When the Packers made their final cutdown-day moves, the headline names were easy to spot. But the player who may end up mattering most is the one who barely registers at first glance: tight end Mark Redman.
Green Bay did more than just trim its roster and reshuffle the edges. The team also sent backup quarterback Kyle McCord to the Miami Dolphins for a 2028 sixth-round pick, then added three players who are all expected to be in the mix for meaningful work right away on Sept. 13 against the Minnesota Vikings.
That is a different kind of cutdown-day business than the Packers have done in the past. Around the same time in 2024 and 2025, general manager Brian Gutekunst dealt for Malik Willis and Darian Kinnard, but both of those players could realistically have gone without an offensive snap in Week 1 of their first seasons in Green Bay.
This time, the additions look much more immediate.
Jonnu Smith gives the offense a veteran tight end who already knows head coach Matt LaFleur, and Smith also spent the last three years with coaches LaFleur has worked with before. The 31-year-old is coming off the least productive season of his career since his rookie year, finishing with 222 receiving yards in 17 games, but he still brings value in a limited role.
Kaleb Johnson arrives with a chance to carve out a much larger piece of the offense. With lead back Josh Jacobs on the commissioner-exempt list for now, there is room for work in the backfield, and Johnson has a real shot to claim a meaningful share of it. If that happens, the Packers will have gotten a lot out of a move that cost them only a 2028 late-round pick.
And then there’s Redman, the tight end acquired for a 2028 seventh-round draft choice. He has yet to play a single non-preseason snap in the NFL, but among Green Bay’s cutdown-day additions, he might wind up being the one that matters most.
In Other News...
Vikings Writer Is Already Doubting A Packers Team Fans Still Trust
Green Bays long view into 2026 already has some obvious reasons for optimism, and fans know where to look first. Tucker Kraft is expected back from injury, Micah Parsons is working his way through rehab, and Jordan Love keeps gaining experience in the role the Packers have spent years building around. Add in changes on special teams and a few roster moves that could help stabilize the depth chart, and it is easy to see why the early outlook around the team still feels hopeful.
Chris Schad of The Viking Age, though, is pushing back on some of that optimism and pointing to the kinds of issues that can make a promising roster look far less certain on paper. He flagged Josh Jacobs placement on the commissioners list and Parsons recovery as the sort of complications that can linger well into a season, even for a team with playoff-level talent. For Packers fans, the bigger question is whether the returning pieces and offseason adjustments are enough to offset those concerns before the schedule starts to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Suddenly Need A Lot More From MarShawn Lloyd
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For the Packers, the shift is obvious enough: an offense that expected a steadier, more established presence in the backfield now has to ask a lot more from a player whose career has been interrupted at nearly every turn. For Lloyd, the opportunity is real, but so is the pressure, because the team needs him to do more than simply be available. It needs him to handle a much bigger workload and help anchor an offense that suddenly has a different look. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fans Just Got More To Look Forward To At Lambeau
Packers fans already know Lambeau Field brings its own kind of energy, but the team is laying out even more reasons to circle home dates for 2026. Green Bay has announced a slate of themes and activities for next season that will turn several games into bigger fan experiences, with everything from Alumni Weekend to Rivalry Weekend and a fresh look at the matchup tied to new alternative jerseys.
The schedule of special events also includes a tribute to former president Bob Harlan, a Salute to Service honoring military members, and recognition of NFL initiatives such as Inspire Change and Play 60. Along with the themed presentations, the Packers are planning special merchandise and fan giveaways, giving supporters a little extra to look forward to beyond the on-field product at Lambeau. [Read more 🡒]