Yesterday we went over the training camp battles taking place on the offensive side of the ball. If you missed that, please be sure to go check it out! If you’re only interested in defense, then welcome, and may I just say that you’ve got my respect. I mentioned at the end of yesterday’s article that I believed the most difficult decisions that the team would have to make are to be found here, particularly at defensive line. We’ve also got a four man race at cornerback to get to, so let’s dive in! 

Defensive Tackle

Karl Brooks vs Colby Wooden vs Nazir Stackhouse vs Warren Brinson

Following the departure of TJ Slaton to Cincinnati, there’s a massive hole to be filled on the Packer’s run defense unit (quite literally). With Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt locks to make the team, the Packers will need to figure out the order behind them, and that nose tackle spot may be the key. I think keeping five defensive tackles is the right number, which means that one out of this competition will need to go. Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden have contracts that expire in 2026, making this a make or break year for the pair that have struggled to truly break out. Brooks looked like the more impressive player in their rookie campaign, but both were merely pedestrian in 2024 (though to be fair, the entire defensive line suffered a similar fate). Wooden has added weight to his frame over the offseason, and revealed that he has been training to take on responsibilities as a 1-tech nose tackle, and impressed me in this role against the Jets in week one. 

The pair of rookies from the Georgia Bulldogs, Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse, present a very intriguing set of options for the team. They’ve both flashed potential in their role, and while Brinson was a draft selection and Stackhouse was not, I don’t think that necessarily gives Brinson a leg up in the competition. They both profile as 1-tech tackles, though I do think Brinson has a bit more versatility as a 3-tech, and we’ve already seen this offseason that Jeff Hafley is asking his linemen to move around. 

This is perhaps the hardest position to make a prediction about right now, but I do still think that the team will keep only three of these four, and I will go with Wooden, Brooks and Brinson as those three. Stackhouse would certainly be in danger of being snapped up by a different team, but that’s the risk. 

Edge rushers

Kingsley Enagbare vs Brenton Cox Jr vs Aaron Mosby

In what was a bit of a surprise last preseason, the Packers chose to keep all three of these players in the edge room, and I would put the chances of that happening again at exactly 0%. Behind Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness and the obviously incoming Micah Parsons trade (joking of course, unless….. 👀), there’s also a pair of intriguing rookies: Barryn Sorrell and Colin Oliver, who aren’t going anywhere, even if it looks like Oliver may be in for a redshirt season. It was a surprise to keep six edge rushers last season, and even if they did that again this year they’d still only be able to keep two. As it stands, five is a bit more reasonable, so we’ve got to choose only one. There’s a lot to consider here. 

Following a bit of a disappointing 2024, Kingsley Enagbare certainly felt the pressure on his job and has responded with an excellent preseason and training camp. He hasn’t been on the Lukas Van Ness level of “breakout season incoming” hype, but he’s a capable NFL player who would be welcome in 32 out of 32 edge rooms. The problem comes from considering his upside, and the three million salary escalator clause in rookie contracts that Enagbare will receive if he makes the 53 man roster. It may not seem like much in terms of NFL contracts, but the front office must examine the validity of each and every dollar spent. 

Brenton Cox Jr really started to come into his own at the end of last season, and possesses upside (in my opinion) that is on par with LVN. However, the problem has always been whether he could keep his head on straight long enough to reach that upside, which is why he was an undrafted free agent in 2023. If the team thinks he can finally put it all together, I think he’s kept on the roster without question. 

Which is why he’s my prediction to fill that fifth and final free agent slot. It’s possible that Enegbarre might hold some trade value, and if the Packers can get a seventh round pick thrown their way, all the better. 

Linebackers

Isiah Simmons vs Kristian Welch (with a bit of Tyron Hopper vs Isiah McDuffie thrown in)

For the first time, seemingly in living memory, Packers fans have a reason to be excited about the linebackers. Reasons 1, 2, and 3 are sophomore Edgerrin Cooper, who looks like a budding superstar in the NFL. Next to him, the former first round pick Quay Walker has a guaranteed spot on the final roster, along with the newly re-signed Isiah McDuffie and second year man Tyron Hopper. That’s a solid group of linebackers. 

For depth, Isaiah Simmons and Kristian Welch seem to be battling for the final spot, and I throw Hopper and McDuffie’s name into this discussion, not because he is in danger of not making the roster, but for the sake of playing time. Hopper and McDuffie are vying for the LB3 spot, the final spot for the Packers’ base 4-3 look. A few weeks ago, it looked like Simmons was actually the favorite to end up as the LB3, but two preseason games have come and gone with Simmons looking… not great. The former top ten pick has all the talent and athletic ability in the world, but has never been able to put it together. I do think having him play as a linebacker only should help him to get settled, and his special teams ability is a premium asset. 

