Why The Green Bay Packers Will Be A Sub-.500 Team In 2026

QUARTERBACKS (B+)

Starter: Jordan Love

Reserve: Tyrod Taylor

Traded: Kyle McCord

Summary:Love’s 2025 campaign was his best season since becoming a starter in 2023 and he should be discussed among the NFL’s elite.

Love set career-bests in passer rating (101.2) and completion percentage (66.3%) last year, and had a sensational 23-to-6 touchdown to interception ratio.

Love followed that with an impressive summer where he made quicker decisions and threw off his back foot less frequently.

The 27-year-old Love — now the longest-tenured Packer — has always had the physical gifts to make every throw. Through the years, though, his accuracy, decision making and leadership have all improved.

“For me it’s just about continuing to keep my head down and do my job,” Love said. “Focus on what we’re doing here in this building and trying to lead this team to be the best team we can be.

“It starts with the NFC North and the teams we face there, but I just try and keep my head down, keep trying to control what I can control, focus on doing the best at my job and I let everything else just handle itself.”

No. 2 Tyrod Taylor, now 37, begins his 16^th NFL season. Taylor had an uninspiring start to training camp, but picked up his game as summer went along and still showed enough speed and elusiveness for the Packers to believe he can win a game if Love goes down.

“He’s had an unbelievable career, and we’ve seen what he’s done,” Green Bay quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy said of Taylor. “But it’s still great to see what kind of shape that he’s in.”

RUNNING BACKS (D-)

Starter: MarShawn Lloyd

Reserves: Chris Brooks, Kaleb Johnson

Released: Pierre Strong Jr., Damien Martinez, Jaden Nixon

Commissioner exempt list: Josh Jacobs

Summary: Jacobs was first arrested on May 26 on five potential charges, including a felony count of strangulation and suffocation. Last week, Jacobs was charged with two of those — misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property.

The Packers have known for more than three months that Jacobs might not be available in Week 1 and should have been moving heaven and earth to find a quality back. Instead, Green Bay will enter the season with the least productive running back room in the NFL.

Lloyd, the projected starter, has six career carries for 15 yards (2.5 average). He’s also played just one of 34 career games due to a bevy of injuries.

Third down back Chris Brooks has 395 career rushing yards on 82 carries (4.8). And Johnson, a third round draft pick by the Steelers in 2025, had 28 carries for 69 yards (2.5) during his disappointing rookie season.

Add it up and Green Bay’s running back trio has 479 combined rushing yards — in their careers.

Yikes.

Jacobs’ arrest, which came one month after the draft, was certainly unfortunate timing for Green Bay. The Packers have done little, though, in the time since to beef up a position of obvious weakness.

WIDE RECEIVERS (B)

Starters: Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden

Reserves: Bo Melton, Skyy Moore, J. Michael Sturdivant

Released: Will Sheppard, Isaiah Neyor, Kisean Johnson, Chris Hilton Jr., Kaden Prather

injured reserve/designated for return: Savion Williams

Summary: The Watson-Golden-Reed trio could be one of the more explosive trifectas in football. The key, though, will be staying healthy.

Golden played in 14 games during his 2025 rookie season. Reed is averaging 13.3 games per year in his first three seasons, and Watson is at 12.0 games during his first four years.

If the Packers can get 45 games, or more, from that trio, the passing game should hum.

“My goal going forward is just obviously to put myself in the best position to obviously stay healthy throughout the entire season,” Watson said. “Get a full season across 17 games-plus.”

Watson had a sensational return from a torn ACL last season, and figures to be even better in 2026. Watson had 35 receptions for 611 yards and six TDs in just 10 games and averaged a whopping 17.5 yards per catch a year ago.

Golden, the Packers’ first round pick in 2025, had a quiet rookie season with 29 catches and didn’t score his first touchdown until the playoffs. Golden had a sensational summer, though, was one of Green Bay’s best players each day and could be poised for a breakout year.

“I feel like I’m dangerous inside and out,” Golden said. “I feel confident with what I could do outside, and you know, obviously, just being comfortable with my hands, man. I feel like I could grab the ball anywhere Jordan places it, and you know, that’s something that I’ve always been big on is making contested catches, and you know I feel like I got that I got that pretty good.”

