Packers map out replacement options as reminders of roster turnover become impossible to ignore
Green Bay is set to lose impactful players in free agency, but drafting and development is the key to overcome roster issues.
This is how the Green Bay Packers operate. They draft, develop, and extend their top guys, and allow the second wave of talent to walk in free agency, starting the process over and over again.
In 2026, the Packers will have an impactful group of free agents potentially leaving, but most of the replacement options are already in place. So, let’s discuss which players are getting ready to have bigger roles in 2026, depending on how free agency shakes out.
For this exercise, we’ll only consider starter or high-priority depth pieces.
The other unrestricted free agents are special-teamers and low-depth pieces like Zayne Anderson, Nick Niemann, John FitzPatrick, and Kristian Welch, whom the Packers can easily bring back if they want to.
Starters Packers will need to replace
WR Romeo Doubs —> Matthew Golden
For the first time in his NFL career, Romeo Doubs led the Packers in receiving yards in a season (724), but to be fair, that was a byproduct of the team managing injuries to Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Tucker Kraft throughout the year.
Doubs is a good player, no doubt about it, but the Packers made their decision when they opted to extend Christian Watson instead.
Matthew Golden had flashes when given the chance and was excellent in the playoff game against the Chicago Bears. Entering Year 2, he will have the chance to step up behind Watson and Reed — and certainly ahead of Dontayvion Wicks and fellow second-year receiver Savion Williams.
LB Quay Walker —> Ty’Ron Hopper
Make no mistake about it, Hopper actually outplayed Walker when given the chance in 2025. They are players from similar styles — athletic, solid against the run, and underwhelming in pass coverage.
It doesn’t make sense to pay Walker something around $10 million a year when you can easily replicate his production with a young defender on a rookie-scale contract. Anyway, Edgerrin Cooper will still be the leader of the room.
LT Rasheed Walker —> Jordan Morgan
Walker was a fine starter for most of his two-year tenure at left tackle, but he got worse and worse down the stretch in 2025, which resulted in a rough playoff performance versus the Bears.
Meanwhile, Morgan had his difficult moments changing positions, but he found himself at tackle, his natural position, and proved to be a solid starter with high upside on both sides of the line.
C Sean Rhyan —> Welp
This is the only position where the situation is truly complicated. Looking at the roster, the Packers can allow Rhyan to leave and keep Elgton Jenkins, who will be healthy by Week 1. However, Jenkins underperformed after moving to center (and honestly, hadn’t been that great at guard either in 2024).
Jenkins is set to make $20 million in 2026, and there’s no way the Packers keep him under that price tag. If the veteran accepts a significant paycut, things may change. But for now, you can count on Jenkins being released.
That could incentivize the Packers to extend Rhyan for a mid-level deal. And if that doesn’t happen, the top alternative on the roster would be former fifth-round pick Jacob Monk — he was fine in Week 18 versus the Minnesota Vikings in the run game, but still shows weaknesses in pass protection.
Depth pieces Packers will need to replace
QB Malik Willis —> Desmond Ridder
Willis is most likely to leave the Packers to sign with a team where he can realistically compete for the starting job — the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns are the most likely landing spots. Meanwhile, the Packers are preparing to have a viable quarterback behind Jordan Love.
When the team promoted former third-round pick Desmond Ridder to the active roster ahead of the playoffs, he was signed through 2026, securing the first step to create competition. On Tuesday, the Packers also added former Philadelphia Eagles’ sixth-round pick Kyle McCord to the mix.
Edge Kingsley Enagbare —> Barryn Sorrell
Enagbare was a great run defender for the Packers in 2025, outplaying and outsnapping Rashan Gary for stretches down the stretch. Nevertheless, both may be gone this offseason — Enagbare as a free agent, Gary as a potential cap casualty.
The Packers drafted two edge rushers in 2025, and Barryn Sorrell showed real flashes despite his low number of snaps. He was particularly impressive in extended action in Week 18. The Packers sat starters, but the Vikings didn’t, and Sorrell was still productive.
The other option would be Collin Oliver, an edge defender/off-ball hybrid type who missed most of his rookie season on the PUP list.
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