Packers’ Zach Tom looks to establish himself as a top RT in the NFL

Paul Bretl | 6/26/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Including the playoffs, Packers’ right tackle Zach Tom made 18 starts last season and played 1,134 total snaps on offense and another 89 on special teams.

If only looking at that information, one could easily forget that Tom navigated a torn pectoral muscle last offseason that forced him to miss part of training camp.

“Credit to the training staff, strength staff, everybody,” said Tom of his recovery last season. “And credit to me, not to toot my own horn.”

Tom later added: “Honestly, once I came back, I mean, it wasn’t perfect, but you’re just playing football. You’re trying to, at least. I try not to think about injuries because everybody’s going through something.”

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As Tom said, injuries will never be an excuse–many players have to work through them over the course of a season. But he did notice at times last year where his “technique might have suffered” as he worked his pec injury back to full strength.

“That was probably something that was more just happening just naturally,” Tom said of his technique. “It’s not like I was trying to do anything differently because of the injury. But, like I said, I’m not going to sit over here and make excuses or anything.”

However, even with that being the case and having to deal with an injury during the offseason and an expedited ramp-up period heading into the 2024 season, as Tom had done in his first two NFL seasons, he made strides and operated at a high level.

Tom would rank 18th last season among all offensive tackles in ESPN’s pass block win rate metric, which as it sounds, measures how often a lineman is able to hold their block for 2.5 seconds or longer. In the run game, Tom had the third-highest run-blocking grade of any offensive tackle in football, according to PFF.

By these metrics, Tom operated as one of the best, most well-rounded tackles in the game last season, and like any competitor, he wants to be viewed as one of the best at his position. But more important than what the outside voices are saying, Tom is focused on winning games and what those inside the Packers’ building have to say.

“Absolutely,” said Tom about wanting to be viewed as a top right tackle. “It’s not like I set a goal to be the 10th-best tackle in the league. Obviously, I want to be the best. Absolutely, it’s nice to get recognition out there But, at this position, you’re not always going to get recognized.

“So I don’t really take what people on the outside are saying too seriously. I’m more so worried about what people on the inside are saying. But I just wanna win at this point.”

While the Packers prioritize versatility along the offensive line and spend the summers mixing and matching different configurations as they search for their “best five,” Tom has found a home at right tackle, although he has the ability to start at any position.

Tom’s pec last season was “as good as it could have been,” as he put it, but now with a full offseason behind him, he’s now past that injury and was able to participate in the on-field portion of offseason programs, which was something he was unable to do at this time last year.

“I think the biggest thing is just confidence with an injury like that,” Tom said. “And I think that’s the thing I’ve been working on this year, even in the weight room, just pushing weight with it.”

Tom is entering the final year of his rookie deal. In search of a contract extension, he could have made the decision to sit out the voluntary portion of the offseason, but instead, he was on the field to put himself and this Packers team in the best position to find success in 2024.

“I don’t really think it’ll do me any good to sit out,” Tom said. “I’m trying not to worry about the contract situation. I’m just trying to do what’s best for the team. And being here with the guys, I think that’s worth a lot more than – the contract situation will take care of itself. So, I’m just here working and grinding with the guys.”

On an appearance on CheeseheadTV, GM Brian Gutekunst said that the team and Tom’s representatives have had “really healthy conversations” around an extension. Gutekunst added that “these things take time.”

However, while those conversations are ongoing, Tom will let his representatives handle that part of the business. For him, his focus as he heads into Year 4 is continuing to find more consistency.

“I would just say consistency,” Tom said about what the next step for him is. “Being a guy that can set the tone during games, being a guy that you can really rely on to block those edge rushers – those elite edge rushers – one-on-one, take them out of the game. But, yeah, that’s the next step for me, for sure. Just being a guy that you know is going to get it done out there.”

Fourth year DT Devonte Wyatt will play key role in determining ceiling for Packers’ defensive front

Paul Bretl | 6/24/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — When talking about the need for more consistency from the Packers’ defensive front, a key part of that equation will be the play of fourth-year defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt.

“Very excited, man,” Wyatt said during minicamp. “Just to see what I can do this year, what I can bring, and what I improved in during the offseason through all the training I’ve been doing.”

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Last season in particular, we got a glimpse of the impact that Wyatt can have, but now it’s about sustaining that success over the course of a full season.

Through the Packers’ first three games of 2024, Wyatt was off to a red-hot start. During that stretch, he totaled nine pressures, three sacks, and six tackles for loss. For some context, Wyatt ranked 10th among all defensive tackles in pressures, he was tied for first in sacks, and he was fifth in PFF’s pass rush productivity metric.

Unfortunately, an ankle injury sustained in Week 4 against Minnesota would derail that start to the season. Wyatt missed the next three games and upon his return, his production dipped. Over the next six games, from Weeks 8-14, Wyatt had just nine pressures, two sacks, and no tackles for loss.

“I don’t like speaking on it. I’m more of a go-out-there-and-show-you type of guy,” Wyatt said of his production last season. “But I’m pretty sure I would’ve had a great year if I didn’t get no injuries.”

Wyatt then added: “I did some things to help me with that. just working on more ankle mobilities, drinking more water, just healthier things to help my body.”

However, despite the dip in production during the middle portion of Wyatt’s season, he would finish the year on a higher note. During Green Bay’s final four regular season games, he totaled 14 pressures–the seventh-most during that span–and two sacks.

Wyatt has showcased his ability to get after the quarterback, but with TJ Slaton now in Cincinnati, he will presumably have to take on a larger role in the run game this season as well.

