Packers backup QB Kirk Cousins? Seven veterans who could fit in Green Bay

Free company has quieted, however roster churning by no means actually stops.

It’s a 365-day train for Green Bay Packers basic supervisor Brian Gutekunst and his 31 counterparts across the league, even because the 2026 draft sits lower than one month away.

While most marquee names have discovered houses, new or previous, there may be loads of high quality nonetheless on the open market with NFL executives and coaches set to descend upon Phoenix, Ariz., subsequent week for the league’s annual assembly.

Here are seven veteran gamers who could nonetheless fit with the Packers as they give the impression of being to fine-tune their roster.

Jadeveon Clowney, Edge

The Packers are most likely set at defensive finish/exterior linebacker (we do not know precisely what the place might be referred to as underneath new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon), however perhaps Gutekunst needs so as to add a veteran as he did with defensive deal with Javon Hargrave. After buying and selling Rashan Gary and letting Kingsley Enagbare stroll, Green Bay’s depth behind Micah Parsons consists of Lukas Van Ness, the 2023 first-round decide but to really get away, 2025 Day 3 picks Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver, and Brenton Cox Jr, who had 4 sacks in seven video games in 2024 however missed the vast majority of final season with an damage. If Parsons misses the primary couple of video games of the season, can that group maintain down the fort? And even when Parsons is again, does Gutekunst belief the others to carry out effectively sufficient for the Packers to be thought of a authentic Super Bowl contender?

As Daniel Popper notes in his free-agent rankingsClowney remains to be a viable No. 2 edge defender after a 2025 season in which the 33-year-old ranked fourth amongst all gamers with at the least 200 pass-rush snaps with a 19.1-percent strain fee. He additionally had 8.5 sacks and eight mixed tackles for loss and run stuffs.

Kirk Cousins, QB

Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love and Malik Willis have all been backup quarterbacks for the Packers. All three could be beginning in the NFL come September. Green Bay actually values ​​the place, which could make it unlikely that Desmond Ridder or Kyle McCord — the one different quarterbacks on the roster apart from Love — are in the No. 2 function come Week 1. Could one among them seize the job with a robust offseason? Sure. It wasn’t till late August 2024 that the Packers traded for Willis since their plan of backing up Love with Sean Clifford or Michael Pratt did not pan out. It’s not far-fetched to assume Ridder and McCord may also get a good shot.

The thought of ​​including a confirmed veteran like Cousins, who can at the least assist the Packers tread water if Love goes down, may entice head coach Matt LaFleur. Cousins ​​may (understandably) need to signal with a workforce whose starter is much less entrenched than Love, however maybe the thought of ​​reuniting together with his place coach from his first two years in the NFL (LaFleur) entices him, too.

David Njoku, TE

Luke Musgrave as soon as appeared like the subsequent highly effective downfield menace at tight finish for the Packers, however these days are lengthy gone. There was a noticeable drop-off in manufacturing on the place after Tucker Kraft tore his ACL in Week 9, which could spur Gutekunst to deal with what he has behind Kraft, who must be again by Week 1. Njoku is not one of the best blocker, however Popper writes of the previous Cleveland Browns tight finish, “Njoku is an explosive height-weight-speed athlete, particularly after the catch. He has contested-catch ability down the field. He has tremendous feet in and out of breaks.” Njoku’s manufacturing dipped with rookie Harold Fannin Jr. rising in Cleveland final season, however the veteran has 97 catches for 798 yards and 9 touchdowns over the past two seasons.

The Packers might want to tackle the place, anyway, since John FitzPatrick, primarily a blocking tight finish final season who performed 335 offensive snaps, tore his Achilles tendon in Week 16.

Jonah Williams, O.T.

The former Arizona Cardinals beginning proper deal with is just 28 years previous, however performed simply 15 video games mixed in 2024 and 2025 due to accidents after signing a two-year, $30 million deal in March 2024. With Zach Tom amid a prolonged rehab course of after present process surgical procedure for {a partially} torn patellar tendon — he must be prepared by coaching camp — the Packers may need insurance coverage at proper deal with. Williams can be a stable choice to associate with swing deal with Darian Kinnard. If Gutekunst and LaFleur want a reference, they’ll ask their new defensive coordinator, who was Williams’ head coach in Arizona (perhaps he would not have a glowing evaluate, however who is aware of).

Cam Robinson

What if Jordan Morgan would not work out at left deal with? That can be alarming for the Packers for a number of causes — Gutekunst’s 2024 first-round decide could then be thought of a bust, and so they’d want somebody on comparatively quick discover to guard the blind aspect of their $220 million quarterback — however they’d want an answer, nonetheless. The Packers could theoretically transfer 2025 second-round decide Anthony Belton from proper guard to left deal with, the place he performed at North Carolina State, however Gutekunst mentioned this offseason he needs Belton to remain at proper guard for the close to future. Morgan could very effectively thrive at his pure place of left deal with, in order that could be a moot level.

In both situation, a 30-year-old veteran like Robinson with 114 profession begins at left deal with could fortify the Packers’ offensive line depth that’s missing. Popper writes of the previous Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars starter, “Robinson has a firm, violent initial punch, and his best pass-protection reps are when he is able to strike first into a rusher’s chest. But he gets caught off-balance and leaning over his toes too often in the run game and in pass protection.”

Michael Carter, R.B.

The Packers want a brand new backup operating again after letting Emanuel Wilson stroll. Chris Brooks and MarShawn Lloyd are nonetheless on the workforce, however the former is extra of a situational third-down again who excels in move safety and the latter cannot be trusted but with how usually he is been injured in his first two seasons. The Packers could fill this spot by means of the draft with a possible future starter, however Carter additionally has familiarity with Gannon and had 92 carries for 333 yards (3.6 YPC) and a landing final season to associate with 33 catches for 267 yards.

Xavier Woods

An underrated want for the Packers is security. Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams fashioned one of many league’s finest one-two punches, however their depth took a success when Zayne Anderson adopted Jeff Hafley to Miami after the Packers declined to tender him as a restricted free agent. Javon Bullard can play security, however he centered extra on nickel final season and excelled there. Woods, 31, has seven interceptions and 16 passes defended with 41 begins over the past three seasons. He, like others earlier than him on this listing, would classify as a short-term veteran signing that Gutekunst is open to regardless of his choice for including gamers in their prime, aged 26-29. However, with the Packers in win-now mode and already exhibiting a willingness so as to add gamers like Hargrave, there could be extra to comply with.