The Green Bay Packers just wrapped up their three-day minicamp in preparation for the upcoming 2026 NFL season, practicing on the third and final day in full cadence for the first time in recent years. The Packers are clearly all-in for 2026 as they await the returns of EDGE Micah Parsons and TE Tucker Kraft.
Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that this will be the final team-wide mandatory minicamp and that rookies will be the only ones appearing on the practice field next week. This recent mincamp offered fans and experts their best look yet at starters preparing for another campaign, rookies looking to make an immediate impacts, and sleepers who could break out in the upcoming season.
Still, the Packers will have to make inevitable cuts with 90 players on their current offseason roster, getting additional looks during these final two weeks from rookies and signings. The Packers most notably took CB Brandon Cisse (RD2, PK52) with their first pick in the draft and bolstered their defense with picks like DT Chris McClellan (RD3, PK77) and Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton (RD4, PK 120).
With a number of heated positional battles coming to fruition and a ton of depth added during the offseason, some players will be on the chopping block heading into the new season. Third-year corner Kamal Hadden and sophomore quarterback Kyle McCord could be two players in danger of being cut after 2026 minicamp.
Corner will be the most competitive position.
Green Bay Packers cornerback Kamal Hadden (36) reacts to making a stop
Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images
The Packers drafted Hadden in the sixth-round in 2024, signing him to the practice squad for the entirety of his rookie season. He was called up to the active roster in 2025 and appeared in 10 regular season games, recording tackles in two of them in a limited role. In Week 10 against the Baltimore Ravens, however, Hadden suffered a season-ending ankle injury that requires a five month recovery.
Hadden still hasn't practiced during recent minicamp and it's clear the cornerback position will be under a microscope come the start of the season. Starting DB's Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine will have their starting spots at risk with incoming draft pick Brandon Cisse already making a huge impression in the offseason. The Packers also got Chargers' DB Benjamin St-Juste in the offseason and doubled-down on CB in the draft with Alabama's Domani Jackson.
This leaves Kamal Hadden returning to an extremely crowded secondary with a ton of hungry talent all competing for their roles. The Packers have been consistent in giving Hadden a fair opportunity through his first two years, but they'll also have to wait and see how he looks coming in off a serious ankle injury and whether he's able to add to the room.
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Brewing quarterback battle.
Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord (QB09) during the 2025 NFL Combine
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Green Bay lost out on another season with arguably the best back-up quarterback in the NFL as Malik Willis departed for a three-year, $65.7 million contract to be the Miami Dolphins QB1. While Packers fans will be the first to celebrate the success of Willis, it's clear filling the gap behind franchise centerpiece Jordan Love was a crucial need during this offseason.
The Packers signed McCord as a reserve after he spent his 2025 rookie season on the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad. The Packers also went out and added undrafted free agent Kyron Drones from Virginia Tech, an interesting move adding the athletic talent to their roster. Finally, Green Bay signed veteran QB Tyrod Taylor from the Jets to serve as Love's primary backup, adding a strong presence and leader to the lockeroom.
Green Bay will most likely keep their roster to a QB3, making an interesting battle between Drones and McCord for the final roster spot. McCord is the more proven passer and offers a happy offset to what Jordan Love and Tyrod Taylor can both do. However, Drones can certainly learn a great deal from Tyrod Taylor considering their shared history at Virginia Tech, seemingly the perfect mentor for a versatile player like Drones.
Drones has also been mentioned at differing positions and offering the Packers' updated looks out of the Wildcat formation, so it's clear the offensive coaches are already scheming up ways they can us him in the offense. In terms of this quarterback battle, we have to give the slight edge to Kyron Drones which could put Kyle McCord's roster spot in jeopardy.
The Green Bay Packers just wrapped up their three-day minicamp in preparation for the upcoming 2026 NFL season, practicing on the third and final day in full cadence for the first time in recent years. The Packers are clearly all-in for 2026 as they await the returns of EDGE Micah Parsons and TE Tucker Kraft.