The Packers have never been shy about betting on their own draft picks, but that patience only stretches so far. Green Bay has a few young players it still needs to mold, while others are starting to look like names the team may be better off moving on from.
One of the clearest development cases is wide receiver Matthew Golden. The No. 23 pick from just one year ago had a rough rookie season, but the Packers are still invested in him. His speed gives him the kind of playmaking juice that can change a game in a hurry, and the challenge now is finding a way to get him more involved.
Safety Evan Williams also belongs on the keep-and-build side of the ledger. Green Bay’s young secondary includes both Williams and Javon Bullard, but Williams may offer more value right now as a more traditional deep safety, especially with Bullard spending most of his time in the slot. Williams has already picked off four passes in two seasons and has held up well against the run, production that outpaces where he was drafted.
Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper is another player the Packers should keep developing. The source material notes that Green Bay is using him as an edge rusher in certain packages this season, and it also points out that Cooper could command top-of-the-line money on his second contract.
On the other side, tight end Luke Musgrave looks like a player whose time in Green Bay may be running short. He was quickly surpassed by Tucker Kraft, a third-round pick at the same position in the same draft, and Musgrave’s limited blocking ability has made it difficult for the two tight ends to share the field.
Over the last two seasons, Musgrave has just 31 catches for 297 yards, and he was even outsnapped by John FitzPatrick late last season. While Kraft is expected to get a new deal, Musgrave appears to be heading into what could be his final year with the Packers.
Running back MarShawn Lloyd is the other name that falls into the give-up-on category. Availability has become the issue, because every time he seems ready to show he can be a useful backup behind Josh Jacobs, he ends up hurt again. With Lloyd unable to stay on the field and Jacobs in legal peril, the Packers may eventually have to make a major investment at running back.
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Eagles Just Made A Wicks Bet That Puts Pressure On Everyone
The Eagles have added another layer to their passing-game makeover by bringing in Dontayvion Wicks from Green Bay, a move that gives Philadelphia a young receiver with a chance to grow into a bigger role. Wicks arrives with the kind of fresh start that can matter in a new offense, and the Eagles are clearly betting that his skill set can help lift a passing attack that needs more consistency heading into the 2026 season.
For Wicks, the appeal goes beyond the change of scenery. Hes talked about the chance to learn the offense, and hell also have a familiar connection in Devonta Smith, with both receivers coming out of Louisiana and having spoken before the move. The deal also comes with added commitment from Philadelphia, which makes this more than a simple depth addition and puts a little more pressure on everyone involved to make it work. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Jacobs Enters Packers Camp With His Role Suddenly In Doubt
Josh Jacobs is heading into Packers camp with more than just the usual competition on his mind. Even after scoring double-digit touchdowns in 2025, his overall production dipped, and there were stretches when he looked a step slower than the player Green Bay expected when it brought him in to anchor the backfield.
Now the Packers have reason to watch the situation closely, because their plans at running back are not locked in behind him. If Jacobs does not look like the answer in camp, Green Bay has room to rethink the position, with options available in both free agency and the trade market as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
The 7 Packers Moves That Finally Changed Everything
The Packers spent the offseason making a series of moves that looked less like tinkering and more like a reset of the rosters identity. Trading for Micah Parsons grabbed the most attention, but Green Bay also added veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor, moved on from Nate Hobbs, and kept reshaping the supporting cast around Jordan Love with a clearer plan for what this team wants to be.
Just as important, the front office attacked the defensive line, signing Javon Hargrave and adding Chris McClellan and Dani Dennis-Sutton in the draft to give the pass rush and interior more bite. Taken together, those decisions point to a club trying to close the gap in the NFC, even if the biggest question now is whether all of these changes can come together quickly enough to matter when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]