Through his first three NFL seasons, the overwhelming majority of Wyatt’s snaps have come during passing situations, where he can get after the quarterback. That was a luxury that the Packers had with Slaton on the roster and on the field during those more obvious running situations. But now those snaps will have to be absorbed by Wyatt, as well as Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks.

When on the field for running plays last season, Wyatt did hold up well, according to PFF’s metrics, ranking sixth among defensive tackles in run stop rate, with his averaged depth of tackle being less than a yard from the line of scrimmage.

“Really just I would say on my run game a little more and just really attacking the man,” said Wyatt on where he wants to improve this season. “That’s it, really. Just being more violent.”

Wyatt’s continued ascension will be an important factor when it comes to the Packers getting after the quarterback with more regularity–something that is a must this season. While on paper, they were top 10 in sacks and around the middle of the pack in pressures, the defensive front was aided by Jeff Hafley dialing up blitzes and simulated pressures regularly, along with stuffing the stat sheet against lesser opponents.

So perhaps a more accurate portrayal of the defensive front’s performance last season in regards to getting after the quarterback is ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric, which had the Packers ranked 26th.

“Man, just staying healthy and just staying hungry and keep building on what he’s been building on,” Kenny Clark said of Wyatt. “I think if he didn’t get hurt, I think just what he was going to do was going to be huge. He was making a lot of plays and all that kind of stuff, so just keeping that same mentality, keep working, keep grinding and yeah just keep on improving and he’ll be all right.”

The Packers picked up Wyatt’s fifth-year option for the 2026 season earlier this offseason, illustrating the belief that the team has in him to continue making progress.

Of course, the overall success of the pass rush and defense as a whole doesn’t solely fall on Wyatt’s shoulders, but he will play an important role in determining how high the ceiling is for these units. Performing at the level he did early on in 2024 and late in the year for a full season can come with a massive impact, not to mention that when there is a steady push from the interior defensive line, every other defender on the field benefits from that player’s presence with the pressure they generate, the mismatches they create, and the blockers they occupy.

“It’s crazy how fast this goes,” Matt LaFleur said of Wyatt entering his fourth NFL season. “I think he’s had some moments where he’s been outstanding, and I think we can build on that. I think he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do, throughout the course of the offseason. I think he’s in a much better place, and I think that he’ll be ready to go. Again, another guy that I expect to go out there and play his best ball going into Year Four.”

With confidence growing after flashing playmaking abilities last season, Packers’ CB Carrington Valentine focused on consistency in 2025

Paul Bretl | 6/18/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Questions around the cornerback position for the Packers have lingered all offseason. Those unknowns have now grown with the team releasing Jaire Alexander. However, internally, GM Brian Gutekunst remains bullish on this unit.

“I feel really good, really good,” Gutekunst said on Day 1 of minicamp. “Obviously the three guys combined have about 95 starts under their belt. I feel really good about that. We’ve got some young guys I’m really interested to see compete for those kind of final roster spots, but no, I’m excited about where that group is.

“The three guys have proven their ability in this league. I like their makeup, their toughness, their ability to play, their versatility. So I’m excited about that group.”

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Contributing to that confidence is the play of Carrington Valentine over the second half of last season and the expectations that the team has for him as he enters his third NFL season.

Navigating injuries and, early on in the season, a crowded cornerback room, Valentine’s playing time was sporadic at times. However, during the second half of the season, he seized control of the starting cornerback role opposite of Keisean Nixon.

Valentine, like the rest of the Packers’ secondary, did well to limit big plays. In four of Green Bay’s final six games, he allowed fewer than 10 yards per reception. Out of 71 eligible cornerbacks from Week 14 through the Wildcard round, Valentine ranked 29th in yards per catch allowed and was 10th in opposing passer rating.

However, what mostly caught everyone’s attention during that span of games was Valentine’s ball production. His two interceptions in that stretch were tied for the most among cornerbacks, and only four cornerbacks generated more total interceptions and pass breakups than Valentine did.

“I just felt like, when you go get the ball out the air, you kind of start taking the ball out the air, stuff like that, and then you start playing at that level and you know that there’s some more,” Valentine said during minicamp. “I felt like it was just scratching the surface. I just feel like going into the offseason, I’m ready to put that all together.”

Last offseason, as Valentine embarked on his second NFL season, one of the challenges that head coach Matt LaFleur issued him was to put on more weight. Valentine accepted and went from playing in the 180s during his rookie year to being nearly 200 pounds in Year 2.

This time around, Valentine’s offseason routine was by and large the same, but included some minor tweaks, such as focusing on distributing some of his weight elsewhere, specifically his legs, where he wanted “more power on the ground.”

Coming off a strong finish to the 2024 season, the next step for Valentine, as he put it, is consistency. That was his “big word” this offseason. While he flashed his big play abilities and, overall, limited yards after the catch, quarterbacks were very efficient when targeting Valentine last season, completing 81.8% of their passes. That down-in and down-out consistency, when paired with his ball production and limiting big plays, can help Valentine get to that next level.

“He’s been extremely coachable, high-character guy,” LaFleur said of Valentine. “Bust his butt every day, has approached it the right way. So I’m excited for him. I think he continues to prove and the more he plays, the better he gets. So I’m excited for him.”

Helping Valentine take that next step will be the continuity of being in Jeff Hafley’s system for a second year. While at this time last offseason, the defensive scheme was being learned and implemented, this offseason the defense has been able to “fine tune” the little things, as Valentine described.

