Packers 2025 regular season

[LouisEly]

Preseason is over.  First up is the Lions.

Lions had a lot of moving pieces in the offseason.  Two new coordinators, their All-Pro center retired after the draft leaving them very thin and inexperienced in the IOL,  and while Hutchinson is back, the rest of their DE rotation is nothing special.

Will Parsons be ready to play?  Will either team be ready to play?

[HarryDoyle]

I have no idea how you can prepare for a team with two new coordinators. Are there going to be some tweaks or changes in philosophy? How much football shape will Parsons be in? 

[OldHeidelberg]

Sounds like Parsons may play, probably not a lot of snaps with the Thursday coming up though. I would think they would ease him in slowly with such a large investment but these are big games. 

 

Every depth chart I see has Rhyan starting at RG and Morgan a backup. If that is true it surprises me they aren't getting Morgan in starting lineup.

[CheezWizHed]

I really hope Jenkins didn't catch Parson's back injury... 

[JosephC]

Any official announcement on who the starting nose tackle will be?  Fair to assume that it will be Colby Wooden at this point?

[CheezWizHed]

Packers.com has a bit of a hole (not to mention no update for Parsons).  I'd guess it will come later in the week as there is no motivation to update it now. 

[HarryDoyle]

2 hours ago, OldHeidelberg said:

Sounds like Parsons may play, probably not a lot of snaps with the Thursday coming up though. I would think they would ease him in slowly with such a large investment but these are big games. 

 

Every depth chart I see has Rhyan starting at RG and Morgan a backup. If that is true it surprises me they aren't getting Morgan in starting lineup.

Yeah, sounds like he will just be a third down specialist until he gets up to speed.

[JosephC]

19 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

Packers.com has a bit of a hole (not to mention no update for Parsons).  I'd guess it will come later in the week as there is no motivation to update it now. 

Updated this morning and it has Wyatt/Brooks/Brinson at one spot and Wooden/Stackhouse at the other DT spot.  

Using the listed weights on the Packer's website, average of the four starting defensive linemen is 276 pounds.  However, that is using 273 pounds as Wooden's weight, and I'm pretty sure that the Journal-Sentinel reported that Wooden was up to 286 pounds about 3 weeks ago (at least, I think that was the number).

 

[CheezWizHed]

1 hour ago, JosephC said:

Updated this morning and it has Wyatt/Brooks/Brinson at one spot and Wooden/Stackhouse at the other DT spot.  

Using the listed weights on the Packer's website, average of the four starting defensive linemen is 276 pounds.  However, that is using 273 pounds as Wooden's weight, and I'm pretty sure that the Journal-Sentinel reported that Wooden was up to 286 pounds about 3 weeks ago (at least, I think that was the number).

 

Yeah, I read somewhere that they haven't updated any of the weights since their rookie year.  One article had Wooden in the 290s... but certainly south of 300.  Add in that Walker is really bad at getting off blocks and this could be concerning.  I guess we weight and see... 

[BrewerFan]

On 9/2/2025 at 11:48 AM, JosephC said:

Any official announcement on who the starting nose tackle will be?  Fair to assume that it will be Colby Wooden at this point?

I've seen him listed as the other DT... but that doesn't make sense to me. His strength is not in playing the run. Wyatt is a 3 all day. Your starting DTs don't actually matter all that much, but your early down DTs do. I'd go with Stackhouse or....I guess Brooks over Wooden, but Wooden has put on about 20 pounds since his rookie year(still light at ~290).

I'd expect them to play a lot of 4-3 under with McDuffie over the TE and Williams up in the box more for run fits if Stackhouse ISN'T in there or whoever is, is getting moved off the LOS. 

And that's not because of Parsons. Parsons isn't a great run defender, but he's also not a bad one.  

[CheezWizHed]

20 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

I've seen him listed as the other DT... but that doesn't make sense to me. His strength is not in playing the run. Wyatt is a 3 all day. Your starting DTs don't actually matter all that much, but your early down DTs do. I'd go with Stackhouse or....I guess Brooks over Wooden, but Wooden has put on about 20 pounds since his rookie year(still light at ~290).

I'd expect them to play a lot of 4-3 under with McDuffie over the TE and Williams up in the box more for run fits if Stackhouse ISN'T in there or whoever is, is getting moved off the LOS. 

And that's not because of Parsons. Parsons isn't a great run defender, but he's also not a bad one.  

