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 a breakout season, like we saw from Tucker Craft last year.
Let's take a 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 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, Jordan Morgan hasn't been much of a standout in his first two seasons. The 6-foot-5 offensive lineman played only 186 offensive snaps in his rookie season, and was rated as a below-average player in 749 snaps last season.
The real problem appears to be that the team moved him around a lot, deploying him at both left (51 snaps) and right tackle (148) and right (358) and left guard (191). This never really allowed him to settle into one spot and focus on playing, which he finally got a chance to do this offseason. Projected to be the starter at left tackle, we think Morgan can be as effective as Rasheed Walker was for Green Bay.
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Trey Smack, Kicker
The Packers' draft class in 2026 doesn't include anyone other than Trey Smacks, who is trusted to play the lion's share of snaps from the jump. So, this really leaves Smack as the only newbie who can prove himself to be a fans' 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 nab him. It's also a testament to what Smack showed in his first practice at rookie camp that Green Bay released Brandon McManus just months after giving him a $1 million roster bonus. We echo what Matt Stover said about Smack, and we think the big impact is immediate.
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Matthew Golden, wide receiver
Matthew Golden not seeing much on the field in his rookie season was interpreted by some as an indictment on the young pass-catcher. In reality, it speaks to the Packers' depth at wide receiver and how the team has slowly brought in offensive weapons. Now heading into his sophomore season, we are expecting a big leap from Golden in 2026.
Consider his performance in the Wild Card round – 84 receiving yards and a touchdown on four receptions – as a glimpse of what he's capable of. He's 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 options for Jordan Love, we think it's possible for Golden to have over 700 receiving yards and 5-7 touchdowns.
Evan Williams, Security
Evan Williams is already a key piece in the Packers' defense, and complements 24-year-old All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney nicely. We're going to see Williams take the next step forward in his career this fall, possibly even earning his first Pro Bowl selection. Already strong against the run, Williams could set career highs in interceptions, tackles for loss and pass deflections in 2026.
