Updated: Tracking the Packers' major roster moves ahead of the 2018 season
Get caught up on who's in, who's out and who's TBD as the Packers make roster changes ahead of the 2018 NFL season.
INCOMING
The following players are reportedly being added to the Packers roster for 2018.
Tramon Williams, cornerback β 2 years, $10 million
Veteran cornerback Tramon Williams, who spent the 2007 through 2014 seasons with the Packers, is set to return to the place where he'd spent the prime of his career. And while Williams might not be the same player he was in 2010, when he was among the game's top cover men and helped the Packers win Super Bowl XLV, he showed last season with the Arizona Cardinals that he still has plenty left in the tank.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Williams signed a two-year deal worth about $10 million.
Former #Packers CB Tramon Williams is back in Green Bay on a 2-year deal worth roughly $10M, source said. He passed his physical and agreed to terms. ... as @89JonesNTAF predicted.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 23, 2018
Williams has had at least one interception in all eight seasons he's played in the NFL, peaking at six in 2010 when he helped take the Packers to a win in Super Bowl XLV and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
In the 2017 season, Williams had two interceptions, 39 tackles, two assists and 12 pass defenses in 13 games played for the Arizona Cardinals. Prior to that he spent two seasons with the Cleveland Browns after leaving the Packers in 2014 after eight years.
Jimmy Graham, tight end β 3 years, $30 million
Seattle Seahawks star tight end Jimmy Graham signed a 3-year, $30 million contract with the Packers.
Three-year deal #Packers free agent TE Jimmy Graham signed is three-years, $30M, but only $11M guaranteed. Cap number is $5,666,667 for 2018. Roster bonus of $5M in March allows #Packers to bail after one year.
β Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) March 19, 2018
In the 2017 season, Graham's third in Seattle, he caught 57 passes for 520 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He has been selected for the Pro Bowl five times in his eight-year pro career and was namedΒ First-Team All-Pro in 2013 with the New Orleans Saints, when he led the league with 16 receiving touchdowns.
JOHN FROSCHAUER, ASSOCIATED PRESSMuhammad Wilkerson, defensive end β 1 year, $4.7 million
Muhammad Wilkerson signed a 1-year, $4.7 million contract with the Packers.
The one-year deal #Packers DE Muhammad Wilkerson signed is worth $4.7 million. It features a $1.5M signing bonus and $1M reporting bonus. There are $2.75 million in incentives. 2018 cap number is $4.75 million.
β Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) March 19, 2018
A seven-year veteran from the New York Jets, Wilkerson recorded 3.5 sacks, 26 tackles and 20 assists in 13 games in 2017. He also had his second career interception.
His career-best season came in 2015 when he had 12 sacks, 39 tackles, 25 assists, forced 3 fumbles and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
BILL KOSTROUN, ASSOCIATED PRESSDeShone Kizer, quarterback β acquired in trade with Cleveland Browns
The Packers traded cornerback Damarious Randall to the Cleveland Browns for backup quarterback DeShone Kizer and a swap of the teams' fourth- and fifth-round picks.
Kizer started 15 games for the Browns in his rookie season in 2017, recording 11 touchdowns and 22 interceptions on 476 pass attempts.
KEITH SRAKOCIC, ASSOCIATED PRESSLEAVING
These Packers are reportedly on their way out.
Richard Rodgers, tight end β signing with Philadelphia Eagles
Tight end Richard Rodgers was reported to have signed a one-year deal with the Eagles.
#Packers free agent TE Richard Rodgers is signing a 1-year deal with the #Eagles, source said. He goes to a place that uses the TE as much as anyone to reboot his career. He hopes to recreate the success from 2015, when he had 8 TDs.
β Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 4, 2018
Drafted by the Packers in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Rodgers has had high-profile moments -- both good and bad -- on the Packers roster. But he's failed to make a major impact on the offense.Β
MIKE MCCARN, ASSOCIATED PRESSJeff Janis, wide receiver β signing with Cleveland Browns
After four years with the Packers where he mostly saw the field as a kick returner, wide receiver Jeff Janis has left the Packers for the Cleveland Browns.
STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNALThe #Browns got former #Packers WR Jeff Janis for one-year, $1.25 million with no guaranteed money. He'll have to make the 53-man roster to earn anything but $100K workout bonus. Little risk but a $1.25M cap number for now.
β Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) April 3, 2018
Morgan Burnett, safety β signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Unrestricted free agent safety Morgan Burnett is leaving the Green Bay Packers for the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to a report.
In his eight years with the Packers, Burnett has recorded nine interceptions, 46 pass defenses, eight forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries (including one for a touchdown), seven-and-a-half sacks, 511 tackles and 206 assists. He was drafted by the Packers in the third round with the 71st overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. His current cap hit isΒ $4.75 million.
WM.GLASHEEN/P-C MEDIAJordy Nelson, wide receiver β released, signed with Oakland Raiders
Ten-year veteran star wide receiver Jordy Nelson was released by the Packers in a move to create more than $10 million in salary cap space and allow Green Bay to reach deals with Jimmy Graham and Muhammad Wilkerson.
Nelson saw his production fall off a cliff in the 2017 season after quarterback Aaron Rodgers was knocked out for multiple games with an injury. The deep-threat receiver didn't jell with backup quarterback Brett Hundley's playing style, and recorded just six touchdowns β his lowest since 2010 β and only 482 yards on 53 receptions and 88 targets.