Reed played just seven games a year ago and finished with a career-low 19 catches. Reed led the Packers, though, in receptions in 2023 and 2024.

Melton is the likely No. 4 after a productive summer that saw him return to wide receiver full time after playing cornerback a year ago.

“I feel like this was my best summer yet,” Melton said. “It’s the fastest I’ve been. I’m doing special teams. I’ve been making play after play, so I’m excited.”

TIGHT ENDS (B)

Starter: Tucker Kraft

Reserves: Jonnu Smith, Mark Redman, Josh Whyle

Released: Drake Dabney, Messiah Swinson, McCallan Castles, Thomas Yassmin

Reserve/physically unable to perform: Luke Musgrave (neck)

Summary:This position has been completely revamped from a year ago, when Luke Musgrave, Ben Sims and John FitzPatrick were the reserves when the season began.

And Gutekunst deserves credit for beefing up this room with the additions of Smith and Redman since the end of last week.

The key to the group, though, remains Kraft — and how quickly he can return to All-Pro form.

Kraft posted 32 receptions, 489 receiving yards and six touchdowns in the eight games he played in 2025. Kraft was the only tight end in the league with 30-plus receptions, 475-plus receiving yards, six-plus receiving touchdowns and an average of 15-plus yards per catch through Week 9.

Kraft was activated from the PUP list on July 31, returned to 11-on-11 team drills in mid-August and will play Week 1 at Minnesota. Kraft’s reps will be limited early, though.

“They’re going to take into account my rep range probably until halfway through the season,” Kraft said on Aug. 16. “Then they’re just going to pat me on the (butt) and send me out there, send me to the wolves.”

Smith, who caught 88 passes and had eight touchdown receptions in 2024, signed a one-year deal with Green Bay on Aug. 27. By midseason, the Kraft-Smith duo could bring back memories of the Keith Jackson-Mark Chmura days.

Whyle, who began last season on the practice squad, played eight games after Kraft was injured and had a solid summer. Redman spent all of last season on the Rams’ practice squad, but could carve out a role as a blocker and special teams player.

OFFENSIVE LINE (C-)

Starters: Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Jacob Monk, Zach Bako-Bewele

Reserves: Anthony Belton, Jager Burton, John Williams, Donovan Jennings, Travis Glover

Released: Darion Kinnard, Dylan Barrett, Josh Gesky, Brant Banks, Dalton Cooper, Dillon Wade

Summary: The Packers keep nine linemen many seasons, but likely kept 10 this year due to concerns with Banks and Bako-Bewele’s early season availability.

Even if the Packers are healthy, there’s reason for concern.

Green Bay fielded its worst offensive line in several years last season, ranking 27^th overall by Pro Football Network and 19^th by Pro Football Focus. And there are questions everywhere.

Can Banks and Bako-Bewele get fully healthy in 2026? Is Monk ready to be a starter at right guard? Is Rhyan, who moved to center midway through last season, the answer at that spot? And will Morgan, now the left tackle, be an upgrade from Rasheed Walker?

Belton, a second round draft pick in 2025, had a rough summer. And while Burton impressed much of training camp, he is a rookie.

“I mean, me personally, I want to get to back to where we were at the end of last season, rolling as soon as we can, so that we can continue to push past that,” Rhyan said. “Because I think we could be even better than we were towards the end of last year.

“You know, I’m ambitious. I think every one of us are. So I think that’s good, though. You know, we’re not boxing ourselves into what we could be. You know, we’re just more looking for what we can do.”

DEFENSIVE TACKLES (B)

Starters: Devonte Wyatt, Javon Hargrave, Karl Brooks

Reserves: Warren Brinson, Chris McClellan, Jonathan Ford, Anthony Campbell

Released: Nazir Stackhouse, Jaden Crumedy,

Reserve/physically unable to perform: Jordon Riley (Achilles)

Summary:Green Bay’s best player is Devonte Wyatt, who was having a terrific season before going on injured reserve last year with an ankle injury. Wyatt is quick, explosive and has 14.5 sacks rushing from inside the last three years.

