O-Line Investment Needs To Pay Off

8 Things That Would Supercharge the Packers in 2026

Offensive line investments yield returns Green Bay did not add much to the offensive line this offseason, and given Brian Gutekunst has made plenty of high level investments there already, that is an understandable decision. But it is time for those investments to produce returns, after a disappointing season for the Packers O-line which was one of the biggest contributing factors to the ultimate failure to reach their goals. Former 1st round pick Jordan Morgan is finally getting his chance at left tackle after showing encouraging signs at the end of last season. Expensive free agent signing Aaron Banks was better down the stretch once he was relatively healthy, after a disrupted summer and autumn. Sean Rhyan, recently paid a handsome contract to be the starting center, seemed to find a home there after stepping in for the injured Elgton Jenkins, but still needs to prove it. 2025 2nd round pick Anthony Belton will hope to improve with more of a focus on mastering right guard. Packers fans will be crossing their fingers and hope these players finally make Gutekunst right for his faith in them, in what is a critical season.

Veteran defenders roll back the years There are reasons to hope Javon Hargrave and Zaire Franklin have bounceback seasons, as the former reunites with Jonathan Gannon, under whom he played some of his best football, and the latter looks to fit into a defense which theoretically suits him better than his previous system. However, there is a world where neither player has the kind of renaissance they are hoping for, and if they decline further, that would be a real problem for Green Bay, who is relying on both Hargrave and Franklin to contribute in a significant way. If the Packers are proven right to bet on the two veterans, it would prove to be a big boost for the defense.

Lukas Van Ness becomes a dude Van Ness was mentioned on this list a year ago, with the hope that he would become a worthy running mate for Rashan Gary. Of course, the Packers later traded for Micah Parsons, who LVN will be looking to effectively partner with this year, once Parsons returns from injury. When he was on the field in 2025, Van Ness took the step everyone was hoping to see, and his down to down statistics were impressive. Now he needs to stay healthy and produce the same level of performance against both the run and pass, as a true starter, with Gary now out of the building. He will be even more relied upon early in the year while Parsons is out. Green Bay bet on Van Ness’s elite athleticism and youth when they drafted him in the 1st round back in 2023. Can he ascend in his 4th season, as other toolsy pass rushers (Trey Hendrickson a great example) have in the past?

One of new corners grabs their chance Brandon Cisse and Benjamin St-Juste are the Packers’ best hope for improved cornerback play in 2026. It remains to be seen how realistic it is to expect them to provide it. Cisse is very young and could end up being mostly a non-factor in 2025, but he has the talent, athleticism and work ethic which give him a chance to compete for playing time in a cornerback room not exactly teeming with quality. St-Juste played very well for the Chargers last year, but was never a full-time player. Taking a chance on him was a worthwhile gamble for the Packers, who have had success with unheralded veterans turning into valuable players in the past. One of the two main additions at corner becoming legitimate starters and providing an upgrade on Carrington Valentine and/or Keisean Nixon would be massive for the Packers.

Kitan Oladapo finds a role in ‘big nickel’ Oladapo has been blocked by a stacked safety group since being drafted in 2024, but his size could come in handy as the NFL veers towards using ‘big nickel’ defenders to combat the trend of two and three tight end sets. He offers something very different to Javon Bullard, who is more of a traditional slot player. There is a chance Oladapo remains strictly a backup, but perhaps Gannon has some ideas of how to incorporate him and add another element to Green Bay’s defense.

Trey Smack is a hit Brandon McManus provided a temporary solution to the Packers’ kicker woes, but they have spun the wheel again with Smack, and all signs point to him winning the job by default coming out of training camp. After the Anders Carlson experience, Packers fans will be apprehensive about another rookie kicker. If Green Bay got this one right and struck gold, finding a long-term solution, a huge weight would be lifted.

Jonathan Gannon is the real deal While Jeff Hafley did a sterling job as defensive coordinator in Green Bay, it did somewhat fall apart towards the end of last season, and it is not unthinkable that Gannon could prove to be an upgrade. He is coming off a bad experience as the head coach in Arizona. However, NFL history is littered with examples of talented DCs finding success again after failing as head coaches. Gannon coordinated some of the best defenses in the league during his time in Philly. The Packers are trusting him with their championship window. Can he deliver?