With that experience that was gained last season comes comfort, and not only in knowing the individual responsibilities, but the responsibilities of your teammates, along with how offenses will want to attack you.

During minicamp, Kiesean Nixon and Nate Hobbs manned the outside cornerback positions when the Packers were in their base 4-3 defense. When in nickel, we at times saw Hobbs move inside, which allowed Valentine to then slide in and fill that starting outside role opposite of Nixon.

Versatility is one of the hallmark traits of this Packers’ secondary. That then brings flexibility for Hafley as he puts together his weekly game plans, which can be very tailored to who the opponent is. So with that, Valentine’s playing time from week to week could be quite fluid.

Since arriving in Green Bay as a seventh-round draft pick in 2023, Valentine has always believed in himself and his abilities. The Packers organization has quickly done so as well and with each season, game, and rep that passes, Valentine’s confidence continues to grow.

“Obviously when you make plays and stuff like that, you’re confidence keeps going up in the room,” Valentine said. “You also have sometimes you get humbled a little bit, but you never lose it. It’s just a part of you. It’s always going to be a part of me. I’m never going to change. I’m always going to be myself.”

After navigating injuries, Packers RB MarShawn Lloyd is healthy and ready for what’s next

Paul Bretl | 6/16/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — From a football sense, if it could have gone wrong for Packers’ running back MarShawn Lloyd during his rookie season, it probably did.

Injuries and setbacks were an unfortunate part of Lloyd’s first NFL season, who was limited to one regular-season appearance in Week 2 and just 10 total snaps.

“Last year was a learning experience,” said Lloyd following a minicamp practice. “Just learn from my mistakes and just getting better each and every day. I wouldn’t say it was a bad thing. I believe everything happens for a reason. So it definitely grew me up in a way.”

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Lloyd’s start to training camp was delayed due to a hip injury. A hamstring in the Packers’ preseason opener would keep him sidelined until Week 2 of the regular season, at which point he suffered a foot injury against Indianapolis.

That would land him on injured reserve. Then, as Lloyd was working his way back, he was hit by appendicitis. In his recovery from that, Lloyd would tweak his hamstring, which ended his season. 

“When I got the appendicitis, it’s just like, what’s next?” said Lloyd. “What’s next mentality, and you gotta have that. Something bad happens, just gotta have the what’s next mentality, what you can do to get better.

“Yeah, I was hurt, but what can you do to get better mentally and do better with my plays. So I used that time to really get deep into the plays where they know my playbook, so when it’s my time, it’s my time.”

To help avoid the soft tissue injuries that Lloyd experienced during his rookie year, like Christian Watson did last offseason, Lloyd spent some time at UW-Madison late last season, and he has another “post-test” visit upcoming.

During Lloyd’s original visit, it was a full five hours doing a variety of exercises to find any“deficiencies,” or areas that need to be strengthened.

“The visit, it taught me to know what was going on because we found what was going on,” said Lloyd. “We attacked it in different ways because it was trying to figure out exactly what was going on and going there actually helped a lot.”

Lloyd then continued: “I’m built a little different. I gotta know what exercises to do. Everyone’s different. Some people strong on one side, stronger the other side. You gotta do whatever you gotta do to get everything pretty even.”

Helping Lloyd navigate the ups and downs that came in his first NFL season was Josh Jacobs. The two would drive over from Lambeau Field to the Don Hutson Center each day for practice, with Jacobs making sure that Lloyd “stayed in it,” as he described it, by providing pointers along the way and taking the rookie under his wing.

But Lloyd also had some perspective as well. Despite all the setbacks he faced in 2024, none of them compared to having rehab from an ACL injury during his freshman year of college. He also used this as an opportunity to familiarize himself with the playbook and the other aspects of his game that he was able to.

Due to the time that Lloyd missed, the Packers were ramping him up during the early portion of OTAs, but he has been at 100% “for some time now.” As practices progressed, Lloyd was working on the side of the field with the first team offense, along with Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks behind Josh Jacobs.

“Really just go have fun, go out there and just don’t worry about what no one else says,” Lloyd said of his mindset. “Just be who you are. I know what I’m capable of. I’m just excited to see what turns out.”

The Packers selected Lloyd in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft, and he brings something “different,” as GM Brian Gutekunst put it, than the other running backs on the roster. Lloyd measures in at 5-9 – 220 pounds and has terrific burst–running in the 4.4s–and change of direction ability that is easily spotted on the practice field when the ball is in his hands.

Matt LaFleur views Lloyd as a back who can bring a change of pace to the running back position with his speed and also be someone who can impact the passing game as well, giving the Packers a “matchup nightmare,” as LaFleur called him during the offseason, out of the backfield.

There are a variety of ways that Lloyd could potentially impact a game, but step No. 1 is proving that he can.

“He’s different in a lot of ways from some of the other guys,” Matt LaFleur said of Lloyd during minicamp. “He definitely has some great explosiveness and could be a really valuable weapon out of the backfield, I think. We saw that when he was healthy.

“He’s a guy that’s got to prove it. He’s got to be able to go out there, and it’s certainly not for a lack of effort. This guy, he spent the majority of his offseason here, and he’s been at a much better place, I would say right now. I’m excited for him, but ultimately he’s got to prove it.”

With clear vision and specific focus, Packers LB Isaiah Simmons fully believes in Jeff Hafley’s plan for him

Paul Bretl | 6/12/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Versatility has been one of the hallmarks of Isaiah Simmons’ game since he was selected eighth overall in the 2020 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. At 6-4, 238 pounds with impressive athleticism, Simmons has played linebacker, nickel corner, and even some free safety during his NFL career.

