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The Green Bay Packers have a real shot at hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LX. While they might not be among the favorites like the Chiefs or 49ers, they’re definitely in that next tier of contenders who could make a championship run. For GM Brian Gutekunst to maximize their chances, he’ll need to make some tough roster decisions before kickoff in September.
Green Bay has already done most of their heavy lifting through free agency and the draft. They’ve added key starters like O-lineman Aaron Banks and corner Nate Hobbs – veterans who should step right into Matt LaFleur’s system with minimal adjustment. Rookie wideout Matthew Golden has impressed coaches enough to earn first-team reps heading into the season.
Now comes the hard part.
The front office needs to trim the fat before final roster cuts. There are several spots where addition by subtraction could boost their title hopes. Here are three players the Pack should consider moving on from if they want to maximize their championship window:
1. Romeo Doubs
Let’s be clear – Doubs has NFL talent. He’s shown flashes of being a solid starter in this league. The problem isn’t his ability – it’s his attitude about his role in Green Bay’s crowded receiver room.
Remember when he got suspended for a game last year after complaining about targets? That’s a massive red flag for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. With Golden now in the mix and Christian Watson working his way back from injury, Doubs is staring at reduced playing time – something he’s already proven he can’t handle gracefully.
The timing couldn’t be worse for both parties. Doubs is entering a contract year and desperately needs stats to boost his market value. Meanwhile, the Packers need harmony in their receiver room as Jordan Love continues developing. There’s always a chance injuries could force Doubs into a larger role, but if everyone stays healthy, this situation could get ugly fast.
Gutekunst would be wise to find a trade partner before the season begins. Several teams (Browns? Chargers?) are desperate for receiver help and might offer decent value for a young wideout with starting experience.
2. Mecole Hardman
Hardman arrived in Green Bay with a Super Bowl pedigree from his Kansas City days, but he’s looking like the odd man out in LaFleur’s offense. He’s currently projected as WR6 on the depth chart – buried behind Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks for slot snaps.
The veteran speedster isn’t the dynamic playmaker he once was with the Chiefs. His yards-per-catch average has dropped in three consecutive seasons, and he managed just 20 total receptions in 2023 despite playing with Patrick Mahomes.
If Hardman is willing to embrace special teams duties as a returner, there might be a path to the 53-man roster. But if he’s expecting meaningful offensive snaps in Green Bay, he’s likely to be disappointed. His skill set simply doesn’t offer anything the Packers don’t already have in younger, cheaper options.
3. Micah Robinson
Being a seventh-round pick comes with appropriately low expectations, but Robinson faces an uphill battle in Green Bay’s secondary. The former Tulane cornerback isn’t ready for NFL action, yet the Packers haven’t added much veteran depth after losing Jaire Alexander.
While Robinson might develop into a contributor down the road, asking him to play meaningful defensive snaps in 2024 would be setting him up for failure. Opposing coordinators would target him mercilessly if he’s forced into action against polished NFL receivers.
The Packers should be scouring the free agent market for veteran cornerback help. Names like Stephon Gilmore and Xavien Howard remain available and would provide immediate stability to a secondary that has Super Bowl aspirations.
Robinson would benefit from a season on the practice squad – learning coordinator Jeff Hafley’s system without the pressure of game action. That developmental approach has worked well for Green Bay with late-round picks in the past.
If Robinson is still on the depth chart when Week 1 arrives, it won’t just be a weakness for the Packers – it’ll be a flashing neon sign for opposing QBs to attack repeatedly. For a team with championship hopes, that’s a risk not worth taking.