There seems to be growing press about Wooden's improvement this offseason.  I'm skeptical until I see it (given he is at 290lbs), but my guess is that we will see it. Frankly, he was on my "most likely former draft pick to be cut after TC" list this year... but it sounds like he made a big turnaround. 

I have to imagine they are playing a lot of 1-gap assignments?  Wooden doing a two gapper just doesn't seem logical.  And Stackhouse looked like he was moving backwards more than forwards in preseason. 😬

[BrewerFan]

On 9/4/2025 at 11:28 AM, CheezWizHed said:

There seems to be growing press about Wooden's improvement this offseason.  I'm skeptical until I see it (given he is at 290lbs), but my guess is that we will see it. Frankly, he was on my "most likely former draft pick to be cut after TC" list this year... but it sounds like he made a big turnaround. 

I have to imagine they are playing a lot of 1-gap assignments?  Wooden doing a two gapper just doesn't seem logical.  And Stackhouse looked like he was moving backwards more than forwards in preseason. 😬

I actually thought he'd looked pretty good when given snaps, but... he's not a good fit. I thought he was more of a hybrid DT/DE when they drafted him, but he got some pressure and looked alright...

But, I'm also probably a bit more... patient when it comes to young players. I hope for them to produce the first couple years, but until yr 3, I don't really expect mid to late rd picks to be regulars. 

 

ANYWAY.... we may have some issues against the run, I don't know, but what I do know is that in talking about the Eagles-Cowboys game, there was some discussion if Parsons would have made the difference.

2 stats stood out. 

1-When Kenny Clark was in, Philly averaged like 2.6 YPC. When he was out, it was 6.6

2-In Micah Parsons entire career, 4 times has a QB run for 100 yards. He's not great vs the run(though he isn't bad, that's a myth that needs to die, he's just not nearly as good  vs the run as he is vs the pass...so when he grades out similar to other elite edges, it's because his pass rush is that much better than almost everyone's)... 

Anyway, with his 4.39 40 speed and the way he goes after the QB, they do not scramble vs him like they do vs other edges. The way he can bend and keep his feet, it makes his 4.39 look a LOT-LOT faster than LVN or Gary's 4.58 40. The agility to stop rushing up field and pursue the QB is impressive(which most of us I'm sure assumed, but the highlight package they put together for this made it look that much better). 

[Sixtolezcano]

On 9/2/2025 at 12:30 PM, CheezWizHed said:

Packers.com has a bit of a hole (not to mention no update for Parsons).  I'd guess it will come later in the week as there is no motivation to update it now. 

Packers.com is a company website. Their policy has always been they will not publish anything that has not been officially sanctioned or released by the team. As the most recent example they didn’t report the Micah Parsons trade until it was released by the team. 

[Brian]

Love the Brewers but love the Packers also. 

[CheezWizHed]

8 hours ago, Sixtolezcano said:

Packers.com is a company website. Their policy has always been they will not publish anything that has not been officially sanctioned or released by the team. As the most recent example they didn’t report the Micah Parsons trade until it was released by the team. 

That was mainly why I went there... everywhere else was just speculation. 

[HarryDoyle]

 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Packers signed Christian Watson to 1 yr extension through 2026. Almost seems weird but I kind of get it. From the sound of things he is definitely going to play this year, and earlier than thought. If he looks good at all he would be as good as gone. 

This offense could be crazy good if he's a legitimate option. 

[OldHeidelberg]

22 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

Packers signed Christian Watson to 1 yr extension through 2026. Almost seems weird but I kind of get it. From the sound of things he is definitely going to play this year, and earlier than thought. If he looks good at all he would be as good as gone. 

This offense could be crazy good if he's a legitimate option. 

That is great news, means the Packers think he will return to form. Packers really buying into this SB window, there has been a big shift from the TT era for sure.

[BrewerFan]

1 hour ago, OldHeidelberg said:

That is great news, means the Packers think he will return to form. Packers really buying into this SB window, there has been a big shift from the TT era for sure.

This is HUGE. I didn't know what they'd do with him... but he's a LITTLE like Parsons in that when he's on the field, he opens things up for other players.

Obviously I'm not saying he's comparable talent wise, but defenses needs to put a safety over the top for him or he's going to run past them. This sets him up to get healthy, play a season, sign that big contract, hopefully in GB. 