As Simmons described after Thursday’s practice, that versatility has been a “gift and a curse.”

A free agent earlier this offseason, one of the things that drew Simmons to the Green Bay Packers was that the plan they had for him wasn’t to line him up all over the field and shoulder several different responsibilities right away. Now, maybe that comes down the road as he gets more acclimated to Jeff Hafley’s defense, but initially, Simmons has one sole focus: playing linebacker.

“I think really what I ran into most of my career is everybody wants me to do everything as opposed to letting me get really good at one thing first,” Simmons said after Thursday’s practice. “I fully believe in Haf’s plan. He’s letting me just lock in and learn a small portion first before we even think about expanding to anything else.

“That’s something I really appreciate because I never really had that opportunity to really just hone in on one position. It’s hard enough to get into the NFL let alone stay, as well as be effective at a position, so just being able to lock in on one thing and do that 1/11 every day, I mean that’s been I feel like huge for me.”

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As a former top 10 pick, Simmons’ career up to this point hasn’t played out as hoped when selected that high in the draft. Although he put up impressive numbers early on in his career, totaling over 200 tackles, four sacks, six forced fumbles, and seven passes defensed between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, he spent just three years with Arizona–the team that drafted him–and didn’t make it through his rookie deal before he was traded to the New York Giants in 2023. 

With the Cardinals, Simmons saw most of his playing time in his final season in 2022 come from the slot, where he was matched up against wide receivers, but he also saw snaps at safety, cornerback, and linebacker during his time there as well.

Then, over the last two seasons with New York, Simmons struggled to find consistent playing time and was on the field for fewer than 600 defensive snaps during that span, including only 181 in 2024, along with a modest 146 snaps coming on special teams.

Simmons made it clear that he wasn’t going to make excuses for how his career has played out up to this point. However, the constant movement from one position to the next early on, whether it be due to injuries or the need for improved play, didn’t quite allow him to find his footing and establish himself at any one spot either.

“There’s games where maybe I have like three snaps,” Simmons said of his time with the Giants, “and they be like kickoff, all touchbacks, you know what I’m saying. It’s just a lot of times where maybe I couldn’t put the pieces of the puzzle together on what things were happening. It was frustrating, but the only thing it did was, when the season ended, I looked at myself in the mirror and said, ‘This will never happen again.’

“At the end of the day, coaches make the decisions, but it’s up to me to make the decision hard for them. I vowed to myself that I would make the decision tough for every single coach in the future.”

Simmons joins an established Packers’ linebacker room. Quay Walker is entering his fourth NFL season, Edgerrin Cooper had a breakout rookie season, and the Packers re-signed Isaiah McDuffie this offseason, along with Ty’Ron Hopper–a third-round pick in 2024–still being in the mix as well.

During this week of minicamp practices, with Walker sidelined with an injury, Simmons has had the bulk of the snaps next to McDuffie and Cooper when the Packers are lined up in their base 4-3 defense. He’s played both the SAM and WILL positions. Then, when in nickel, McDuffie and Cooper have been the two linebackers on the field.

It’s far too early to say where Simmons stands on the linebacker depth chart, other than that he is behind Walker, Cooper, and McDuffie. While he saw the bulk of the starting snaps over Hopper during minicamp, we saw Hopper getting a lot of those reps during OTAs. Also, while both are linebackers at the end of the day, Hopper has been the MIKE, and that’s not a role that Simmons has been asked to fill.

Simmons wasn’t going to get into the schematic details, but when meeting with the Packers as a free agent, he recalled that the Packers described a very specific plan when it came to what role they wanted him to potentially fill on defense. Even in a linebacker room that is returning just about everyone, Simmons’ experience and skill set allows him to bring something different to this position group.

“Ultimately, my vision is just to be able to come in and help the guys in any way because as everybody knows, most people return for the team, so really what everyone was looking for here was just the few key pieces they would need to maybe surpass some of the hiccups that came about last year,”

“And with this being a young team, just like my veteran experience is one thing that will definitely be able to help, just maybe give my knowledge to some of the younger guys that haven’t maybe had as many snaps or whatever it may be. I just feel like that as well as my versatility, my speed, just being able to play sideline to sideline, hit, run, pass. I just feel like that will be able to be implemented and used in many different forms.”

Just like it’s way too early to say where Simmons might fall on the linebacker depth chart, or if he’s even going to make the initial 53-man roster, we don’t know what role he could potentially fill on defense either, other than being a backup off the bench. But with his athleticism, size, and coverage experience, often being matched up against wideouts, Simmons could carve out a niche role during obvious passing situations, where he can help patrol the middle of the field, and match up with tight ends or running backs.

“Every coordinator, they run their defenses different, have different nuances within their game, and I just feel like Haf’s defense fits me better just with how my skill type was, more so like how I played in college,” Simmons said. “He was in college recently, so that could be a part of it. But I just like his vision his creativity. I feel like I need to be with a guy who’s creative. So, kudos to him for that.”

Simmons’ ability to contribute and add a different skill set doesn’t only factor in on defense, but on special teams as well. One example of this came in practice when he was lined up as a flier, tasked with getting downfield on the punt coverage unit to limit any return opportunities.

On this one specific rep, Simmons was facing a double-team, with two jammers on him. He broke free from the initial contact and then used his speed and strength to work around the jammers and make his way downfield, where a fair catch was called by the returner.

Particularly at the linebacker position, one that is often featured on special teams, Simmons will have to continue to showcase that he can make an impact in this phase and do so on a variety of units in order to help him earn a roster spot.