MarShawn Lloyd stays healthy The talent of Lloyd has become like an urban myth at this point, with only the beat writers who have seen him more extensively at training camp able to truly validate the idea that he could be a real difference maker, if he can finally shake the injury bug in 2026. After Josh Jacobs’ arrest, there is a chance the Packers truly need Lloyd this season, rather than treating the potential of him becoming a factor as a bonus. It feels like now or never for Lloyd to prove he can get on the field and have an impact.

Micah Parsons Had "Clean Up" On Meniscus During ACL Repair

When Micah Parsons tore his ACL late last season, the focus understandably centered on the ligament injury. But speaking with reporters in Green Bay on Tuesday, Parsons revealed there was a little more involved in the procedure than previously known.

The Packers' star pass rusher said surgeons also performed a cleanup procedure on his meniscus during the ACL repair. Parsons emphasized that he is taking a long-term approach to his recovery and isn't interested in rushing back onto the field. According to the star pass rusher, there is a firmly established nine-month recovery timeline before he will even consider returning to game action.

That approach would put a potential return sometime in mid-October, assuming there are no setbacks along the way. This fits with head coach Matt LaFleur's statement last week that Parsons would open training camp on PUP with an expectation that Parsons would most likely start the season there.

It's a reminder that rather than chasing an early-season return, Parsons and the Packers are prioritizing the longevity of his career and ensuring he is fully healthy before stepping back onto the field.

Will Brandon Cisse Be A Week 1 Starter?

CHTV co-founder Aaron Nagler welcomes in Packers beat reporter Matt Schneidman of The Athletic to discuss the battle at cornerback for a starting role opposite Keisean Nixon, the latest on Josh Jacobs and the Top 10 Packers under the most pressure.

Packers OTA Recap: Josh Jacobs Returns and Rookies Continue to Rise

The biggest development at Tuesday's OTA practice was the return of Josh Jacobs, despite the ongoing Brown County investigation related to a domestic abuse case. Speaking before practice, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur indicated it was "business as usual" regarding Jacobs' on-field participation.

The offensive backfield got a lift not only with the return of Jacobs but also a few other running backs. After being limited to Chris Brooks, Pierre Strong Jr. and Jaden Nixon during team drills last week, Green Bay welcomed MarShawn Lloyd and rookie Damien Martinez back into the rotation during team sessions.

The Packers also continue to give their rookie class plenty of opportunities to make an early impression. Fifth-round pick Jager Burton stepped into a prominent role along the offensive line, filling the vacancy at guard created when Anthony Belton kicked outside to right tackle with Zach Tom still recovering from patellar tendon surgery.

Defensively, Green Bay experimented with some intriguing personnel packages. Rookie defensive lineman Chris McClellan worked with the first-team defense at nose tackle while Devonte Wyatt remains sidelined with an ankle injury. The Packers also showed a 5-1 front featuring Edgerrin Cooper opposite Lukas Van Ness. First-round pick Brandon Cisse continued to see significant work alongside the starters, rotating at outside corner opposite Keisean Nixon.

The only rough spot came in the kicking game. Rookie Trey Smack connected on just 5-of-9 field goal attempts after going 7-of-8 during last week's open practice. (Having been out at Ray Nitschke Field when the crosswind is crazy, as it apparently was on Tuesday, we'd caution being too concerned about this...for now. What's key is how Smack responds, hopefully learns from it and shows improvement if and when the same conditions arise later this summer.)

One other note from LaFleur's pre=practice presser: The Packers will hold only one joint practice this summer (when his brother and the Cardinals come to town) which could potentially open the door for starters to see some extended action during the preseason.

Carry The G Radio: Putting The EDGE In Edgerrin Cooper

Billy and Aaron are back with another episode of Carry The G Radio: The Podcast! The guys discuss everything that was covered during Tuesday's open OTA practice including a look at linebacker Edgerrin Cooper lining up at Edge, Jager Burton getting a look with the first team, expectations for Matthew Golden in Year 2 and a whole lot more.

Packers' Melton Back to Full-Time Wide Receiver

On Tuesday, at his press conference before the Green Bay Packers’ mini camp practice, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that Bo Melton will go back to being a full-time wide receiver.

With this news, it looks like the Packers top six wide receivers on cutdown day should be: Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Savion Wiliams, Bo Melton and Skyy Moore.

The top of the depth chart is a little different than it has been the last three seasons. The Packers were four-deep in their young group of wide receivers who were drafted in 2022 and 2023. The top four in both 2023 and 2024 were Watson, Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs.