Golden, Watson, Doubs, Reed, a Wicks who's reliable like Yr1, Kraft and Musgrave, Savion in a multi-faceted role like Cordelle Patterson. I love this deal for the Packers. 

[JosephC]

Hopefully a return to form by Watson is better than a 600 yard, 5 touchdown season which is what he's been.

I just find it interesting that the Packers said the two priorities were Tom and Walker, and a pretty good deal for Watson happens prior to Walker.

Almost have to think that Walker's agent probably went crazy and made something like a 4 year, 72 million dollar ask, and that sent Gutekunst in a different direction.

I do think the Watson deal basically forces Jenkins off the roster next year, but I think that has probably been the plan all along (even prior to the Parsons trade).

[CheezWizHed]

49 minutes ago, JosephC said:

Hopefully a return to form by Watson is better than a 600 yard, 5 touchdown season which is what he's been.

I just find it interesting that the Packers said the two priorities were Tom and Walker, and a pretty good deal for Watson happens prior to Walker.

Almost have to think that Walker's agent probably went crazy and made something like a 4 year, 72 million dollar ask, and that sent Gutekunst in a different direction.

I do think the Watson deal basically forces Jenkins off the roster next year, but I think that has probably been the plan all along (even prior to the Parsons trade).

If I was a betting man, I'd bet money on Tom getting a contract and Walker walking.  Morgan is ready to take the LT spot and you have to save money somewhere.  Walker is a good but not great LT. 

[OldHeidelberg]

5 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

If I was a betting man, I'd bet money on Tom getting a contract and Walker walking.  Morgan is ready to take the LT spot and you have to save money somewhere.  Walker is a good but not great LT. 

You are half right already and doubt you would get very good odds on the remaining half of that bet. 🙂

[JosephC]

Sorry, the Walker that Packers had talked about an extension with was Quay Walker, not Rasheed Walker.  My fault, I should have been more specific.  If there has been stuff in the media about the Packers discussing a deal with Rasheed Walker, that would be news I have not heard.

[BrewerFan]

11 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

If I was a betting man, I'd bet money on Tom getting a contract and Walker walking.  Morgan is ready to take the LT spot and you have to save money somewhere.  Walker is a good but not great LT. 

That and he has health questions with the knee(and by the way, might have slipped your mind, but Tom was extended for like 4/84 that could be 4/92).

I think the 4/100 is probably a pretty reasonable ask from Walker. I also think it's why they have been planning ahead on the OL and made the moves they've made make even more sense in hindsight.

I think Tom will be LT or RT. I don't think it matters. Where did Parsons lineup all week? 

So LT, RT... Morgan, Belton... who looked pretty damn good in a few snaps. Better than Morgan IMO, but once you get Morgan at one position(OT) I think he'll look quite a bit better. He's moving from OT, to LF, RG. I understand Tom got injured, but too much "positional versatility" in game is... not a good thing. 

It's gonna be really important that we find a way to hit on some of these picks this year. The following year I think we'll be looking at... probably a couple 3rd rd picks. I'll guess we get one from Walker(if Banks gets 77M in FA, Walker probably gets 100M on the scroll, but I'd guess 4/100 35GTD, but in reality closer to the 4/100, though...light on the GTD money. Doubs... again, these contracts are so wild, but he could get 15M AAV assuming the cap gets to 300M as I expect it to(as most expect it to despite modest projections year after year). 

You probably get a comp pick for Malik Willis.
Sean Rhyan...I'm starting to think he's back, but if not, he's become a surprisingly good Guard with positional versatility(C/G). 38th in pass blocking grades by PFF. About the same as Aaron Banks.

I'll say 2 3rds, and 2 5ths in 2026... unless we get Watson back this year and then trade Doubs in-season...which is possible to me if Wicks can catch the ball again, Watson comes back, Reed stays healthy, Kraft, Musgrave, Savion Williams... if they're healthy or looking good, I wouldn't rule out a trade for a 3rd rd pick to a team that really needs one. 

 

[BrewerFan]

7 hours ago, JosephC said:

Sorry, the Walker that Packers had talked about an extension with was Quay Walker, not Rasheed Walker.  My fault, I should have been more specific.  If there has been stuff in the media about the Packers discussing a deal with Rasheed Walker, that would be news I have not heard.

