Green Bay Packers make roster cuts one week before NFL draft
TL;DR
The Green Bay Packers made roster cuts by releasing linebacker Jamon Johnson, cornerback Tyron Herring, and tight end McCallan Castles one week before the 2026 NFL draft. This leaves them with 72 players on their offseason roster and eight draft picks, starting with the 52nd overall selection.
Key points
- Packers released three players before the NFL draft
- Roster now has 72 players, 18 short of maximum
- First draft pick is 52nd overall in the second round
- Packers have eight total draft picks
Green Bay Packers make roster cuts one week before NFL draft
GREEN BAY – A week before their first selection in the 2026 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers created more space on their roster.
The Packers released linebacker Jamon Johnson, cornerback Tyron Herring and tight end McCallan Castles on April 17.
Their departures leave the Packers’ offseason roster at 72 players, 18 short of maximum. They currently have eight picks in next week’s draft, starting with the 52nd overall in the second round.
The team will fill most, if not all, of their remaining spots with undrafted rookies after the draft. All three released players were on the Packers’ practice squad last season.
Quay Walker (upper left, clockwise), Malik Willis, Romeo Doubs and Sean Rhyan were four of the Green Bay Packers' 20 free agents during the 2026 offseason. Are any of them returning to Green Bay next season?
Scroll through this gallery to see their status and every free agent's as free agency period opened on Monday, March 9.
John FitzPatrick, 26, tight end, unrestricted free agent
Sean Rhyan, 25, offensive lineman, unrestricted free agent
Kristian Welch, 28, linebacker/special teams, unrestricted free agent
Nick Niemann, 28, linebacker/special teams, unrestricted free agent
Romeo Doubs, 26 (age at start of 2026 season), wide receiver, unrestricted free agent
SIGNED WITH NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
An unrestricted free agent is a player with four or more accrued seasons and an expired contract who is free to negotiate and sign with any team.
Kingsley Enagbare, 26, linebacker, unrestricted free agent
Rasheed Walker, 26, offensive tackle, unrestricted free agent
SIGNED WITH THE CAROLINA PANTHERS
Quay Walker, 26, linebacker, unrestricted free agent
SIGNED WITH THE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Malik Willis, 27, quarterback, unrestricted free agent
SIGNED WITH THE MIAMI DOLPHINS
Zayne Anderson, 29, safety/special teams, restricted free agent
SIGNED WITH THE MIAMI DOLPHINS
A restricted free agent is a player with three accrued seasons and an expired contract. These players are free to negotiate and sign with any team, but their original team can offer them one of various qualifying offers that come with the right of first refusal and/or draft-pick compensation.
Darian Kinnard, 27, offensive tackle, restricted free agent
Brenton Cox Jr., 26, defensive end, restricted free agent
Jonathan Ford, 28, defensive tackle, restricted free agent
Arron Mosby, 27, defensive end, restricted free agent
Josh Whyle, 27, tight end, restricted free agent
Emanuel Wilson, 27, running back, restricted free agent
SIGNED WITH THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Kamal Hadden, 25, cornerback, exclusive rights free agent
Exclusive rights free agents are players with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum, the player cannot negotiate with other teams.
Donovan Jennings, 27, offensive lineman, exclusive rights free agent
Bo Melton, 27, cornerback/wide receiver, exclusive rights free agent
RE-SIGNED WITH THE PACKERS
Lecitus Smith, 28, offensive lineman, exclusive rights free agent
1 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Quay Walker (upper left, clockwise), Malik Willis, Romeo Doubs and Sean Rhyan were four of the Green Bay Packers' 20 free agents during the 2026 offseason. Are any of them returning to Green Bay next season?
Scroll through this gallery to see their status and every free agent's as free agency period opened on Monday, March 9.
1 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Quay Walker (upper left, clockwise), Malik Willis, Romeo Doubs and Sean Rhyan were four of the Green Bay Packers' 20 free agents during the 2026 offseason. Are any of them returning to Green Bay next season?
Scroll through this gallery to see their status and every free agent's as free agency period opened on Monday, March 9.
2 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
John FitzPatrick, 26, tight end, unrestricted free agent
3 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Sean Rhyan, 25, offensive lineman, unrestricted free agent
4 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Kristian Welch, 28, linebacker/special teams, unrestricted free agent
5 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Nick Niemann, 28, linebacker/special teams, unrestricted free agent
6 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Romeo Doubs, 26 (age at start of 2026 season), wide receiver, unrestricted free agent
SIGNED WITH NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
An unrestricted free agent is a player with four or more accrued seasons and an expired contract who is free to negotiate and sign with any team.
7 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Kingsley Enagbare, 26, linebacker, unrestricted free agent
8 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Rasheed Walker, 26, offensive tackle, unrestricted free agent
SIGNED WITH THE CAROLINA PANTHERS
9 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Quay Walker, 26, linebacker, unrestricted free agent
SIGNED WITH THE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
10 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Malik Willis, 27, quarterback, unrestricted free agent
SIGNED WITH THE MIAMI DOLPHINS
11 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Zayne Anderson, 29, safety/special teams, restricted free agent
SIGNED WITH THE MIAMI DOLPHINS
A restricted free agent is a player with three accrued seasons and an expired contract. These players are free to negotiate and sign with any team, but their original team can offer them one of various qualifying offers that come with the right of first refusal and/or draft-pick compensation.
12 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Darian Kinnard, 27, offensive tackle, restricted free agent
13 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Brenton Cox Jr., 26, defensive end, restricted free agent
14 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Jonathan Ford, 28, defensive tackle, restricted free agent
15 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Arron Mosby, 27, defensive end, restricted free agent
16 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Josh Whyle, 27, tight end, restricted free agent
17 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Emanuel Wilson, 27, running back, restricted free agent
SIGNED WITH THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
18 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Kamal Hadden, 25, cornerback, exclusive rights free agent
Exclusive rights free agents are players with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum, the player cannot negotiate with other teams.
19 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Donovan Jennings, 27, offensive lineman, exclusive rights free agent
20 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Bo Melton, 27, cornerback/wide receiver, exclusive rights free agent
RE-SIGNED WITH THE PACKERS
21 / 21
See the Green Bay Packers free agents in 2026
Lecitus Smith, 28, offensive lineman, exclusive rights free agent
Johnson appeared in two games, including all 67 defensive snaps in the Packers’ regular-season finale at Minnesota. He had 10 tackles and one defended pass against the Vikings.
Herring and Castles did not appear in a game.
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Green Bay Packers make roster cuts one week before NFL draft
Q&A
Who did the Green Bay Packers cut from their roster before the NFL draft?
The Packers cut linebacker Jamon Johnson, cornerback Tyron Herring, and tight end McCallan Castles.
How many players are on the Green Bay Packers' roster after the recent cuts?
After the cuts, the Packers' offseason roster stands at 72 players.
What is the Green Bay Packers' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft?
The Packers' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft is the 52nd overall selection in the second round.
How many draft picks do the Green Bay Packers have for the 2026 NFL draft?
The Packers currently have eight picks for the 2026 NFL draft.
