Training Camp Matters for These 5 Packers

Sean Clifford

Clifford’s performances last training camp and preseason made the Packers look smarter for drafting him in the fifth round than many initially gave them credit for, as the former Penn State signal-caller looked at home and fit in seamlessly to his backup role.

As a rookie, he had no serious competition for the QB2 position, but that is not the case this year. Green Bay selected Michael Pratt in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and while he may have been drafted in a later round, Pratt has more raw talent and ability than Clifford.

Pratt seems a strong favorite to make the roster, so it is up to Clifford to show he is still worthy of a spot on the team and force GM Brian Gutekunst’s hand to keep three quarterbacks instead of two. A strong preseason will be key to that.

Eric Stokes

Entering a contract year after an horrific couple of injury-riddled seasons, Stokes needs to show the Packers, and the wider NFL, he is still the same player they drafted in the first round three years ago.

To do that, he will first need to win back his job as the starting cornerback opposite Jaire Alexander.

That will not be easy, as he attempts to overcome Carrington Valentine, who impressed as a rookie and earned rave reviews during OTAs and minicamp from head coach Matt LaFleur.

For his part, Stokes also received plenty of praise from the coaching staff about the mental and physical shape he is in during the offseason programme, so it is shaping up to be a must-watch battle between Stokes and Valentine this summer.

Anders Carlson

Carlson’s up and down rookie year prompted the Packers to bring in competition this offseason as they look to motivate the kicker to up his game in year two.

There were purple patches for Carlson throughout the season, but he left plenty to be desired in terms of consistency and reliability in big moments. His miss versus the 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round is still fresh in Packers fans’ minds.

It seems clear Green Bay is invested in Carlson and wants him to win the job over Greg Joseph, but kickers only have so long of a leash.

If he does not show tangible improvement this summer, Gutekunst’s patience may run out, and Carlson’s relationship with special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia may not be enough to save him.

Royce Newman

A name which sends shudders down the spines of many Packers fans, Newman has earned a reputation for being the weak link on the offensive line during his time in Green Bay.

It is mostly deserved, as he far too often looks shaky when thrust into relief duty along the offensive line. Frankly, Newman has never managed to build the functional strength required to hold up consistently and not get bullied.

It is hard to call him a bust – Newman was only a fourth-round pick after all – but whether playing at tackle or guard, he has simply been a below average offensive linemen for his entire run with the Packers.

Newman enters this summer down to the last year of his contract, and due to the escalators applied to players who hit certain playing time markers, has a cap hit of $3.24million, which the Packers would surely like to shed if possible.

The problem is that Green Bay is light in terms of interior offensive line depth, and Newman is a known commodity as a backup guard. That means he still has a legitimate chance to earn a roster spot, although he will have to fight off some incoming rookies.

Anthony Johnson Jr

Speaking of incoming rookies, there are plenty of them at safety this year after Gutekunst spent three 2024 draft picks on the position.

Johnson Jr is the only returning player whom the Packers drafted previously, and therefore has an opportunity to compete for legitimate playing time opposite marquee free agent signing Xavier McKinney.

The NFL moves quickly though, and it might be now or never for Johnson Jr, given the pedigree of the competition he faces.

Javon Bullard, drafted in the second round this year, is of course the frontrunner to usurp Johnson Jr sooner or later and partner McKinney for the foreseeable future.

Evan Williams (fourth round) and Kitan Oladapo (fifth round) have also had more serious draft capital used on them, with Johnson Jr a seventh round selection back in 2023.

If Johnson Jr cannot grasp the opportunity in front of him this training camp and overcome at least a couple of the rookies, he could quickly fade into insignificance.