The Green Bay Packers added eight new pieces to the roster via the draft, but it doesn't mean the Week 1 roster is ready. On Monday night, they agreed with veteran linebacker Isaiah Simmons, and it's not impossible to think that there is more to come.
Cornerback in particular is a significant need that wasn't addressed until the seventh round, and not necessarily by design.
"I don't really go in there with those kinds of priorities. We build our board and we try to stay true to our evaluations of it. And then we let the board come to us," general manager Brian Gutekunst said after the draft was over. "Every draft class is a little bit different. It wasn't something we were gonna chase. It's important to us. We feel good about our group right now, I feel the guys we have in that room got some pelts on the wall, so to speak."
Despite Gutekunst's position, it would make sense to add pieces—especially if Jaire Alexander is actually traded or released. There are also other options still in free agency to make the roster better, and building a team is a 365-day process.
CB Kendall Fuller
Fuller is 30 and missed time last year with injuries, which is why the Miami Dolphins decided to cut him. But he played 52% of the defensive snaps and did it as a pretty good level, with five pass breakups, an interception, and allowing a 92.8 passer rating when targeted. He's experienced and plays mostly as an outside corner.
CB Rasul Douglas
I don't need to tell who Rasul is, even though the Packers would probably get a different version of him. First, he will be 31 by the start of the regular season. Second, Green Bay now plays a new defensive scheme under Jeff Hafley, and the cornerback was a good fit in Joe Barry's style. Last but not least, Douglas did show some signs of regression last year, and that's ultimately why the Buffalo Bills did not re-sign him. After allowing a passer rating when targeted below 90 for three consecutive years, Rasul's number in 2024 was 123.7. He also committed nine penalties.
He is a good locker room presence and for the right price, it could make sense. Historically, though, Gutekunst isn't high on bringing players back.
CB Asante Samuel Jr.
Samuel is, no doubt, the cornerback with the highest ceiling in free agency. He's still only 25 and had a legit good season in 2023. But injuries prevented him from keeping the same level, and there are some concerns about his status—which is why he's still unsigned.
QB Desmond Ridder
Moving to other positions, the Packers can create a competition for the QB3 job, because Malik Willis is entering the final year of his contract and can go elsewhere in 2026 trying to be a starter. Ridder has starting experience for the Atlanta Falcons, and while his performance wasn't great, he showed more than enough to be a viable backup—he played better for the Falcons than Willis did for the Tennessee Titans, albeit under better circumstances. Last year, he spent some time with the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad before being signed by the Las Vegas Raiders, where he started a game.
RB J.K. Dobbins
Dobbins is 26 and offers a relatively high ceiling too. Again, the big problem for him is the injuries, but he was able to play 13 games for the Los Angeles Chargers last year and had some sort of resurgence with Jim Harbaugh. He finished the season with 1,058 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns, both career highs for him in the NFL. With the Packers, he wouldn't need to carry the load, which is good for his health. The Packers have a strong depth, but Dobbins would probably compete for a roster spot with Chris Brooks.
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