Green Bay has an open roster spot, despite signing QB Taylor Elgersma
The Green Bay Packers officially announced the signing of Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma on Monday, the first U Sports quarterback to sign with the NFL since Steve Samways in 1987. Beyond just the Elgersma move, though, the Packers also released offensive lineman Marquis Hayes, a 2022 draft pick who was added to Green Bay’s practice squad in late November of 2024. The Packers had previously carried 17 offensive linemen on their roster, so it’s not surprising that the team chose to drop a body from that room.
What is interesting, though, is that Green Bay didn’t need to make a corresponding roster move to sign Elgersma, because the team released receiver Tulu Griffin last week. So, despite adding Elgersma, the Packers’ 91-man roster still has one available roster spot open.
One player Green Bay may be considering in free agency is cornerback Robert Rochell, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason but has already been released by the team. Rochell played 20 games for the Packers over the 2023 and 2024 seasons. With the current construction of Green Bay’s cornerback room, they need a special-teams ace more than added depth at outside cornerback, where they already carry Jaire Alexander, Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs and Carrington Valentine. Rochell was primarily a special-teams player for the Packers, so he fits that role.
Following the San Francisco 49ers’ signing of tackle Andre Dillard, Rochell and tight end Tyler Davis are the only members of the 2024 Packers roster who are sitting out there on the open market right now.