The Green Bay Packers are in the throes of a seismic shift just days before the NFL Draft, as General Manager Brian Gutekunst has executed a series of calculated roster cuts that signal a bold and potentially aggressive strategy for the upcoming weekend. The moves, which saw the release of three practice squad players, have sent shockwaves through the fanbase and ignited intense speculation about a possible trade-up for a top-tier prospect. This is not business as usual in Titletown; this is a front office maneuvering with precision and intent, leaving the league on notice that the Packers are ready to strike.
In a move that initially appeared routine, Gutekunst parted ways with linebacker Jamon Johnson, tight end McCallan Castles, and cornerback Tyron Herring on Friday. All three players ended the previous season on the practice squad, and their departures were not rooted in performance failures but in pure roster mathematics. The Packers were operating with 77 players on the active roster, leaving only 13 slots open under the 90-man limit ahead of an eight-pick draft. By cutting these three, Green Bay has created room for up to 16 total additions coming out of draft weekend, a critical buffer that allows for undrafted free agent signings and potential trade maneuvers.
The story of Jamon Johnson is one that resonates deeply with the Packers faithful. An undrafted free agent out of Kentucky, Johnson had stops at Georgia before that, and he racked up 13 sacks and 24 tackles for loss across four years of college ball. Green Bay invested a $115,000 guarantee to sign him, a significant sum for an undrafted player. He was cut at the end of training camp but spent the entire season on the practice squad, grinding in obscurity. Then, in week 18 against Minnesota, when the starters rested, Johnson played all 67 defensive snaps and recorded 10 tackles. That performance spoke volumes about his character and grit, making his release, officially designated as a non-football injury, a bitter pill for fans who saw his potential.
Tyron Herring’s departure is equally poignant, as the cornerback out of Delaware is one of the most compelling human beings to ever pass through Green Bay. An undrafted free agent, Herring was an Academic Heisman semifinalist who has openly stated his ambition to run for public office someday. On the field, he delivered a preseason goal-line hit in Indianapolis that saved a touchdown, a statement play that showcased his tenacity. The Packers released him at the end of camp, brought him back twice to the practice squad, and now he is gone again. Herring’s journey, marked by resilience and intellect, leaves a void that goes beyond the stat sheet.
McCallan Castles, the tight end who joined the Packers late last season after Tucker Kraft’s torn ACL, also saw his tenure end abruptly. Castles, who originally entered the league with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee in 2024, landed on injured reserve himself after struggling to stay healthy. His release is a reminder of the brutal nature of the NFL, where even the most determined players can be derailed by injuries. The Packers now have five tight ends on the roster, including Kraft, Luke Musgrave, and others, but Castles’ departure underscores the relentless roster churn that defines this time of year.
The current roster landscape reveals a team that is lean and hungry. At linebacker, the Packers now have six players: Edgerrin Cooper, Zhaire Franklin, Tyron Hopper, Isaiah McDuffie, Nick Niemann, and Christian Welch. Cooper, a rising star, recently spoke about Franklin’s addition to the room, noting that while they haven’t had much time to connect, the fresh start has him locked in and focused. At cornerback, seven players remain, including Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Benjamin St-Juste, and others. The tight end room is similarly stacked, with Kraft, Musgrave, and three others holding it down. The offseason program kicks off Monday, with OTAs starting in late May and mandatory minicamp in June.
But the real intrigue lies in the draft strategy that is now unfolding. The Packers have eight picks in this draft, spread across rounds two through seven: 52, 54, 120, 153, 160, 201, 236, and 255. With the extra roster flexibility created by the cuts, Gutekunst has the ammunition to be aggressive. And that is where the second piece of the puzzle comes into play, a development that has sent the Packers fanbase into a frenzy. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC in Houston, Arizona State offensive tackle Max Eichenberg visited Green Bay leading up to the draft, and this is not just any visit.
Eichenberg is ranked 31st on the consensus draft board, making him the highest-ranked prospect the Packers have brought in during the entire pre-draft cycle. The next closest is Georgia defensive tackle Christian Miller at number 47, a gap of 16 spots that is impossible to ignore. The Packers have had 28 of their 30 pre-draft visits reported, and Eichenberg stands alone as the only top-tier talent to walk through the doors at Lambeau Field. This is not random noise; it is a signal, a clear indication that the front office is contemplating a move that could reshape the offensive line for years to come.
The profile of Max Eichenberg is nothing short of remarkable. He did not start playing football until he walked onto his junior college team at East Los Angeles College. He was not recruited out of high school, had no five-star pedigree, and simply showed up, worked, and earned everything. From there, he transferred to Arizona State, became a two-year starter, and finished the 2025 season as an All-Big 12 right tackle. At 6-foot-6 and 321 pounds, with 34-inch arms and a 4.91-second 40-yard dash at the combine, he moves like an athlete. He can handle speed rushers on the edge, neutralize bull rushes with his length, and his combine numbers back up everything on film.
The contrast with the other offensive linemen Green Bay has visited is jarring. The only other offensive line prospects brought in are Ethan Okunola from Ohio State and Josh Gaskey from Illinois, both projected as undrafted free agents. Those are fine depth signings, but Eichenberg is a completely different category of player. The fact that he is the only high-end offensive line prospect they have hosted makes this visit feel deeply intentional. Does it guarantee a trade-up? No. Twelve teams have visited Eichenberg, making him a popular prospect. But the Packers being on that list, with him as the highest-ranked player in their entire pre-draft cycle, is not something to scroll past.
When you put the two pieces together, the roster cuts and the Eichenberg visit, a clear picture emerges. Gutekunst is not just trimming fat; he is creating space to be aggressive. The three extra roster spots are not a minor detail; they represent three more chances to find a diamond in the rough, a player like Jamon Johnson who grinded his way onto the practice squad and delivered when his number was called. This is a front office that is locked in, prepared, and has options. This is not a team stumbling into the draft hoping something falls their way; this is a team with a plan.
The Packers are on the clock Friday night, and the possibility of a trade-up for Eichenberg is now the dominant narrative in Green Bay. The offensive line needs to protect Jordan Love, and Eichenberg fits that need like a glove. His trajectory from a junior college walk-on to a top-31 prospect is the kind of story that defines the NFL Draft. And with Gutekunst holding eight picks and extra roster flexibility, the stage is set for a bold move that could send shockwaves through the league. The draft starts Thursday, but the real action begins Friday, and the Packers are ready to strike.
A sudden announcement from the head coach is shaking the entire organization.
