Which Key Position Has the Packers Locked In? Questions Stirring the Offseason!

Now is the time of year when the fanbases of the 30 NFL teams that didn’t qualify for the Super Bowl start to envision what their team’s rosters might look like come Week 1 of 2025.

Free-agent wish lists and crunching draft tape to create mocks are the most popular activities this time of year. One of my favorite activities is analyzing the Green Bay Packers’ current depth chart and focusing on positions they don’t need to target this upcoming offseason. As I look up and down Green Bay’s roster, examining who’s under contract for 2025, running back is the first position that caught my attention.

That might be futile before free agency and the draft, considering how quickly a roster can change. Still, what I found interesting about Green Bay’s running back room is they are returning all three of their contributors from the 2024 season, plus a high draft pick that essentially red-shirted his rookie season due to injury. The Packers typically carry three to four running backs, and they are in a great position this offseason.

The Packers have four running backs who will probably return for 2025. Last offseason, Green Bay replaced Aaron Jones with Josh Jacobs. He was everything — and then some — that the Packers expected him to be. At different moments this past season, reserve backs Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks proved they are capable in doses and gave Green Bay quality snaps.

Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, and Derrick Henry are responsible for rejuvenating the running back position. Before this season, GMs considered it a disposable asset that didn’t require any significant investment. The Packers took the gamble on Jacobs in free agency and were rewarded with 1,410 yards and 16 touchdowns on 319 carries. At times this season, like in the Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles, it seemed like the Packers would only go as far as Jacobs could take them.

Wilson also proved he was a capable back in this league last year, and he should be a solid backup to Jacobs next season. The former undrafted Division II star ran for 508 yards on 106 carries with four touchdowns (including the playoffs). He also added a receiving touchdown, showing another element to his game. Wilson is scheduled to become an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason, similar to last offseason. Therefore, Green Bay will likely bring back the 26-year-old on a one-year deal as a low-risk, high-reward option.

Chris Brooks was one of the offense’s most surprising additions. The Packers signed him to the practice squad after the Miami Dolphins cut him in training camp on September 3. Brooks appeared in 16 games and ran for 183 yards and a touchdown on only 36 carries.

His most impressive contribution to the Packers this past season was as a blocker, often working as the lead blocker in the backfield with Jacobs in two-RB sets. Brooks found himself on the field during key drives late in games, assigned to pass protect for Jordan Love.

Green Bay tasked Brooks with blitz pickups in the Houston Texans game, a testament to his blocking ability from the coaching staff. I see a similar role for Brooks as the third back and pseudo-fullback in 2025. The Packers have Brooks under contract in 2025. He’s in line to be a restricted free agent after the season.

MarShawn Lloyd is the wild card of the backfield next season. As a rookie, the 2024 third-round pick out of the University of Southern California was snakebitten with injuries. Hip and hamstring injuries sidelined Lloyd for most of the summer, outside of one preseason game. Once he was clear to return to action in Week 2, he injured his ankle six carries into Green Bay’s home opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

After they placed him on injured reserve, indicating a potential return, he needed emergency surgery to remove his appendix. Hopefully, it was just a series of unfortunate circumstances, and Llyod can hit the ground running this offseason and prepare for a normal workload in 2025. His home-run ability would be a nice complement to Jacobs’ power running.

By all accounts, Lloyd is a good fit for this system. He has impressive speed and burst and should complement Jacobs. Many draft pundits considered him the best back in the draft last season. He must prove them right once he can stay on the field.

The Packers will likely add some additional competition to the backfield during the offseason. Last year, A.J. Dillon re-signed for $1.45 million on the rarely used four-year qualifying contract. A stinger injury in camp ruined his opportunity to contribute, and Wilson’s and Brooks’ emergence likely spells the end of the Mayor of Door County’s time in green and gold.

However, LaFleur’s power-running scheme could be a good fit for Dillion if he’s willing to take a team-friendly deal to return and compete in the offseason. The draft could also factor into their plans, but Gutekunst probably would target more pressing needs with his eight (current) picks.

Even if Green Bay remains status quo at running back for 2025, it should be another extremely competitive and productive unit for this offense. If 2024 proved anything, the Packers are at their best offensively when the backs are carrying the brunt of the load. A team rarely has four backs it feels comfortable with at any given time, but the 2025 Packers look loaded with ball carriers.