Packers make a slew of roster moves right ahead of the draft as team lines up priorities for what comes next in 2026

Green Bay is getting ready for the next draft class, and general manager Brian Gutekunst made some pre-draft roster moves to open space for the newest pieces.

Wendell Ferreira — NFL News Writer
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Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver (84) stiff arms Green Bay Packers linebacker Jamon Johnson (48) on a first down reception during their football game Sunday, January 4, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver (84) stiff arms Green Bay Packers linebacker Jamon Johnson (48) on a first down reception during their football game Sunday, January 4, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With the draft less than a week away, the Green Bay Packers are already preparing the roster to receive some new pieces. On Friday, the team cut three players. The Packers waived tight end McCallan Castles, cornerback Tyron Herring, and off-ball linebacker Jamon Johnson.

Who the Packers cut

All three players spent some time on the practice squad last season. Jamon Johnson went undrafted and immediately signed with the Packers, spending the majority of his rookie season on the practice squad. He played 67 defensive snaps and 25 special teams snaps in 2025 — most of them in Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings when the Packers sit starters.

McCallan Castles signed after Tucker Kraft got hurt, but didn’t play and eventually got hurt. Tyron Herring had multiple stints with Green Bay as an undrafted rookie, but didn’t have regular season snaps either.

Roster outlook

Now that the Packers waived these three pieces, the 90-man roster has 76 players. Green Bay enters the draft with eight total picks — excluding trade scenarios that would alter this, the Packers would still have space to sign six undrafted free agents without making additional roster moves.

The Packers now have five tight ends, six off-ball linebackers, and seven cornerbacks. Those are positions to keep in mind in the draft — especially cornerback, which is the team’s most pressing need. At tight end and linebacker, the front office has also done a lot of pre-draft homework, and while the team has strong starting options at both positions, long-term depth could be a consideration for general manager Brian Gutekunst.

Those are not necessarily big roster moves. But it shows that the front office is adjusting the roster to what’s coming — and more moves will certainly be on the way as soon as the draft ends.

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