Yeah, I've seen Walker(Rasheed) reported a couple times and once it was "OT Rasheed Walker." I've been skeptical of all of those. Not with Tom, the draft capital and his injury risk. 

As for Jenkins, I think it forces Jenkins to either get cut or extended. You save 20M cutting him. Our Cap is still in good shape mostly.

FAs
Just a little aside, I think we're going to be really good, so chances are guys get a bit more money as you do coming from a good team. Not as much as you did in the 90s, but...still.

Doubs= I think he walks and gets a nice 4 year 60M deal. That's not really that much anymore. Cap will be 300M next year. Maybe more? I'm calling it, a QB gets 100M AAV by 2031. A couple years after the NFL opts out of it's TV deal of 11/111B  that they think is now under-market. 
Walker-24-28M a year, 40 GTD money
Rhyan-I'm starting to think we may keep him. He's become a good pass protector but his run blocking isn't as great. I think he'll become more complete and they will give him 5/75, 35SB. 
Quay Walker-I'd let him walk and I'm a MUCH bigger fan than most. Packers seem to like him as well. 4/55M 20M GTD? This is really early, but... they like him and the game should be easier for him. 
Malik Willis-He's worth 10M AAV.  Just can't be from us. A team like Washington where he fits the offense you have and can kinda fit what you've already got at QB. 
Kingsley Enagbare-Love Enagbare. 3/30 maybe? But LVN, Gary, Sorrell who I like, Oliver at some point(though not the same player). If he has 6-7 sacks, that's a pretty reasonable contract. Maybe I'm high on his deal, but... I think he'll get 4  years 
Brenton Cox Jr-Nice depth, gone. Maybe 1/4M
Malik Heath- Again, nice depth, probably signs with Minnesota with Brenton. 
John Fitzpatrick- Really nice #3 TD. Blocking, can catch the ball, just solid..a 3.5M a year type player I guess. 

Potential Cap Casualties
Jenkins ~25M cap hit ~5M cap savings-
*Kenny Clark was on this list and I kinda looked at next years cap with both being gone. It was like 31M cap hit and 17M in dead cap for Clark IIRC. 
Aaron Banks 24M Cap Hit 20M Dead Cap
Nate Hobbs 14M Cap Hit 13 Dead Cap

I don't think it's crazy to think they could move off Banks or Hobbs if they don't have a good year or are injured. I think it's very unlikely, but our big FA signings both came with some risk...and relatively low GTD money. It'd have to be pretty bad, but... they're carrying 55M in dead cap again. 

Jenkins, I could see a 2 year 34M extension... but that's going to depend on how confident they are in their depth and of course how he looks at center. 

Right now it's going to be Morgan/Banks/Monks/Belton/Tom in a year from now based on what you'd expect. 

 

Extension candidates- Take a page from Jerry Jones and...do the opposite

-Tucker Kraft-I think they have to keep him. Brings that attitude
-Luke Musgrave- I don't know what he is yet. I know he's a great athlete, but...just hasn't put it together.
-Wicks-I love Wicks, but you're going to have to give somewhere. He reminds me of Adams so much though.
-Jayden Reed-He's been a core player, the Jones fracture is a big concern and I think this is a big part of why he's playing through it.
-Colby Wooden-...I mean, it's one week, but...he looked REAL important
-Wyatt...He'll be 28 when he's due to be a FA 
-Watson-He's signed through next year, but this reminds me of the Love deal going into his 5th year. 
-Carrington Valentine- Right now he looks like our #1 CB...

This is when it gets REALLY touch. If you can get guys like Reed, Wicks for 4/60 type extensions, you do it, but maybe a bit of a luxury. 

 

We could keep literally everyone... and then when Jordan Love is 33, be in the situation the Saints started to get into near the ends of Brees and that's taken on a life of it's own and they are going to have 300M in just DEAD cap from 2024-2026 and they're still projected to be ~16M over the 2026 cap...and that's with Ryan Ramzcek retiring and saving them a lot of money. 

 

So they can play with the cap...and if you win, it's worth it, but if you get too far, you're going to be way over the cap without a couple years of 1st rd picks. So they have to be smart, but it's a fine line. But getting out and signing guys early is almost always smarter. Zach Tom, again, he'd have probably been one of the top FA's if we hadn't re-signed him. So that much more important they keep developing talent and hitting on the picks they do have left. 

 

We'll let Russ Ball figure this out, but I'll enjoy them while they are here...