Even without the pads on, OTAs and minicamp set the stage for players to draw the attention of their coaches all around the league, and the Green Bay Packers have an undeniable budding star on their hands.
Defensive back Javon Bullard might have already been drawing a lot of eyes because of his change out of the No. 20 jersey and into the No. 7, but it wasn't just the change in jersey number receiving attention.
Bullard was out there showing how much he's grown, even just from last season, and that change in jersey number may have brought about a change in confidence that was undeniable for everyone watching practice.
Heads up, 7's up pic.twitter.com/hsji61i0gD
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) June 11, 2026
Javon Bullard looks like he's ready for stardom after Packers' offseason program
New defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is going to help unlock the third-year defensive back and former second-round pick, who only played 75 percent of the Packers' defensive snaps last year in 17 games.
Packers beat writer Paul Bretl said of his observations from the Packers' offseason program that Bullard "seemed to be everywhere" for the Green Bay defense, and the excitement and buzz are building significantly toward this year being a true third-year breakout campaign for him.
Javon Bullard remains everywhere. PBU in team vs Jayden Reed that deflects up but Zaire just couldn’t get there for the pick.
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) June 11, 2026
Love to Savion over the middle for a solid gain but would have been a hospital ball in a game with X waiting for it.
Bullard is one of the types of defensive backs every team in today's NFL covets and truly needs to be successful. Even though he may have had a tougher projection at one point because he wasn't considered the ideal all-around safety or full-time nickel, he's carved out a clarified role for himself in Green Bay, and his skills will only be amplified with Gannon calling the plays.
He's instinctive, physical, tough, and has a nose for the football. The type of mentality Bullard plays with is exactly the type of mentality that helps guys have long-term success in the slot at the NFL level, but the Packers can move him all over the place.
Part of the reason Bullard wanted to change to the No. 7 is the fact that he grew up idolizing Tyrann Mathieu, and that type of playmaker in the secondary demands a lot of game-planning from opposing offensive coordinators.
While Bullard is not going to be the type of man coverage player that locks down his guy one-on-one all throughout the course of a game, he can be deployed from the slot or in the box and give the Packers a ton of unique options with how they disguise things. He attacks the football as well as anyone and was already playing at an extremely high level last season.
With a clarified role and Gannon calling the shots, the way Bullard plays the game will be amplified. He has outstanding instincts, a prerequisite for playing in the slot at the NFL level.
Still just 23 years old, it feels like the sky is really the limit for how good Bullard can be in this defense. This could be the year he puts himself in that same conversation with the likes of Cooper DeJean, Kyle Hamilton, and Derwin James, who have become the sort of chess pieces as big nickels who have really allowed defenses around the league to level up in new ways.
Bullard is ready to join that category.
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