The Green Bay Packers open training camp next week, and several players face legitimate pressure to prove they belong on the 2026 roster. Each one carries different concerns, but the thread connecting them is the same: Green Bay has added enough competition that a poor camp could mean the end of the road.

So, let’s discuss each one and why the Packers could move on.

Luke Musgrave’s fit problem

The former second-round pick has dealt with an identity crisis since arriving in Green Bay. Musgrave had a solid rookie season as the starter until injuries derailed his year. He lost the job to Tucker Kraft, and Kraft never looked back. When the primary weapon got hurt last season, Musgrave was promoted back into the starting role, but even then he operated more as a role player than a true starter.

The core issue is scheme fit. Matt LaFleur’s offensive structure demands blocking from tight ends, and Musgrave is a receiving-first, slot-style player who struggles in that area. That limitation made him less impactful than players like John FitzPatrick and even Josh Whyle down the stretch last season. If Musgrave cannot show improved blocking ability and overall value during camp and the preseason, the Packers could look to move on, whether via trade or an outright release.

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Karl Brooks and the diminishing returns

Brooks presents a more nuanced case. He has a defined role as a rotational interior pass rusher, but his inability to defend the run makes him a limited option along Green Bay’s defensive line. His 2025 season was a step backward: a 40.6 run defense grade and a career-low 58.7 pass rush grade, per PFF.

The strangest part of Brooks’ profile is his consistency in one specific area. In each of his first three NFL seasons, he recorded 25 pressures. But the snap counts tell a more real story. As a rookie he played 379 defensive snaps, then 440, and last year 618. The same production on significantly more playing time is not a positive trajectory, and he managed only 11 stops last season.

Green Bay’s offseason moves made Brooks’ situation even more notable to watch. The Packers signed Javon Hargrave in free agency and drafted Chris McClellan in the third round. On top of that, Brooks earned the Proven Performance Escalator, which bumped his base salary from roughly $1 million to $3.674 million. For a rotational defensive tackle who cannot stop the run, that price tag might be difficult to justify. Releasing him would open more than $3 million in cap space, giving the front office a financial incentive to move on if Brooks does not show improvement.

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Tyron Hopper’s trust deficit

Hopper’s situation is less about poor play and more about the Packers’ lack of confidence in him as a defensive contributor. The clearest evidence came earlier this offseason, when Green Bay knew it would likely lose Quay Walker in free agency. Rather than hand the opportunity to Hopper, the team traded for Zaire Franklin because the coaching staff wanted to avoid being forced to start Hopper.

Last season, the former third-round pick played only 11.25% of Green Bay’s defensive snaps while logging 66.35% of special teams snaps. He was a productive special teamer, which gives him a path to staying on the roster. But his defensive metrics were concerning: he allowed a 118.8 passer rating when targeted in coverage and posted a 48.9 run defense grade via PFF.

The inside linebacker room has grown around him. Edgerrin Cooper, Franklin, and special teams contributors like Nick Niemann and Kristian Welch all factor into the equation. Isaiah McDuffie also received a new contract extension, a clear signal that Green Bay trusts him at the position. That combination of added depth and organizational investment elsewhere could squeeze Hopper off the roster entirely if he does not separate himself during camp.