With the Packers 46 days away from kicking off the 2026 season, one of the quieter names on the roster is also one of the more important insurance policies in the secondary: Kitan Oladapo.
Green Bay opens the year against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Sept. 13, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. That’s a sharp way to start, and the early schedule only keeps the pressure on with Week 2 at MetLife Stadium against the New York Jets and Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field, the Packers’ first home game of 2026.
Against that backdrop, the Packers are rolling out a ranking series on their top 50 players heading into the 2026 season, and Oladapo lands at No. 46.
You have to be deep into depth charts and special teams to fully appreciate what he offers, but the Packers clearly value it. The 6-foot-2, 216-pound safety came out of Oregon State, where he was a defensive captain and three-year starter, and Green Bay took him with the 169th pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Since then, he’s carved out a role as a backup safety and special teams contributor over his first two seasons.
His 2025 season showed steady usage. Oladapo appeared in all 17 games after playing in nine in 2024, finishing with 10 tackles, seven of them solo, along with one pass defended. He also allowed four catches at 8.3 yards per reception allowed, while continuing to work mainly as a reserve and on special teams.
The Packers’ decision to let Zayne Anderson walk points to the trust they have in Oladapo, who is expected to take on more responsibility in 2026. Wes Hodkiewicz put it this way: "The Packers letting Zayne Anderson walk says something about their comfort with Oladapo, who is poised to assume more responsibility on special teams and defense.
We've said since Day 1 that Oladapo has an NFL frame and he's the truest example of a natural free safety from that 2024 draft class. He just has to stay ready behind Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams."
That last part matters most. Green Bay does not want Oladapo seeing much time on defense, because that would likely mean something has gone wrong with Xavier McKinney or Evan Williams, two of the best safeties in the NFL. Still, if Oladapo can keep giving the Packers dependable work on special teams and prove he can be a steady backup, he’ll be more than worth the $1 million and change he’s set to make in base salary in 2026.
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