Packers make big decision with former top 10 pick, and it highlights the growth and confidence in their younger players
Green Bay has made a final call on Isaiah Simmons.
The Green Bay Packers started trimming the roster from 91 to 53 players, and the first big decision has been made. According to Matt Zenitz from CBS Sports, the Packers have released veteran linebacker Isaiah Simmons. The former top 10 pick had signed with Green Bay in April.
Simmons had a promising start to his tenure with the Packers, with strong performances throughout the offseason program. However, when the pads came on, it wasn’t the same. He had a tough time finding a defensive role with a tough preseason performance. Despite his special teams effort, Simmons ended up released.
It’s still up in the air if the Packers will keep Kristian Welch or just four off-ball linebackers, but the move highlights how much trust the front office has in the young linebackers of the team.
Youth and depth
The Packers have four locks at linebacker to make the 53-man roster, and the decision to move on from Simmons highlights them. Former first-round pick Quay Walker, recently extended Isaiah McDuffie, and last year’s All-Rookie Team member Edgerrin Cooper are the ones expected to have more playing time. But last year’s third-rounder Ty’Ron Hopper was mentioned by head coach Matt LaFleur as one of the most improved players from the past camp to 2025.
Welch is the big question mark. He had a great preseason in 2024 and got cut anyway, spending parts of the regular season with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens. This year, he returned to Green Bay and showed what he always does: Decent rotational defensive play and excellent special teams contributions.
The other two pieces at linebacker who might be waived are undrafted rookies Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Jared Bartlett, who could be practice squad candidates.
Available again
Isaiah Simmons was the eighth overall pick in the 2020 draft. After three seasons on the Arizona Cardinals, he spent two with the New York Giants. A hybrid linebacker and safety, he’s never found a real defensive role in the NFL.
The Packers had given Simmons a one-year, $1.337 million contract. The signing bonus was $167,500, which would be the dead money after the release.
As a vested veteran, Simmons is now available to sign with any other team without the necessity of going through waivers.
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