“Every day, we can be best friends but, at the end of the day, you’ve got to know that we’re competing. That’s going to do nothing but make us better, whoever the guys that are going to be out there. Like I said, I’m just here to make the decision tough for the coaches because, ultimately, that’s going to be make the team better.

“Whatever happens, happens with that. If it comes to where Haf wants to figure something out to get us all going, then that’s up to them. I’m just coming in here to work every day and work my ass off.”

Joining the Packers on a one-year deal worth $1.17 million, Simmons is not a lock to make the final roster. Instead, in whatever capacity he can, Simmons will have to carve out a role, whether that be as the third linebacker, the fifth linebacker, or on special teams.

But with a clear vision established by Hafley for what he wants Simmons to do and be on this Packers team, Simmons is ready to compete, help however he can, and focus his energy on only playing linebacker.

Packers’ WR Mecole Hardman embracing competition as he attempts to carve out role on offense or special teams

Paul Bretl | 6/11/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — During the Packers’ two minicamp practices up to this point, the most competitive portions, without question, have been the two-minute drills to end each day. And in each of those practices, with the offense’s back up against the wall, Mecole Hardman has come up with the game-tying or go-ahead touchdown.

“Just trying to get better every day,” Hardman said after Wednesday’s practice. “Trying to build chemistry throughout the team, no matter who’s at quarterback. Just want to make plays, learn the offense, and try to get better every day and try to put good things on film.”

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During Tuesday’s two-minute drill, Hardman spent some time working with the third team offense and quarterback Sean Clifford. The situation was that the offense was down seven with 1:25 left on the clock and the ball at their own 30-yard line.

After a rocky start to that possession, Clifford helped lead the offense down the field. With the ball deep in the opponent’s territory, Clifford was “sacked” by James Ester, and the clock continued to run as the offense made a mad dash to the line of scrimmage. Clifford then snapped the ball with a second left, and as pressure closed in, he scrambled back and to his left to buy time before heaving the ball into the end zone, where Hardman made a one-handed grab while in a group of defenders.

Fast forward to the end of Wednesday’s practice, and Hardman was with the first team offense. Following a “sack” by Xavier McKinney on second down and a pass breakup by Carrington Valentine on third down, the Packers’ offense faced a 4th and 15 backed up well inside their own territory.

With the defense in control and about to win the drill, Love took the snap, felt quick pressure from Lukas Van Ness to his left, and threw the ball downfield as his momentum carried him backwards. Running full speed with cornerback Gregory Junior and safety Evan Williams trailing him was Hardman, who hauled in the 70-plus-yard touchdown reception to give the offense the lead.

“I like the deep ball better, man,” Hardman said. “There’s just something about catching a long pass and scoring. The one-hander was nice, too, but I like the deep ball.”

Hardman was signed in mid-March by the Packers as a free agent. A former second-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft out of Georgia, up to this point in his career, Hardman had spent the majority of his career in Kansas City, outside of the first half of the 2023 season, when he was with the New York Jets, before being traded back to the Chiefs that same year.

Over the past two seasons, Hardman has played a smaller role in the Chiefs’ offense, totaling 32 receptions on 43 targets at 8.4 yards per catch. He did miss some time this past season due to injury.

His best season came in 2021 when Hardman caught 67 passes for 814 yards with three scores. During his time with the Chiefs, Hardman has plenty of big-game experience, including catching the game-winning touchdown in the 2023 Super Bowl.

“I was definitely productive first three years and then end up getting hurt,” Hardman said. “And I’m just trying to come back and get back right to where I was, and I think this is a place I can actually get back to be productive.

“But then again it’s still to be shown. You still gotta make the team, still gotta find out a role and get that role. All in all, the end goal is to win the championship. As me, I’m the type of guy, whatever you need me to do I’m going to do, and whatever I need to do, I’m going to help out wherever it’s needed to be.”

Hardman joins a very crowded Packers’ wide receiver room, especially after the NFL draft, where two more additions were made in the first and third rounds, when the team selected Matthew Golden and Savion Williams.

It’s still too early to know exactly where Hardman could fit within this unit. But skill set-wise, and on paper, running a 4.33 coming out of Georgia, Hardman adds more speed, as well as versatility, to this Packers’ offense.

Able to line up inside and out, Hardman could potentially provide the offense with the all-important vertical presence while Christian Watson is sidelined. That speed and ability to make defenders miss also allows for Matt LaFleur to get him the ball closer to the line of scrimmage, whether that be behind the line of scrimmage on designed touches or quick passes in space where his YAC ability can take over.

“Versatility,” said Hardman about what he brings to this Packers team. “I can play all three positions – X, Z, F, slot. From that standpoint, I can do a lot. Bring speed to the offense, as well, whether it’s the gadget plays or the deep balls down the field, the screen game, YAC, I think I do bring into my game. I’ve shown that over the years that once you get the ball in my hands, I can make things happen.”

In addition to any possible contributions on offense, Hardman has shown that he can impact the game as a return man. With it being a crowded wide receiver room as is, finding playing time on offense, let alone getting targets, may not come easily.

However, as a returner, that gives Hardman a path when it comes to contributing, and it gives him a greater chance at making the final 53-man roster. As the old saying goes, the more you can do.

As a rookie in 2019, Hardman was a second-team All-Pro return man, handling 40 kickoff attempts that season, along with 20 punt return attempts as well. That year, Hardman ranked 10th in average yards per kick return and was one of six players with a touchdown. While on punts, Hardman ranked 13th out of 42 eligible players in yards per return attempt.