In his career with the Packers, Nelson had four seasons with more than 1,000 receiving yards and three with more than 10 touchdowns. He was selected to the Pro Bowl once, in 2014, when he also led the league in receiving touchdowns with 14. He was selected by the Packers with the 36th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.
In a post on his Instagram account, quarterback Aaron Rodgers wrote that it was "hard to find the right words today to express what '87' means to me. No teammate exemplified what it means to be a Packer quite like him.
"From living in (Green Bay) full time, his incredible contributions to the city, state, and region, to his consistent, reliable play on the field. Definitely a sad day and the toughest part of this business."
Speaking at an evening news conference at Lambeau Field, first-year general manager Brian Gutekunst called Nelson "one of the great Packers who played here. He's everything you want a pro to be and he'll be missed."
STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNALDamarious Randall, cornerback β traded to Cleveland Browns
In Brian Gutekunst's first trade as Packers general manager, he shippedΒ cornerback Damarious Randall, the team's 2015 first-round pick, to the Cleveland Browns for quarterback DeShone Kizer in a deal thatΒ includes the Packers and Browns flip-flopping their fourth- and fifth-round picks.
Randall had four interceptions, one for a touchdown, 38 tackles, nine assists and a fumble recovery in 14 games in the 2017 season.
Randall's tenure was up-and-down in Green Bay. He finished his rookie season strong β strong enough that the team made no effort to re-sign free agent Casey Hayward, who went on to become a Pro Bowl player with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers. But he played poorly in 2016, when he missed six games following groin surgery, gave up 10 touchdown passes and had three interceptions.
In a Week 4 game against Chicago on Sept. 28, Randall was benched for the second half for apparent insubordination and was later kicked off the sideline by McCarthy, who sent him to the locker room.
CHRIS KEANE, ASSOCIATED PRESSNOT GOING ANYWHERE
Davante Adams, wide receiver β 4 years, $58 million
The Packers didn't waste time locking down their emerging star wideout, signing Davante Adams to aΒ four-year contract extension worth $58 million at the end of December.
Despite the team's problems at quarterback and receiving two nasty concussions, Adams caught 74 passes for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns in 14 games in 2017. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2017 and ranked second in the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2016 and 2017.
MATT LUDTKE, ASSOCIATED PRESSDavon House, cornerback β 1 year
Cornerback Davon House is one of the only veteran cornerbacks left standing on the Packers roster with Kevin King and Quinten Rollins both coming off of significant surgeries.
House agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Packers on Thursday. The deal is expected to be finalized after House travels from his offseason home in Hawaii to take a physical and make things official. Terms of the deal were not immediately available.Β
House was drafted by the Packers in the fourth round in the 2011 NFL Draft, but left for two years to play with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2015 and 2016 before returning to Green Bay in 2017. Last season he had 37 tackles and seven assists in 12 games.
STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNALWAIT AND SEE
Starting players who will be unrestricted free agents or are otherwise considered on the bubble.
Randall Cobb, wide receiver β 2018 cap hit $12.72 million
Randall Cobb appears safe after fellow wideout Jordy Nelson was released to create salary cap space for TE Jimmy Graham and DE Muhammad Wilkerson.
But like Nelson, Cobb has a total salary-cap number in excess of $10 million for 2018 and his situation remains uncertain. GM Brian Gutekunst didn't rule out releasing veteran players to create cap room, although he did suggest that Cobb is safe, saying Cobb "is one of our good players, and we expect him to be."
STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNALAhmad Brooks, linebacker β unrestricted free agent
Another veteran pass-rusher signed to a one-year contract,Β Ahmad Brooks was brought in to replace Julius Peppers when he left, but managed only 1.5 sacks in 2017.
STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNALJahri Evans, right guard β unrestricted free agent
The Packers are reportedly interested in re-signing 12-year NFL veteran guard Jahri Evans after signing him for a one-year contract in 2017, according to reporter Ryan Wood. The 34-year-old may also opt to retire.
In his 11 years with the New Orleans Saints, Evans was selected to the Pro Bowl six times and named First-Team All-Pro four times.
DAVID RICHARD, ASSOCIATED PRESSBrett Goode, long snapper β unrestricted free agent
Long-snapper Brett Goode's nine-year career with the Packers was interrupted in 2017 when he was released with an injury settlement. But he re-signed with the Packers in Week 10 once the terms of the settlement expired.Β
RON SCHWANE, ASSOCIATED PRESSQuinton Dial, defensive end β unrestricted free agent
Upcoming free agent DE Quinton Dial has reportedly drawn interest from the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks.
Dial came to the Packers in 2017 on a one-year contract after playing four years with the San Francisco 49ers. Last season he recorded 12 tackles and seven assists in 13 games played.
CHARLES REX ARBOGAST, ASSOCIATED PRESSSources
State Journal research, Jason Wilde, pro-football-reference.com, spotrac.com, ESPN, packers.com, NFL.
As featured on
As soon as Jordy Nelson was released by the Green Bay Packers, the Oakland Raiders put on a full-court press to acquire the former Pro Bowler β and it paid off when Nelson signed with the team on Thursday.
The Raiders coach is letting everyone know that, while he inherited some solid talent in Oakland, this is his show now, and that the holdovers in the building β no matter who they were hired by β work for him.
Chicago will keep him with a four-year deal worth $56 million.
