Packers Mailbag: State of the offensive line, winners and losers of the first weeks of training camp
After a few weeks off, the Green Bay Packers mailbag is back. Now, we are in the middle of training camp, and preseason games are right around the corner. It's a good time to discuss the state of the roster and how things are shaking out in Wisconsin. I'm extremely confident in their so-called best […]
After a few weeks off, the Green Bay Packers mailbag is back. Now, we are in the middle of training camp, and preseason games are right around the corner. It's a good time to discuss the state of the roster and how things are shaking out in Wisconsin.
I'm extremely confident in their so-called best five, and my guess is that includes first-round rookie Jordan Morgan at right guard. That being said, they should hope nobody gets injured, because the depth is questionable at best at this point.
Sean Rhyan hasn't shown he can consistently be a good pass blocker, and his run blocking is probably overrated based on a couple of highlight plays. And the tackle depth with David Bahtiari and Yosh Nijman out is not there yet. Maybe Kadeem Telfort (I'll talk more about him later), Caleb Jones, and/or Luke Tenuta take a step forward, but those are all question marks. And I simply don't trust Andre Dillard until proven wrong.
Head coach Matt LaFleur and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich have shown they can work around a weak spot on the offensive line, and that's Josh Myers. But if you have two weak links, things start to get more complicated.
Wide receiver Grant DuBose has a chance, and Matt LaFleur even praised his development the other day. But my vote goes to tackle Kadeem Telfort. He is a 6'7 developmental tackle, and they love to get those big guys and make them play at a solid level. He went undrafted last season and had an intriguing training camp, but didn't make the roster.
After spending the whole season on the practice squad, it seems like he will have a bigger role this year. He even practiced with the ones at right tackle while Zach Tom was still out — and Andre Dillard was struggling. Telfort is probably their new version of Yosh Nijman, and I'd rather keep a young player like him than a veteran like Dillard as the swing tackle.
Yes. The Packers can keep him as an exemption on the 90-man roster and then on the practice squad for three seasons as part of the International Pathway Program rules. But first, he has to be waived and clear waivers. If any other team wants to take a flier on him on the 53-man roster, it can. It's not a likely scenario, though.
There are too many hurdles for MarShawn Lloyd at this point. First, the Packers usually love to give the first shot to veterans, they feel like rookies have to earn everything. Second, LaFleur praised Dillon's shape, he's a leader and knows the system really well. And finally, Lloyd missed the first days of training camp because of injury, which made his road a little tougher.
That being said, I expect Lloyd to get more snaps as the season progresses, and ultimately I do think he will be an immediate backup in 2025.
Stokes is having a really strong camp, and he has practiced with the ones all the time. So it's pretty clear that he will be the starter opposite Jaire Alexander. It's just how it's supposed to be, since he is the most talented option. Carrington Valentine had a really solid rookie season, especially for a seventh-round pick, but if the Packers can have what we always expected from Stokes and Valentine as a backup, that's a huge improvement over what they had last year.
It also seems like Jeff Hafley's scheme is a much better fit for what Stokes does well, and they have to take advantage of that.
I'm pleasantly surprised by Romeo Doubs' step forward. He has been a solid piece for the offense, a useful weapon, but it feels like he's making a leap to have a real shot at being their primary weapon in the passing game. As far as disappointments, it might be early to be definitive, but I was certainly expecting a bigger role for Edgerrin Cooper. Even before his groin injury on Wednesday, he was behind Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson on the depth chart.
As I mentioned earlier, the Packers like to make their rookies earn it. But guys like Jordan Morgan, Javon Bullard, and Evan Williams are already getting more opportunities with the ones.
Unless something crazy happens, I would try not to extend either of those guys early. Usually, I like the premise of securing players as soon as possible to avoid inflation, but in this case the Packers have five wide receivers they realistically would want to keep. If you have an elite player, you extend him.
But that's not the case with Watson and Doubs. It's just better to allow them to play another season to get more information — about them, yes, but also about Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks. Then, in the 2026 offseason, with as much information as possible about everyone, a final decision will be more natural.
I disagree with some of your numbers there, but that's talk for another day. Regarding the wide receiver bubble, five players are basically locks — Doubs, Reed, Watson, Wicks, and Melton. Heath and DuBose fight for a final roster spot at WR, but I wouldn't be surprised if they kept only five, with two or three more on the practice squad.
Training camp indications bring a surprising possibility for the Packers WR room
Green Bay has a strong WR depth from 1 to 5