More recently, during the 2024 season, Hardman had five kick return attempts and averaged 26.4 yards per return. He also had 20 punt return attempts, averaging 10.2 yards per return. For some context, Hardman ranked 37th in yards per kick return league-wide and 17th in yards per punt attempt out of 45 eligible return men, per PFF.

“It’s definitely always part of my game,” Hardman said of his return abilities. “I think returning is a unique skill. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to return on some of the big stages and some of the biggest games. When it comes to that, I love that part of it. I’m open to everything – kickoff return, punt return.

“If that’s something that they would love me to be a part of, I’d love to be a part of it, as well, and I’ll come in with that mindset of trying to do that on special teams as well as trying to carve out a role in the receiver room, as well. The more you can do, the better.”

Through the four total OTA and minicamp practices that have been open to the media, Hardman has been rotated in with Jordan Love and the first team offense, while the majority of his snaps have come with the second team. On the return unit, Hardman, Jayden Reed, Keisean Nixon, and Matthew Golden are all seeing regular attempts to field punts during practice.

After signing with the Packers for a one-year, $1.17 million deal, Hardman is far from a roster lock. If the Packers were to cut him, the only dead cap they would take on would be the $150,000 signing bonus that was guaranteed.

Whether it be at receiver or as a return man, the Packers aren’t lacking options when it comes to how they construct their final roster and filling those roles. As described, there are a few different ways that Hardman can make an impact on this Packers team and roles he can potentially fill, but the competition when it comes to earning those opportunities, and ultimately a roster spot, will be heavy.

“I’m all for it,” Hardman said of the competition at wide receiver. “It brings different elements to the room, it brings competition to the room. I’ve been in the league seven years, so I’ve never been the type to shy away from competition. Myself, I’ve been in stacked rooms before. The competition makes everything great. Our job as receivers is to make it hard for the coaches to make a decision. All in all, I love the competition that it brings.”

Bo Melton’s appearance at CB for the Packers surprised everyone, including his family

Paul Bretl | 6/11/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Bo Melton going through cornerback drills and then playing some cornerback during the team portion of Tuesday’s minicamp practice was a surprise to just about everyone, including his own family.

Melton’s parents had no idea, and neither did his brother Max, a cornerback, who was a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals.

“He kind of was shocked,” Melton said of Max’s reaction after Wednesday’s practice. “I didn’t tell him. So when he saw it, he called me and was like, ‘What the hell are you doing?’ I didn’t tell him, just because I’ve been playing wideout. It’s just something that came up. I want to give it a shot.”

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Even within the building, very few knew that the plan on Tuesday was for Melton to go through cornerback drills and take some cornerback snaps during the team portion of practice. As Carrington Valentine recalled, he first learned about Melton taking cornerback snaps when he was on the practice field, and Melton joined the cornerbacks for the one-line drill and was backpedaling.

The decision to have Melton play some cornerback during minicamp happened last Thursday when OTAs were wrapping up and Matt LaFleur approached Melton with this idea. However, while this is the first time that we are seeing Melton on the practice field at cornerback, the conversation between him and LaFleur last week wasn’t the first one they’ve had about playing the cornerback position.

Melton joined the Packers late in the 2022 season after being signed to the 53-man roster after being on the Seattle practice squad originally during his rookie year. In 2023, Melton began the season on the Packers’ practice squad, and it was at that time that LaFleur originally approached Melton about playing some cornerback, although nothing ever came from those conversations.

This idea that LaFleur had wasn’t sparked by what Melton had showcased while playing the receiver position, but rather how he looked and performed on special teams.

“It’s something that Matt was talking about,” said Melton, “something that off special teams, he’d seen me on – we call it CAT, punt return – he saw me at corner and how I move and said, ‘Let’s try you out.’”

Melton played both wide receiver and cornerback in high school and originally was set to play cornerback when he arrived at Rutgers before switching to receiver very early on in his career.

So, Melton does have a foundation to pull from at the cornerback position. He also brings a unique perspective to the defensive side of the ball with his experience as a wide receiver and his understanding of routes and offensive tendencies.

“I like it because I know concepts. I know routes,” Melton said. “When I see certain stems and certain things, the nature of jumping routes. It was kind of fun the last couple of days, I’m going to joke with my brother today and be like, ‘Yeah, I’m doing a little something.’ That’s the part I do like about playing corner. Tackling and stuff like that, I do play gunner, so tackling in the open field and stuff like that, I’ve been doing it for a little bit.”

With that said, and as Melton acknowledged, playing cornerback at the NFL level is very different than any past experiences that he has had. In addition to making sure that he’s playing with the proper fundamentals and technique, he’s also learning a second playbook and the terminology on that side of the ball as well.

Melton has spent additional time meeting with defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley to help facilitate the transition, but also part of this equation is trial by fire and simply going out to the practice field to go through the drills and get as many reps as he can.

“I feel like it was pretty good,” Melton said of his performance at cornerback. “It just felt natural, not to say anything, going on the defensive side of the ball, the movement, the skill of playing a skill position just felt natural. That’s the most I can say about it. Going out there, it felt good to do that.”

While this is an unusual situation, to see a player taking reps with the first team offense, throw a penny on, and then take reps with the first team defense, Melton made it clear multiple times that he is still a wide receiver.

As Melton put it, he is a “team-first guy” and will do whatever he can to help the Packers win. But, when it comes to playing cornerback at this point, nothing is set in stone. When the team breaks following minicamp, Melton will continue to work out at wide receiver on his own, and see what comes of it at the cornerback position when training camp arrives.

