There’s a reason the initial 53-man roster is called the “initial roster.” After teams across the NFL trim their rosters down to 53 players, hundreds of players become available, allowing for the opportunity to claim players one day after the initial roster is created.
While only a few players are signed each year after final releases, waivers are one way teams try to improve. Just last year, the Green Bay Packers signed safety Zayne Anderson and tight end Ben Sims off waivers.
Four specific position groups seem notable for the Packers this year: quarterback, kicker, offensive line and long snapper.
Even though the Packers look like a real contender, general manager Brian Gutekunst’s roster is not perfect.
UPDATE: The Packers traded a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft to the Titans in exchange for quarterback Malik Willis.
The quarterback and kicker issues were evident early in training camp and only intensified in the three preseason games. Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt struggled behind Jordan Love, and neither Anders Carlson – who missed a 32-yard throw in the final preseason game – nor Greg Joseph were able to fully control the kicking competition.
At quarterback, the Packers could sign a veteran as a second option and bring Clifford or Pratt back to the practice squad as a quarterback development project. A stabilizing presence behind Love is important for a team that can’t afford to have its season ruined by a short-term quarterback absence.
At kicker, the Packers must decide whether any of the 12 or so kickers being released over the next two days are better than Carlson and Joseph, two inconsistent kickers whose accuracy rate hovered around 80 percent throughout training camp.
The other position to keep an eye on is the offensive line. The Packers have at least seven players on the offensive line, including Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, Zach Tom and rookies Jordan Morgan and Jacob Monk. If Andre Dillard (shoulder) is healthy, he’s a solid option as a backup offensive tackle, despite his struggles as a starter in Tennessee last season. After those eight, it’s hard to find a sure-fire option for the No. 9 spot. Royce Newman restructured his contract but struggled again this summer, while Kadeem Telfort, Travis Glover, Caleb Jones and Luke Tenuta all appear to need more development time and could use another year on the practice squad.
A long snapper is another possibility. Matt Orzech was able to outperform rookie Peter Bowden this summer, but his consistency has been unmatched since arriving in 2023, and the Packers may believe they can upgrade on the waiver list.
Tight end could be another potential position the Packers could bolster if Tyler Davis is injured or released. And running back can’t be ignored if the Packers believe AJ Dillon and MarShawn Lloyd will miss the start of the regular season.
