Matt Johnson
The Green Bay Packers have one of the best rosters in the NFL and will once again be one of the youngest teams in 2026. With that comes the opportunity for breakout seasons, as we saw from Tucker Kraft last year.
Let’s take a quick look at four players on the Packers roster who could have breakthrough seasons in 2026.
Jordan Morgan, Left Tackle
Taken by the Packers with the 25th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Jordan Morgan hasn’t exactly stood out through his first two seasons. The 6-foot-5 offensive lineman played just 186 offensive snaps in his rookie season, and he rated as a below-average player across 749 snaps this past season.
The real problem seemed to be that the team moved him around so much, deploying him at both left (51 snaps) and right tackle (148) and both right (358) and left guard (191). It never really allowed him to settle in and focus on playing one spot, which he’s finally had the chance to do this offseason. Projected to be the starter at left tackle, we think Morgan can be just as effective as Rasheed Walker was for Green Bay.
Related: Green Bay Packers Who May Be on Roster Bubble in 2026
Trey Smack, Kicker
The Packers’ draft class in 2026 doesn’t figure to have anyone, outside of Trey Smack, who is relied upon to play a starter’s share of the snaps from the jump. So, that really does just leave Smack as the lone rookie who could prove himself to be a fan favorite by the end of the season.
For one thing, it says a lot about a kicker prospect when general manager Brian Gutekunst is willing to trade multiple Round 7 picks to grab him. It’s also a testament to what Smack showed in his first practices at rookie camp that Green Bay outright released Brandon McManus just a few months after giving him a $1 million roster bonus. We’re buying into what Matt Stover has said about Smack, and we think that big impact comes immediately.
Read More: 2026 NFL Power Rankings, See Where Packers Land
Matthew Golden, Wide Receiver
Matthew Golden not seeing the field much in his rookie season was interpreted by some as an indictment on the young pass-catcher. In reality, it just spoke to the Packers’ depth at wide receiver and how the team has slowly brought along offensive weapons early on. Now heading into his second season, we’re expecting a massive leap forward from Golden in 2026.
Consider his performance in the Wild Card Round—84 receiving yards and one touchdown on four receptions—as a glimpse into what he’s capable of. He demonstrated in limited snaps that he can get open (2.07 target separation, 9th in the NFL), and he’s naturally explosive. While Christian Watson and Tucker Kraft are still the primary go-to options for Jordan Love, we do think 700-plus receiving yards and 5–7 touchdowns is doable for Golden.
Evan Williams, Safety
Evan Williams is already a core piece in the Packers’ defense, and the 24-year-old complements All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney nicely. What we’re going to witness this fall is Williams taking that next step forward in his career, potentially even earning his first Pro Bowl selection. Already stout against the run, Williams could set career highs in interceptions, tackles for loss, and pass deflections in 2026.
