Brenton Cox could be around the QB a lot in 2026 (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
By Mark Eckel
It's been a newsworthy offseason for the Green Bay Packers and it's far from over.
There are still more decisions to be made on both sides of the ball and special teams.
Still enough has happened to make me think. Here's what I've been thinking.
I think Jordan Love's backup quarterback is already on the roster. The training camp battle between veteran Desmond Ridder and second-year man Kyle McCord should be interesting. Ridder, signed late last year, comes to the Packers much more ready than Malik Willis did when he arrived from Tennessee just before the start of the 2024 season. Ridder has won games in the NFL, including one against the Packers. And McCord, a record-setting QB at Syracuse, opened some eyes on the Eagles practice squad last year with what's been described as "a great arm.'' There's no reason for the team to draft a QB in an awful QB draft, because none of them not named Mendoza (and they're not getting him) are good enough to be QB2. And please don't tell me about Anthony Richardson.
I think the Packers let Emmanuel Wilson leave as a free agent because they have other ideas for their No. 2 running back. They spent a third-round draft pick on him. No, not Marshawn Lloyd. It's a terrible shame, but the poor guy can't get on the field let alone stay on the field. If he does it's a bonus. But what about Savion Williams? Last year's third-round pick finds himself in a crowded wide receiver room, but would be that explosive change-of-pace back the team wants behind Jacobs. His final year at TCU Williams played some running back and carried the ball 51 times for 322 yards (6.3 yard average) and scored six touchdowns.
I think the Packers should decide which one and extend either one of their free agent to be wide receivers Jayden Reed or Dontayvion Wicks before the start of the season. Waiting is just going to cost them more money. And they're going to have to pay Christian Watson and Tucker Kraft the big money.
Speaking of Kraft I think the team should approach him as they did Watson last year. Offer a one-year extension that lets him show everyone he's healthy this season. It worked out well for the player and the team before.
I think the offensive line got a bad rap for how the group played last year. Sean Rhyan was the only one of the group that was healthy all season and he was moved to a position (center) he had rarely played. Left tackle Jordan Morgan is now at a position he played in college and was drafted to play. Left guard Aaron Banks should be healthy from the go. Anthony Belton knows he's the right guard and right tackle Zach Tom just needs to get healthy. I also think it was a good idea to bring back backup right-side G/T Darian Kennard. Now just add some depth in the draft.
I think the addition of defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and linebacker Zaire Franklin were good moves not just on the field, but off it as well. Being the youngest team in the league isn't always a good thing. The Packers needed a bit of an influx of veteran leadership and those two should provide it. Hopefully they will do for the line and the linebackers what Xavier McKinney has done for the secondary.
I think the losses of edge rushers Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare will be minimal. The two combined for a total of 10 sacks last season and none during the season-ending five-game losing streak. I think a healthy Brenton Cox and second-year man Barryn Sorrell will surpass that number next season and that's not even counting Collin Oliver's production.
I think I like most of what the Packers have done so far this offseason (especially the signing of Skyy Moore to help the return game). Now I think they need to sign or trade for a cornerback and then get ready for the draft. And the CB I think they should get is Trevon Diggs. I think I'm surprised that hasn't happened already.