There’s a reason why the first 53-man roster is called the “initial roster.” After teams across the NFL cut rosters down to 53 players, hundreds of players become available, providing opportunities for claiming players a day after the first roster is set.
While only a select few players are claimed following final cuts every year, waiver claims are an avenue in which teams attempt to improve. Just last year, the Green Bay Packers claimed safety Zayne Anderson and tight end Ben Sims off waivers.
For the Packers, four specific position groups look worth watching this year: quarterback, kicker, offensive line and long snapper.
While the Packers look like a true contender, general manager Brian Gutekunst’s roster isn’t perfect.
UPDATE: The Packers traded a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft to the Titans for quarterback Malik Willis.
The issues at quarterback and kicker were apparent to start training camp and only intensified across three preseason games. Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt struggled behind Jordan Love, and neither Anders Carlson — who missed a 32-yarder in the preseason finale — nor Greg Joseph took complete control of the kicking competition.
At quarterback, the Packers could look to add a veteran as the No. 2 option while bringing back Clifford or Pratt on the practice squad as the developmental project quarterback. A stabilizing presence behind Love is important for a team who can’t afford to have the season tanked by a short-term absence at quarterback.
At kicker, the Packers will have to decide if any of the dozen or so kickers expected to be released over the next two days are better than Carlson and Joseph, two inconsistent kickers who hovered around 80 percent on kicks throughout camp.
The other position group to watch is the offensive line. The Packers are at least seven deep along the offensive line with 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 good bet as the backup offensive tackle, despite his struggles as a starter in Tennessee last season. After those eight, it’s difficult to identify a slam dunk No. 9 option. Royce Newman re-structured his deal 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.
Long snapper is another possibility. Matt Orzech held off rookie Peter Bowden this summer, but consistency has been elusive since he arrived in 2023 and the Packers may believe they can upgrade on the waiver wire.
It’s possible tight end could be another potential position where the Packers could add if Tyler Davis is injured or waived. And running back can’t be dismissed if the Packers think A.J. Dillon and MarShawn Lloyd will miss the start of the regular season.