“I can play it all,” Wyatt said of defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s scheme. “I can go from nose to 3 to 5 to 9, just being all over the field. So you just never know. It’s like a hard defense, a hard front to block. I feel like it’s going to help. A lot more 1-on-1s, especially when we get Micah (Parsons) back, so it’s going to be great for me.”

Hargrave, a free agent acquisition, is a two-time Pro Bowler with 49.0 career sacks. Hargrave had a solid 2025 season in Minnesota and still appears to have gas left in his tank.

“We know he can impact the game,” defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon said.

Green Bay’s depth here is also dramatically better than a year ago.

“It’s very talented,” Hargrave said of the group. “Everybody can play ball here. I feel like some places you could tell certain people don’t belong, but here I honestly don’t know who – we’re pretty deep at this position.”

EDGE (C-)

Starters: Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell

Reserves:Brenton Cox, Dani Dennis-Sutton

Released:Arron Mosby, Nyjalik Kelly, Arden Walker

Reserve/physically unable to perform: Micah Parsons (ACL)

Injured reserve/designated for return: Collin Oliver

Summary: Packer Nation will anxiously await the return of Parsons, who won’t be expected back until at least mid-October.

“It’s about knowing when to go and it’s all about feeling great,” Parsons said. “Like I don’t think (general manager Brian Gutekunst) or (head athletic trainer) Nate (Weir) or (coach Matt (LaFleur) wants me to go out there if I’m not at 100 percent and risk re-injury and lose me for the year and it’s just a waste of a year.”

Until then, the biggest question is can Van Ness step up?

Van Ness, a first round draft pick in 2023, has just 8.5 sacks in his first three seasons. Van Ness had a highly productive summer, and with Parsons out early, will be asked to do big things.

“I feel like I can be a pretty smart player on the field, but almost to my own demise where I’m just almost analyzing too much,” Van Ness said. “So that’s been a big point of emphasis this year, go vertical, make plays in the backfield, knock back and get to the quarterback and I feel like it’s been working out pretty well.”

Sorrell, who had 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks during his rookie season a year ago, takes on a bigger role with Parsons out. Cox, who had 4.0 sacks in 2024, will also have an expanded role.

LINEBACKERS (B)

Starters: Edgerrin Cooper, Zaire Franklin

Reserves: Isaiah McDuffie, Ty’Ron Hopper, Nick Niemann

Released:Kristian Welch, TJ Quinn.

Summary: Cooper wasn’t quite as impactful in Year 2 as his rookie season in 2024, but is a dynamic athlete with huge upside.

“I don’t want to be slept on no more or any of that,” Cooper said this summer. “That’s all I look for. But I just want to do what I do. I feel like my second year had a little slump early in the season, but it happens. It’s about how you respond. I felt like I did a good job responding, played decent ball at the end of the season. I’m just ready to elevate.”

Franklin, led the NFL with 173 tackles in 2024, then slipped in 2025.

Franklin had a paltry grade of 38.0 from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 87th among 88 qualified linebackers. Franklin also finished last season with 125 total tackles (62 solo), 19 pressures, 3.0 sacks and allowed a 109.3 passer rating when targeted in coverage.

He brought some nastiness to Green Bay’s defense this summer, though, and hopes to rebound in 2026.

“Last year, I mean, you could call it, like, my career lows are some guys career highs,” Franklin said. “So I don’t understand what that really means, but at the same time, this a year by year league, it’s a week by week league, I gotta go out there and earn it every single year, and every single week, so I’m looking forward to going out there and earning it.”

McDuffie and Hopper provide depth, while Niemann is a solid special teams player.

CORNERBACKS (C)

Starters:Brandon Cisse, Keisean Nixon

Reserves: Benjamin St-Juste, Carrington Valentine, Kamal Hadden

Released: Domani Jackson, Jaylin Simpson, Shemar Bartholomew, MJ Devonshire

Summary: This group is mediocre, at best, and could be exposed with Parsons out.

Cisse, the Packers’ second round draft pick in April, had an impressive summer, but he’s also a rookie. Green Bay’s coaches believe Cisse can be a star, though, and they’ll let him sink or swim from the jump.

