8 veteran players most affected by Packers 2026 draft class

The Green Bay Packers selected six players in the 2026 NFL draft and then signed 10 others after the draft. How might the rookie arrivals affect the veterans already on the roster? The NFL is a young man's sport, and rookies often displace veterans on rosters.

Here are the vets in Green Bay most affected by the 2026 draft class: K Brandon McManus An obvious one to start. Drafting a specialist isn't like other positions -- there is typically one of each on the 53-man roster, and the idea of rostering "developmental" players isn't really possible. You win the job and then learn on the job.

So the Packers trading up into the sixth round to draft a kicker said a lot, especially after McManus -- who turns 35 in July and is expensive in kicker terms -- cost the Packers seven valuable points in the playoff loss in Chicago. The Packers insist there will be a competition, but Trey Smack must be considered the favorite entering training camp. He is young, cheap and under contract for four years.

If the "competition" is at all close, the winner will be Smack by default. C/G Jacob Monk Brian Gutekunst went out of his way to compliment Monk's performance at center during last year's season finale in Minnesota, and the depth along the offensive line is thin in experience, but drafting Jager Burton in the fifth round might put Monk's roster spot in jeopardy. Do the Packers need two backup offensive lineman who major in playing center and minor in playing guard?