Welch has picked up right where he left off last year, with impressive showings in both preseasons, especially at special teams. Welch was ultimately cut at the end of preseason at the end of preseason last year, and bounced around with the Broncos and Ravens. Unfortunately for Welch, I do see a similar fate playing out this year. While Welch and Simmons are both special team’s aces at this stage of their career, I do think that Simmons’ draft pedigree and unicorn-like athletic ability will give the Packers no choice but to keep him. This is definitely a spot where I am extremely tempted to say that both players will make the roster. 

Hopper vs McDuffie is an intriguing match up, considering how early the Packers (unexpectedly) selected Hopper in the 2024 draft and McDuffie’s new contract. As it stands now, I believe McDuffie will begin the season as LB3, but I would expect a heavy rotation between the two. 

Cornerbacks

Kalen King vs Bo Melton vs Kamal Hadden vs Micah Robinson vs Corey Ballentine

Here we have a pivotal battle, not only for the defense but for the team as a whole. As it stands now, cornerback depth is a major weakness on this team. For a team whose superpower is its depth along all positions, the Packers are thin here, and a couple injuries to starters could spell disaster. Kalen King and Kamal Hadden are a pair of sophomore players, and while Hadden was actually drafted by the Chiefs in 2024, both were cut by their teams a year ago and spent the year on Green Bay’s practice squad. They’ve got slightly different athletic profiles, with King presenting as a nickel option and Hadden as a boundary. 

Corey Ballentine was not re-signed by the Packers in March of this year when his contract expired, but re-signed with the team after a short stint with the Colts. Micah Robinson was this year’s only draft selection, and the team waited all the way until the seventh round to make it. I’m a big fan of Robinson’s athletic ability, and I think he has real upside as a zone cover corner. 

And then there’s the darling of Packers media, the Cinderella story that is Bo Melton. I don’t need to rehash the story of him changing positions from wide receiver to cornerback, but I will because it’s so cool. This guy was a wide receiver two months ago! When he first started to moonlight as a corner in minicamp, there was a temptation to think of it as a desperate, last ditch effort to cling to a roster spot, and jumping ship from a crowded receiver room is a smart choice. Fast forward and Melton started the Indianapolis game at corner. Everyone on the coaching staff speaks glowingly about Melton, including special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. 

So I have Melton as making the team, behind Nate Hobbs, Keisean Nixon, and Corey Valentine. Last year the Packers kept five cornerbacks, so we’ve got one more to choose. Robinson, King, Ballentine, and Hadden. My prediction is Ballentine. I was extremely surprised when the Packers let him walk out the door to begin with. He’s got real starting experience in the NFL, and even played at a serviceable level when called upon to do so, plus he has an established  role in the special teams, an absolute must for a bottom of the depth chart cornerback. 

Between Robinson, King, and Hadden my guess is that the team would have the chance to bring back all or any combination therein to the practice squad. If one gets claimed by another team, I don't think Gutekunst & Co will lose too much sleep about it. 

Safety

Zayne Anderson vs Omar Brown 

From perhaps the thinnest position group on the roster, to the deepest. The safety room is, in my opinion, the most solid on the entire team. From superstar Xavier McKinney, to last year’s trio of draft picks, that's four out of five spots in absolute lock down. Once again, it will come down to special teams to determine who gets the nod. Zanye Anderson made the roster last year, over Antonio Johnson Jr, who was a surprising cut. Anderson proved the team right with solid special teams play all season, and even looked good in some real playing time at safety. 

Omar Brown was an undrafted free agent in 2024, and landed with the Packers practice squad after getting cut by the Broncos. He’s been a fan favorite to make the team through the preseason and training camp, especially after showing out during the annual Family Night practice. Unfortunately, Brown was carted off the field during the Colts game, suffering a “scary” chest contusion injury, and there is no timetable for his return. 

The position is complicated by Zanye Anderson’s injury, following the preseason game against the Jets. My guess is that Anderson will ultimately get the nod, even if he has to start the season on the injured list. There was certainly room for Brown to take this spot, considering Zanye is (surprisingly, at least to me) 28, one of the oldest players on the Packers’ roster. And in this scenario Brown will have to wait for his shot. 

Conclusion

And there we have it. As it stands now, less than a week from roster cutdown day, I’ve got the training camp victors as follows: Sean Clifford, Emmanuel Wilson / Chris Brooks, Malik Heath, John Fitzpatrick, Rasheed Walker, Colby Wooden / Karl Brooks / Warren Brinson, Isaiah Simmons, Brenton Cox, Bo Melton / Corey Ballentine, and Zanye Anderson. Go ahead and put the house on those players making the team. It’s a done deal.*

*Please do not actually bet US dollars on my training camp battle predictions. If you do or have already, go ahead and call the number.