“Obviously I haven’t played in this league yet, so I don’t know what it takes yet,” Cisse said. “So I need to continue to grow and be overprepared if I can, so just trying to be ready for those moments when it comes and just be excited, go out there and make plays.”

Nixon was a 17-game starter in 2025 for the first time in his career, and was up and down throughout. He struggled mightily at times this summer, but seems like a good bet to start Week 1 in Minnesota.

St-Juste, a third round draft pick in 2021, has tremendous size (6-3, 200), but hasn’t been able to either win, or keep a starting job in both Washington and with the Los Angeles Chargers. St-Juste has replaced Nixon with the No. 1 defense at points this summer, and could still win the starting job opposite Cisse.

Valentine, who started opposite of Nixon last season, missed part of training camp with a hamstring injury and was passed by Cisse and St-Juste. Hadden, who broke his right tibia and fibula, and suffered severe ankle damage during a Week 17 game against Baltimore last season, made an impressive return this summer.

SAFETIES (A-)

Starters: Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard

Reserves: Kitan Oladapo

Released:Mark Perry, Murvin Kenion III, Trey Dean III, Tra Fluellen

Summary: This is undoubtedly Green Bay’s best positional group.

McKinney earned a grade of 81.2 from Pro Football Focus last season, which was eighth among 98 qualified safeties. McKinney also hasn’t allowed a touchdown as the nearest defender since joining the Packers in 2024, per NFL Next Gen Stats.

Watching Williams is reminiscent of watching former Packer Micah Hyde a decade ago. Smart, tough and crafty, Williams has the ability to become one of the league’s elite safeties.

“You know, going into year three, having put some good stuff on tape, but at the same time, it’s like I like showing up every day like I haven’t proved nothing,” Williams said. “Like you kind of got to still have that fire under your ass, where you’re showing up every day with something to prove.”

Bullard missed much of the summer with a foot injury, but will be good to go for the opener. Bullard, a second round draft pick in 2024, is one of the Packers’ most ferocious and violent players in some time, and could be poised for a third year jump.

SPECIALISTS (B-)

Specialists: PK Trey Smack, P Daniel Whelan, LS Matt Orzech, KR/PR Skyy Moore

Released: LS Cal Adomitis

Summary: Smack, a rookie sixth round draft pick, went 9-for-9 on field goals in games this summer, including three from beyond 50 yards. He struggled on the practice field, though, and must prove he can shine when the games mean something.

Whelan is one of the NFL’s elite punters. Last season, he set the single-season franchise record with a 51.7-yard gross average and a 43.9-yard net average.

Orzech is a steady veteran who missed all of camp with a calf injury, but said last week he’ll be ready for Week 1. That gave the Packers the confidence to more on from Adomitis, who performed admirably with Orzech sidelined.

COACHING (C+)

It was a dreadful 2025 season for Matt LaFleur, who failed to take advantage of an elite roster. LaFleur was front and center in Green Bay’s string of epic collapses, pushing the wrong buttons time and again.

Green Bay’s offense is LaFleur’s baby, and that side of the ball fell to 15^th in total yards and 16^th in points. LaFleur also finished in the bottom six league coaches in the NFLPA’s annual player survey. LaFleur also received unfavorable marks came when it came to “respect for players.”

“I don’t feel that way, but unfortunately some guys did,” LaFleur said.

Many expected LaFleur to be fired after the season ended, but new team president Ed Policy surprised many and gave him an extension instead.

LaFleur, entering Year 8, is the NFL’s fourth longest tenured head coach. He’s also the longest tenured coach that hasn’t been to a Super Bowl.

The three coaches with more tenure than LaFleur — Kansas City’s Andy Reid, Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan — have won a combined four Super Bowls and played in the big game 10 times.

LaFleur does hold an impressive 76-40-1 overall record in Green Bay (.654). He is just 3-6 in the playoffs, though, and has just one postseason win since 2020.

At some point you either get your team to the promised land or someone else gets a crack at it.

So even with a new contract, 2026 could be a make-or-break year for LaFleur.

PACKERS PREDICTION: 8-9