The Green Bay Packers have had at least one undrafted rookie make their Week 1 roster every year since Ted Thompson took over the team in 2005. Last year, it was kicker Brayden Narveson, who was picked up off waivers via the Tennessee Titans, who kept the streak alive.
Here’s the 20-year history of the Packers’ rookie UDFAs who have made Green Bay’s opening day roster:
2024: K Brayden Narveson
2023: RB Emanuel Wilson, WR Malik Heath and DE Brenton Cox Jr.
2022: LS Jake Coco
2021: DE Jack Heflin
2020: LB Krys Barnes
2019: WR Darius Shepherd
2018: QB Tim Boyle, OL Alex Light, OLB James Crawford and S Raven Greene
2017: CB Lenzy Pipkins
2016: QB Joe Callahan, CB Josh Hawkins, S Marwin Evans and S Kentrell Brice
2015: RB Alonzo Harris and CB LaDarius Gunter
2014: DT Mike Pennel and OLB Jayrone Elliott
2013: OL Lane Taylor and OLB Andy Mulumba
2012: WR Jarrett Boykin and OL Don Barclay
2011: OLB Vic So’oto, ILB Jamari Lattimore and S M.D. Jennings
2010: OL Nick McDonald, OLB Frank Zombo and CB Sam Shields
2009: OL Evan Dietrich-Smith
2008: RB Kregg Lumpkin
2007: DT Daniel Muir
2006: DE Jason Hunter
2005: OL Chris White and LB Roy Manning
To say the least, it’s been a mixed bag of results for undrafted rookies in Green Bay, which should have been expected. But as far as 2025 undrafted rookies go, who has a good chance at making the team? Let’s dive into the candidates.
Green Bay Packers’ undrafted rookies
QB Taylor Elgersma, Wilfrid Laurier (Canada) — post-rookie minicamp signing
Measurables: 6’5”, 227 pounds, 40 time: n/a
RB Amar Johnson, South Dakota State (FCS)
Measurables: 5’10”, 205 pounds, 40 time: 4.41 seconds
RB Jalen White, Georgia Southern
Measurables: 6’0”, 205 pounds, 40 time: 4.60 seconds
WR Sam Brown Jr., Miami/Houston/West Virginia — post-rookie minicamp signing
Measurables: 6’2”, 200 pounds, 40 time: 4.44 seconds
OL Tyler Cooper, Minnesota
Measurables: 6’5”, 302 pounds, 40 time: 5.18 seconds
OL J.J. Lippe, Northern Illinois
Measurables: 6’5”, 302 pounds, 40 time: 5.48 seconds
OL Brant Banks, Rice/Nebraska
Measurables: 6’7”, 306 pounds, 40 time: n/a
DT Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia
Measurables: 6’4”, 327 pounds, 40 time: 5.15 seconds
LB Jamon Johnson, Kentucky/Georgia
Measurables: 6’1”, 238 pounds, 40 time: n/a
CB Tyron Herring, Delaware (FCS)/Dartmouth (FCS)
Measurables: 6’1”, 201 pounds, 40 time: 4.52 seconds
CB Johnathan Baldwin, UNLV
Measurables: 6’0”, 190 pounds, 40 time: 4.53 seconds
S Kahzir Brown, Florida Atlantic/Maine (FCS)
Measurables: 6’1”, 223 pounds, 40 time: 4.54 seconds
Personally, I think it’s going to be much easier to make the roster on the defensive side of the ball than the offensive side of the ball this year, considering how much the offense returns. The Packers also picked offensive players with their first three selections in the 2025 draft and followed that up with three selections with line of scrimmage defenders, making seventh-round cornerback Micah Robinson the only off-ball rookie defender that the team picked in the draft.
As far as the defenders go, the two most interesting players to me are Nazir Stackhouse and Jamon Johnson, two former Georgia Bulldogs. Stackhouse will not only have to beat out draft pick Warren Brinson, another former teammate, for a 53-man roster spot, but the Packers have been using Colby Wooden as Kenny Clark’s backup nose tackle this summer. At linebacker, Johnson will have to jump over two of Ty’Ron Hopper, Isaiah Simmons and Kristian Welch to make Green Bay’s initial roster.
Because of that, it might be easier for the defensive backs, who were lower-rated players coming out of the draft process, to make the roster. Our options here are Tyron Herring, a true cornerback, Johnathan Baldwin, who played the slot at UNLV, and Kahzir Brown, a college cornerback moving to safety due to his 223-pound frame.
Cornerback should be an easier path than safety, as only three cornerbacks have playing experience for the Packers on the defensive side of the ball. At the same time, Green Bay returns five safeties who played for them last year.
All things considered, give me one of Herring or Baldwin to have the best opportunity to make this team, simply because their positions give them the highest chance to rise up the Packers’ ranks.
Who do you think makes the team, if anyone? Drop your thoughts into the comment section below.