“So right now it’s just a feel thing right now,” said Melton. “I still don’t know if it’s going to be true or not. Coach Matt, we’ll figure that out. When I meet with Coach, we’ll see what’s going on. Right now I’m just going to go train for wideout. I feel like that’s where I thrive at, that’s where I make plays at. And defense, if it comes, it comes. And we’ll see.”

Missed time and contract at root of Packers’ decision to move on from CB Jaire Alexander

Paul Bretl | 6/10/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — After releasing cornerback Jaire Alexander on Monday, Packers’ general manager Brian Gutekunst met with reporters during Tuesday’s minicamp practice to answer questions about the roster move.

“Really appreciative of what Jaire gave our organization,” Gutekunst began by saying. “Obviously he was a great player. Always tough to see those guys move on, but it’s kind of part of the business. We wish him well. He’ll be missed.”

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While Alexander not being a member of the Packers for the 2025 season was always the expected outcome, it obviously took some time to get to this point. But Gutekunst’s reasoning behind this ultimate decision seemed to be pretty straightforward: Alexander’s contract value relative to the number of games he had played in recent seasons didn’t align.

Over the last four seasons, Alexander has appeared in only 34 out of a possible 68 games during that span. This includes playing in just seven games in each of the last two seasons. But contract-wise, Alexander was due a base salary of $16.15 million this season, and his cap hit of $24.63 million was the third-largest on the team.

“I think over the last four years, there’s been a lot of games missed,” Gutekunst said. “I just think for what that amount of money is, I think that’s a lot to pay for a guy who hasn’t been able to get on the field. Again, it’s not his fault. It’s just something that kind of transpired, so we just kind of were looking for something different.”

When on the field, Alexander has still played at a high level. During the 2020 and 2022 seasons, he was an All-Pro. Before suffering a knee injury in Week 8 of last season against Jacksonville, Alexander had allowed a completion rate of just 56% on 25 targets with a pick-six and three pass breakups. 

Gutekunst and the Packers did entertain the idea of trading Alexander earlier this offseason, but nothing ever came to fruition. That largely goes back to Alexander’s deal that the new team would have to inherit and the uncertainty around his availability.

It was also reported by The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman that the Packers had offered to restructure Alexander’s deal, but the two sides were unable to agree to terms, and it’s not known how much negotiating took place.

By releasing Alexander, he will leave behind a $17.04 million dead cap hit that the Packers will have to absorb. According to Tom Silverstein, Green Bay has chosen to take on that entire dead cap amount this season, rather than spreading the dead cap hit out between the 2025 and 2026 seasons, so Alexander’s contract will not be on the books next season, providing the Packers with added cap flexibility at that time.

“I think as we went through it, we went through a lot of different angles that might be right for the club, and this is kind of where we ended up,” Gutekunst said. “Again, it was no bad blood. It was just kind of one of those things where over the last couple years, it hasn’t worked out exactly like we’d wanted to, through no fault of anybody, just the injuries kind of took some games away from him.”

Without Alexander, the Packers have their share of unknowns at the cornerback position. At the top of the depth chart is Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, and Carrington Valentine. While beyond that trio, there is very little experience.

Of the other seven cornerbacks on the roster, Isaiah Dunn’s 116 career defensive snaps are the fourth-most on the team, and none of those seven cornerbacks played an NFL snap in 2024. But even with that being the case, as Gutekunst’s offseason moves–or lack thereof–illustrate, he remains bullish in this group.

“Those guys have got to come through, right?,” Gutekunst said of the cornerback room. “I think that’s like every team. Some guys don’t even have two. We’ve got three really good starting corners that we really like quite a bit. Again, I think we have more depth than most. But in those back, some of those guys are young guys who haven’t played a lot of football, but that’s usually the case. I’m excited to see, get those guys opportunities and see what they can do.”

Packers WR Bo Melton gets opportunity to play CB during first minicamp practice

Paul Bretl | 6/10/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — On Day 1 of Packers minicamp, there was a new face working out with the cornerback group during individual drills. And no, GM Brian Gutekunst didn’t make an addition; rather, it was wide receiver Bo Melton.

As practice unfolded and moved to the team portion, Melton would play on both sides of the football. Wearing his white jersey when with the offense as a wide receiver, and then quickly throwing on a green penny when he moved to the cornerback position.

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At least for today’s practice, Melton was the fourth Packers’ cornerback, playing behind Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, and Carrington Valentine. When Nixon and Hobbs weren’t on the field, it was Valentine and Melton who lined up outside. We saw Melton matched up with Matthew Golden at one point and in a position to make a “tackle” on Tucker Kraft.

“I think the first thing you always look at from a corner is, can they play man-to-man?” Matt LaFleur said after Tuesday’s practice. “But you need multiple people that can play man-to-man, so whether it’s safeties and backers, there’s always matchups that you’ve got to account for. But one of the first things you look at when you’re evaluating a guy is their ability to go out and play man coverage because that’s arguably the toughest thing to do.”

This is now the third practice that has been open to the media, and that fourth cornerback role has been rotated often up to this point. In the first OTA practice, it was Gregory Junior who filled that role. In OTA practice No. 2, it was Kamal Hadden, and today it was Melton’s job.

As Matt LaFleur mentioned, in part, this move for Melton was out of necessity with Jaire Alexander no longer on the team and Kalen King sidelined due to injury. But the team also believes that Melton has the versatility and skill set to play that position as well

“Obviously he’s real talented player,” LaFleur said. “And has produced. I just love everything about the guy. How he shows up every day ready to compete and give his best effort — matter of fact, I showed some clips of him in the team meeting this morning, just of what he does, and you can always expect a lot of great things when he’s, whatever it is he’s doing.”

