With up to five players potentially heading to the injured reserve this week, the Green Bay Packers are experiencing a significant shift in their roster dynamics. This fluid situation has prompted general manager Brian Gutekunst and the Packers’ pro personnel department to consider strategic moves, including potential waiver pickups on Wednesday. Fans and analysts alike are eager to speculate on which players could be targeted to enhance Green Bay's roster as they prepare for the upcoming 2025 regular season.
The Packers have a notable history of pursuing players they initially brought in as pre-draft visitors. Since the 2022 draft, which marked the first year for visitor evaluations post-COVID, Green Bay has successfully signed 28 athletes through various means, including the draft. This trend highlights the team's commitment to acquiring talent they have previously evaluated. Even if they do not secure these players immediately, the Packers often revisit these prospects later. Current roster members like tight end Ben Sims, tight end John FitzPatrick, and safety Omar Brown exemplify this approach.
As of August 24, four former Packers visitors have been released from their respective NFL teams: RB Evan Hull, CB Josh Thompson, CB Gregory Junior (who had a brief stint with Green Bay this summer), and S Quindell Johnson. Despite these players being available, it's likely the Packers have lost interest in signing them, given their previous opportunities. However, several roster bubble names that haven’t been available to Green Bay previously could be of interest if they are waived this weekend.
Among the players to watch for include TE Josh Whyle from the Titans, offensive linemen Esa Pole from the Chiefs and Kiran Amegadjie from the Bears, as well as DT Eric Johnson II from the Colts and DT Khristian Boyd. Additionally, LB Marte Mapu from the Saints and safeties Dell Pettus and Jordan Howden from the Patriots are also on the radar. Keep an eye on these players if they are waived this weekend, as they could be valuable additions to the Packers' roster.
Another name to consider is offensive lineman Logan Brown, a former five-star recruit from the Wisconsin Badgers who later transferred to Kansas for his final two college seasons. Brown possesses the agility scores that align with the Packers’ criteria for offensive linemen and was rated as the 160 player in the 2025 draft class by consensus. Despite a strong college background, he went undrafted but was pursued as a free agent, eventually signing with the Minnesota Vikings.
Recently released by the Vikings, Brown had inked a deal that included $244,000 guaranteed as an undrafted free agent. For context, the Packers' top undrafted rookie this year, defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse, signed for $165,000 in guarantees, indicating interest in securing promising talent. Now that Brown is available, the Packers have an opportunity to bring him into the fold, with a guaranteed salary of $234,000 for this year out of a total of $840,000, making it a feasible option for the team.
As the Green Bay Packers navigate roster changes due to injuries and other factors, the upcoming waiver wire could present crucial opportunities for improvement. With a keen eye on former pre-draft visitors and new talent like Logan Brown, the Packers are poised to make strategic decisions that could bolster their roster as they head into the 2025 season.
