Are Packers set up to improve in 2026? Internal growth, better health will be key
· Yahoo Sports
Free agency is pretty much in the rearview mirror, and the Green Bay Packers roster is mostly set ahead of the 2026 season.
The draft will add more players to the mix, but without a first-round pick, it is fair to expect less of an impact from this year’s rookie class. The players currently on the roster are going to mostly dictate how the 2026 campaign plays out for Green Bay.
Visit extonnews.click for more information.
With that in mind, how realistic is it that the Packers will improve from 2025 and not only make it further than the NFC Wild Card Round of the playoffs, but truly compete for a Super Bowl?
On the face of it, that task could arguably be more difficult this season, as Green Bay lost more players than they gained at the start of the new league year.
Out the door are Malik Willis, Romeo Doubs, Quay Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Kingsley Enagbare, Rasheed Walker, Nate Hobbs, Rashan Gary and Colby Wooden, with Javon Hargrave, Benjamin St-Juste, Zaire Franklin and Skyy Moore the only notable additions so far.
Due to previous first-round picks by Brian Gutekunst and the Packers front office, there are succession plans in place for some of the departing players though, with Matthew Golden, Jordan Morgan and Lukas Van Ness set to take on bigger roles.
That underlines one of the most important factors which will dictate whether Green Bay improves in 2026: internal improvement.
It is something Gutekunst has talked about often, including this offseason. While the additions and subtractions get the headlines at this time of year, it is much more often growth from preexisting players that elevates a team.
There is an argument to be made that in terms of front-line starters, it could be a case of addition by subtraction for the Packers in 2026.
Golden played at a high level when given opportunities as a rookie and has a higher ceiling than a receiver like Doubs, who was valuable but never rose to the level of a player Green Bay wanted to pay. Savion Williams could get in the mix more regularly and hopefully will be healthier.
Based on how Rasheed Walker played in 2025, and how Morgan did once he got to play his natural position, it is not unfair to expect an uptick in performance at left tackle this season.
Sean Rhyan was better than Jenkins at center and could improve as he gets more experience there. Anthony Belton will also be expected to take a step in his second year at right guard.
Hargrave will give the defensive interior the veteran presence they lost when Kenny Clark was traded, and he is a clear upgrade on Wooden.
Van Ness outplayed Gary on a down-to-down basis last season and is lined up to become a full-time starter, and Enagbare leaving opens up more playing time for Barryn Sorrell.
Franklin could provide a very comparable level of play to Quay Walker at linebacker at a lower cost, and St-Juste should bring more than Hobbs did a year ago. Just staying healthy would be a start. Zayne Anderson’s departure should give Kitan Oladapo a few more opportunities as well.
What the Packers really lost this offseason is enviable depth, rather than quality. The coaching staff trusted a lot of those players, but they could be viewed as progress stoppers for younger players in a lot of cases.
The story for Green Bay in 2026 may be that the team has a higher ceiling, but a lower floor. As they chase a title, rather than just a playoff berth, that might be a trade they are happy to make.
It does mean they have a slimmer margin for injuries, but frankly it is hard to imagine they can be any unluckier in that regard than they were in 2025.
Players returning from injury like Micah Parsons, Tucker Kraft and Devonte Wyatt should be a big boost this season. Jayden Reed’s season was disrupted heavily by injuries. The offensive line was beat up all year, with Aaron Banks and Zach Tom both missing time and playing hurt.
There are also some under-the-radar returnees who could have an impact.
If MarShawn Lloyd can finally stay healthy, he could provide an explosive element to the backfield to complement Jacobs. Former draft picks Travis Glover and John Williams could get in the mix on the offensive line and provide depth if nothing else.
Similarly to the players named above, the Packers got essentially nothing out of pass rusher Collin Oliver as a rookie. In general, the 2025 rookie class did not contribute that many snaps, and that should change this season.
Due to the loss of depth across the roster, Green Bay needs those players to become factors, and to get a bit luckier with injuries in 2026, but frankly, they are due for that.
The other part of the discussion is that the Packers don’t need huge improvement to get where they need to go.
Even with the other injuries they suffered, they were as much of a Super Bowl contender as any team in the NFC before Parsons’ injury proved the final dagger.
Without an injection of a big-money free agent or a premium draft pick, if they are to get to the top of the mountain in 2026, the two keys will be better health and internal improvement.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Are Packers set up to improve in 2026? Internal growth will be key