Top Packers position battles to watch during OTAs while major roster questions start taking shape
Green Bay has a consolidated roster, but the offseason program will bring inevitable answers to intriguing questions marks ahead of the 2026 season.
The Green Bay Packers’ offseason program is already underway, but the best and most valuable part of it kicks off this week. On Tuesday, the Packers open phase 3 of the program, the Organized Team Activities (OTAs). No live contact or pads are permitted, but the coaching staff can operate with 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 team drills. This first week, the Packers have practices on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
The activities bring several question marks into discussion, and they could even bring some questions ahead of training camp and the preseason as well.
Top OTAs battles for the Packers
Sean Rhyan vs. Jager Burton
The Packers gave Rhyan a three-year, $33 million contract extension this offseason, but it’s essentially a one-year deal and two team options. So the former third-round pick has a lot to play for and to show this offseason. Meanwhile, the front office‘s biggest offensive investment of the offseason was drafting center Jager Burton in the fifth round.
Rhyan enters the offseason as the incumbent starting center, but there’s no reason to avoid competition. Burton is a talented offensive line prospect, and the Packers obviously see him as a long-term starter. If the rookie eventually wins the job, the Packers will have more depth and flexibility with Rhyan as a swing interior offensive lineman.
Brenton Cox vs. Barryn Sorrell
This is an underrated and hugely important battle — potentially the most impactful one this offseason. With Micah Parsons expected to miss the first few games of the season, potentially the entire first month, this competition will determine who starts opposite Lukas Van Ness at edge defender for the Packers to begin the regular season.
Last year, Cox handled injury issues and played only 7% of the defensive snaps. But a rookie Sorrell didn’t play much either, at 15%. Without Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare in the mix, those numbers will go way up — and the same applies to Collin Oliver, who missed almost his entire rookie season with an injury.
Karl Brooks vs. Chris McClellan
Devonte Wyatt and Javon Hargrave combine for more than $20 million in cap hit in 2026, so the Packers made it clear that they are the starting interior defensive linemen. However, there’s room to play significant snaps after them. There are some pieces at the bottom of the depth like Warren Brinson, Jonathan Ford, and Nazir Stackhouse, but Karl Brooks and third-round pick Chris McClellan are the top competitors.
Brooks is the best interior rusher, while McClellan was drafted exactly because he offers all-around play. How quickly he’s able to pick up Jonathan Gannon’s defense as a rookie could determine how much playing time he has.
Brandon Cisse vs. Carrington Valentine vs. Benjamin St-Juste
Presumably, Keisean Nixon is once again the top cornerback on the depth chart, and Javon Bullard will start in the slot. The other boundary spot, though, is wide open. Carrington Valentine started most of the games last year, but the Packers were clearly not happy with his tackling ability.
So, the team added Benjamin St-Juste to replace Nate Hobbs in free agency and drafted Brandon Cisse in the second round. Those three players will all fight for the spot — and unlike the other defensive question marks above, starting cornerbacks usually play around 100% of the defensive snaps.
Chris Brooks vs. MarShawn Lloyd
With Emanuel Wilson out of the equation this year, Brooks is theoretically the RB2 after signing a two-year extension. But if Lloyd can stay healthy (and it’s a monster if considering his track record in the NFL), there will be legitimate competition for snaps behind Josh Jacobs.
Brooks will have his snaps because he’s a capable runner and an elite pass-protector, but a healthy and idealized version of Lloyd is undoubtedly more talented and explosive.