than he is used to.

Green Bay hopes its three rookie draft picks—Morgan, Jacob Monk, and Travis Glover—can make a fast start at training camp.

There's plenty of competition for the final roster spots. Undrafted rookie Donovan Jennings is a player to watch, while the Packers also brought in former first-round pick Andre Dillard, who struggled with the Tennessee Titans last season.

There's competition for spots along the offensive line, creating plenty of interest at training camp.

Defensive line

• Starters: Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Preston Smith
• Backups: Lukas Van Ness, T.J. Slaton, Karl Brooks, Kingsley Enagbare
• Others in line: Colby Wooden, Brenton Cox, Deslin Alexandre, James Ester, Jonathan Ford, Kenneth Odumegwu, Spencer Waege

Switching to a 4-3 defense should bring the best out of this group. Kenny Clark, who just signed a massive three-year extension, can focus on attacking the ball and making plays. Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, and Lukas Van Ness are perfect fits for 4-3 defensive ends.

In the middle, Clark is joined by the deepest group in recent memory. Devonte Wyatt became a key starter in 2023, while Karl Brooks showed star potential. A sixth-round pick last year, Brooks made four sacks and five quarterback hits as a rookie. Jeff Hafley's more aggressive defensive scheme could lead to a breakout season for Brooks as an interior pass rusher.

Green Bay has good depth on the edge and inside, and many players can move around the line. Hafley can shift Gary or Van Ness to defensive tackle on obvious passing downs and let them get after the quarterback from an interior position.

The Packers have plenty of competition, but it will be tough for anyone to break into the top five on the edge or at the interior positions. An edge group of Gary, Smith, Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, and Brenton Cox Jr. is likely set. On the inside, the top five are Clark, Wyatt, Brooks, T.J. Slaton, and Colby Wooden.

Linebackers

• Starters: Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper
• Backups: Isaiah McDuffie, Ty'Ron Hopper
• Others in line: Eric Wilson, Christian Young, Keshawn Banks, Kristian Welch, Arron Mosby, Ralen Goforth

All eyes are on the Packers' new-look linebacker group this summer. There's no doubting their potential, but this is an inexperienced and unproven group, especially in a new system.

With veteran De'Vondre Campbell gone, former first-round pick Quay Walker steps up as the most experienced linebacker in this group. He is joined by second-round pick Edgerrin Cooper, who turned heads during the offseason program and has the talent to make an immediate impact in the NFL. Cooper has elite speed and athleticism, and Hafley will likely use him as a pass rusher.

Isaiah McDuffie, who played in Hafley's defense at Boston College, could see an increased role. The Packers will need three starting linebackers when they're in base defense, with McDuffie the most likely candidate to win the No. 3 job.

Green Bay selected Ty'Ron Hopper in the third round, and it will be interesting to see how he fits into the team's plans this season. Eric Wilson has a good shot at making the roster due to his special teams ability, but he will face competition from Kristian Welch.

Cornerbacks

• Starters: Jaire Alexander, Carrington Valentine, Keisean Nixon
• Backups: Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine, Kalen King
• Others in line: Zyon Gilbert, Gemon Green, Robert Rochell

The Packers rolled the dice at cornerback this offseason. Despite Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes dealing with significant injuries in recent years, Green Bay is banking on them being healthy this season.

Alexander missed nine games last season due to shoulder and back injuries, while Stokes has only played in three contests since November 2022. If either player misses time again this season, the Packers' depth will be tested.

Green Bay's confidence in Carrington Valentine played a role in trading Rasul Douglas midway through last season, and he repaid their faith. As a seventh-round rookie, Valentine started 12 games, deflected nine passes, and allowed fewer than 58 percent of passes to be completed in his coverage. He has a real shot at securing a starting job ahead of Stokes this summer.

Keisean Nixon remains the top choice in the slot, receiving a vote of confidence from incoming defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. But the Packers have more options, as rookie safeties Javon Bullard and Evan Williams can play there. The same is true for seventh-round cornerback Kalen King, who impressed during the offseason program and has a realistic shot at making the 53-man roster as a slot defender.

Safeties

• Starters: Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard
• Backups: Anthony Johnson, Evan Williams
• Others in line: Kitan Oladapo, Zayne Anderson, Tyler Coyle, Benny Sapp III

The Packers overhauled their safety room from last year. Anthony Johnson Jr. is the only remaining safety on the roster who started a game for Green Bay in 2023. Former starters Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, and Rudy Ford are all gone.

Replacing them is a new starting combination of free-agent signing Xavier McKinney and second-round draft choice Javon Bullard. McKinney is one of the league's rising stars at the position, while Bullard's ability and athleticism make him a perfect fit for Hafley's scheme.

Green Bay drafted three safeties. Fourth-rounder Evan Williams and fifth-round pick Kitan Oladapo should make the roster, but how many snaps they play remains to be seen. Williams, Oladapo, and Johnson will compete for a higher position on the depth chart throughout training camp. Being able to play on special teams is important, which gives Zayne Anderson a good chance of making the 53.

Special teams

• Kicker: Anders Carlson
• Punter: Daniel Whelan
• Long snapper: Matt Orzech
• Return specialists: Keisean Nixon (KR), Jayden Reed (PR)

The three names listed above at kicker, punter, and long snapper could change between now and the start of September. They are the projected starters as things stand, but there will be twists and turns along the way at training camp.

It's fair to assume Anders Carlson is slightly ahead of Greg Joseph in the kicking competition. He is a former draft pick and outperformed Joseph during minicamp. The Packers have also added former Detroit Lions kicker James Turner to provide more competition.

Punter Daniel Whelan has a firmer grip on his job than Carlson, as he is the only punter currently on the roster. But Whelan still isn't guaranteed to make the roster, as Green Bay may add competition.

The new kickoff rules could benefit Keisean Nixon, a back-to-back first-team All-Pro. Green Bay could go in several directions at punt returner, although receiver Jayden Reed is likely the best choice.

Coaching staff and schemes

Matt LaFleur returns for his sixth season as the Packers' head coach, having led the team into the playoffs four times in five years. He was overlooked in the final years of Aaron Rodgers' career, with many pointing to the four-time MVP as the reason for LaFleur's success. However, his scheme helped bring the best out of the league's youngest offense, led by a first-year starting quarterback last season. LaFleur is beginning to earn respect as a potential top-five coach.

LaFleur is back, but he made several changes to his coaching staff for 2024.

New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is everything Joe Barry wasn't. Barry's conservative scheme focused on keeping everything in front of his players, allowing them to swarm to the football and prevent big plays. But it wasn't working, and Hafley provides a fresh approach.

The most notable change is a shift from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3. The difference is less noticeable in today's NFL, as teams are primarily in nickel, but his overall approach couldn't be more different from Barry's. Hafley wants to get after the football and play aggressive defense. We will see more man coverage—and plenty of press-man—which should put Green Bay's cornerbacks in the best position to succeed.

Hafley brings a new staff with him to Green Bay, including new passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley, a former defensive coordinator with extensive experience working with defensive backs.

LaFleur also revamped his strength and conditioning team following the Packers' injury challenges last season. He hired Aaron Hill as the new strength and conditioning coordinator. Hill previously spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach for the San Francisco 49ers. Hill's arrival has already led to some notable changes to the Packers' warm-ups before practice.

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