With the departures of Wicks and Doubs, the 2025 draft picks in Golden and Williams should become the next two in line this season. However, despite not being a “top four” wide receiver in any of the last three seasons, Melton found a way to be a contributor at wide out at the end of each season.

Why Jordan Morgan Could Define the 2026 Packers' Offense

Green Bay's offensive line was not good enough in 2025.

The Packers' offense goes as the offensive line goes — and more specifically, as Jordan Love goes. When the line keeps him clean, there's very little stopping Green Bay's offense. The numbers back that up. When kept clean last season, Love completed 77.8% of his passes for 2,863 yards and 26 touchdowns, throwing just two interceptions — good for a passer rating of 129.4. When facing pressure, that number dropped all the way to 49.2.

The drop-off wasn't due to a lack of investment. Three of the five starters were making over $17 million annually, and the group included a former first-round pick and a second-round pick competing for spots. Despite that, the Packers found themselves playing a never-ending game of musical chairs — injury after injury along the offensive front made it nearly impossible to build any continuity. Injuries played a part, but some players simply took a step back — namely, Rasheed Walker. Green Bay's left tackle allowed five sacks and 40 pressures last season, while racking up 11 penalties. It was the most pressure Walker has allowed in his NFL career and ranked among the worst marks in the league at the position. That kind of performance from the left tackle spot is simply not good enough for an offense that needs to keep their quarterback clean.

The Packers are banking on that position being better in 2026, and they're counting on addition by subtraction to get there. Walker, an unrestricted free agent, signed with the Carolina Panthers after his market didn't materialize the way many — including Walker himself — had expected. Rather than bringing him back at a discount, the Packers are rolling with someone already in the building — Jordan Morgan.

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Promising Start For Jager Burton!

Backfield Questions Remain: Savion Williams May Already be an Answer

With some of the uncertainty of the Packers running back room as OTA’s get under way, the Packers have various options to move forward with, some already existing internally. One of the options does not carry the position title, however, would not be a huge surprise given Matt LaFleur and the background of the offensive minds he has come from.

The Green Bay Packers may have found one of the most versatile offensive weapons in the 2025 NFL Draft when they selected Savion Williams out of TCU. While Williams entered the league as a wide receiver, his unique skill set suggests he could become much more than that in Matt LaFleur's offense.

At TCU, Williams wasn't simply a receiver lined up on the outside waiting for targets. The Horned Frogs used him all over the field. In his final collegiate season, he recorded 60 receptions for 611 yards and six touchdowns while also adding 322 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. He frequently lined up in the backfield, took handoffs out of wildcat formations, and was used on jet sweeps, screens, and gadget plays designed to get the ball in his hands. His versatility made him one of the most unique offensive weapons in the 2025 draft class.

The most realistic path for Williams in 2026 may not be becoming Green Bay's next star wide receiver. Instead, it could be becoming one of the most difficult players for opposing defenses to identify and defend. With the ability to line up at receiver, running back, and various gadget positions, Savion Williams has all the tools to become the Packers' version of a true Swiss Army knife, an offensive weapon who can contribute wherever the team needs him most.

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Can Jaden Nixon Make A Run At A Roster Spot?

The Green Bay Packers started organized team activities this week and unfortunately that’s not the biggest news coming out of title town. While the news regarding Josh Jacobs is still in the very early stages, the first thing many fans thought of was what would the Packers due at running back in the event the allegations prove true and the team moves on. The running back depth is very thin to say the least. The team did not sign a free agent or draft any players. Outside of undrafted free agent Jaden Nixon they are running back (no pun intended) the same group from a season ago minus Emmanuel Wilson. So can the newcomer make a surprise run at the roster if the opportunity presents itself?

At first glance, Nixon faces an uphill climb. The Packers have former third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd who still possesses intriguing upside if he can finally stay healthy (a big IF). Add in veterans like Chris Brooks, Pierre Strong Jr., and rookie Damien Martinez, and it becomes clear the competition will be fierce throughout training camp and the preseason. While Strong Jr. and Martinez have yet to appear in a game for the Packers, they were both draft picks and in Strong’s case has 99 career carries to his name.

Still, Nixon has a very real chance to make this roster, or at the very least position himself as a strong practice squad candidate who could eventually contribute during the season. The reason is simple: he brings explosive playmaking ability and special teams value, two traits that often separate fringe roster players from final cut casualties.