Melton doesn’t have any cornerback experience in the NFL or even in college while at Rutgers. Instead, it was his play on special teams over the last two seasons, more so than what he’s done on offense, that played a key role in facilitating this move.

“I think it’s more, again his play on special teams, more so than maybe something we saw from the offensive side of the ball,” said LaFleur. “Again, you don’t have too many wideouts in this league that are as effective as he is on teams.”

Beyond Hobbs, Nixon, and Valentine, the Packers have very little experience on the cornerback depth chart. In fact, of the other seven cornerbacks on the roster, Isaiah Dunn’s 116 career defensive snaps are the fourth-most on the team, and none of those seven cornerbacks played an NFL snap in 2024.

“I would say it’s kind of a work in progress right now,” LaFleur said. “I mean, we don’t have pads on or anything like that. and there’s a lot of limitations in regards to what you can and can’t do, so I think there’s a lot of wait-and-see in terms of who are going to be the other guys. I think we know that three of those guys have gone out and played significant snaps, and then we’ve got of young guys that are just kind of unknown.”

Potentially, this could create an opportunity for Melton to fill some sort of role. All we know right now is that at a position group where teams typically roster five or six players on the 53-man, only three of those spots are currently accounted for.

However, having said that, this situation with Melton and playing some snaps at cornerback will remain fluid. Whether this is more of an experiment or if there’s something more to it will be uncovered once we get to training camp.

“I think it’s just kind of, it’s going to be pretty fluid, I would say” added LaFleur. “I kind of presented it to him and I know obviously there’s a lot of attention with (Travis) Hunter down there in Jacksonville with what he’s doing, so we just kind of presented it to him and he said he was up for the challenge.”

Keisean Nixon will do whatever Packers need, but he’s here to play outside cornerback

Paul Bretl | 6/9/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis.– If the Packers decide that Keisean Nixon continuing to return kickoffs is what’s best for the team, then he will continue to do that. “I’m always going to do what the team needs,” said Nixon after last Tuesday’s OTA practice.

However, after emerging last season as one of the defense’s top outside cornerback options, that is where Nixon wants to continue to prove that he can make the greatest impact on this Packers’ team.

“I’m here to work and show I am who I am and what I can do outside,” Nixon said. “I showed that last year and just complete my resume. Everything they’ve asked me to do, I did it at a high level whether it was just play kick return – I went All-Pro in that. I played nickel. I got paid at that. I’m here to play corner. That’s just what I want to do.”

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Nixon was the Packers’ starting nickel cornerback during the 2023 season. While he took some reps lined up outside during last summer, the nickel, again, was Nixon’s primary position throughout last offseason and through the first three games of the 2024 season.

But with injuries at the cornerback position and Jeff Hafley wanting to get Javon Bullard closer to the line of scrimmage, the Packers needed help outside, which led to Nixon seeing his first extensive playing time on the boundary in Week 4. From there, Nixon’s playing time outside increased into a full-time role.

When the Packers were facing injuries in the secondary, we saw Nixon back at the nickel for some games here and there, but for much of last season, he was one of their starting outside cornerbacks.

On the year, Nixon allowed a completion rate of 66% on 86 targets and held opponents to just 9.3 yards per catch with six pass breakups and an interception. Among cornerbacks who played at least 375 coverage snaps, only six had a lower yards per catch allowed than Nixon.

“Not really learn nothing about myself,” said Nixon. “I always knew what I was capable of doing. I just needed the opps to do it. Just me showing I am the type of player I say I am and show it on the field. I proved last year I can play inside/outside consistently against whoever’s the type guy on the other team.

“The confidence level for me is through the roof. Coach DA and Haf have put all the confidence in me to go out there and compete and show that I am who I am. Me knowing myself, I just know what God gave me, and I’m blessed to have that.”

As Hafley described last season, Nixon brings a level of physicality to the Packers’ cornerback spot and an aggressiveness to the run game from that position. As the season progressed and Nixon continued to get more reps outside, Hafley also noted how he continued to improve in man coverage situations.

Moving from the nickel to outside cornerback on the fly last season speaks to Nixon’s versatility. While both of those positions are considered cornerbacks, they are very different from one another. From the slot, the fight comes to you a lot more quickly, and there is less time to react, while on the outside, that player his often on an island.

This offseason, however, unlike the last two where Nixon was preparing to line up in the nickel, he’s been able to devote his time to the outside cornerback position, preparing specifically for that role.

“I think it hit my goals on a different level,” Nixon said. “At first I came into play nickel when I got here and then they moved me outside and I got comfortable. That’s what I came in the league as. I’ve never played nickel until I got to the Packers. I probably played like a game or two with the Raiders. Just honing on the technique of corner, that’s what I want to do.”

Through the two OTA practices that have been open to the media, Nixon has been a mainstay at the outside cornerback position, while we’ve seen Nate Hobbs play both outside and in the nickel, with Valentine coming off the bench.

With the recent news that the Packers are moving on from Jaire Alexander, the cornerback depth chart becomes much clearer, and at the top of it at the outside position is Nixon, continuing to prove that’s where he belongs.

“To his credit, he’s shown a lot of versatility, in terms of how we’ve used him in the past, being switching him from inside to outside,” said Matt LaFleur of Nixon. “So, I think he did a lot of great things last year, primarily playing on the outside.”

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