The Green Bay Packers’ two-day rookie minicamp took place on May 1st and 2nd, offering fans their first taste of the 2026 season.
Today, I’ll go over the highlights, including the arrival of the Packers’ latest draft class, as well as some other interesting stories!
Welcome Home
The most exciting part about rookie minicamp was undoubtedly the arrival of the Packers’ newest crop of draftees.
Fans got their first chance to see the players in uniform, and some players also got their first opportunity to speak with the media.
Although we won’t get much news on the on-field portion of the event, it’s nice to get an idea of who these players could become, and to come away without any injuries.
Rookie edge rusher Dani-Dennis Sutton made a strong first impression by making sure that he acquainted himself with every reporter who came to listen to him speak, and he also got the stamp of approval from his fellow Penn State alum, Micah Parsons.
Fellow newcomers Brandon Cisse and Trey Smack also had their own scrums, with both being asked about the possibility of playing right away.
Cisse looked the part of the high-IQ defensive back that the Green Bay Packers desperately need, and Smack seemed confident in his ability to kick in Lambeau’s conditions.
Although I’ve already seen a few comments on this draft class, with some saying that they won’t be the difference between success and failure this coming season, I tend to disagree.
The impact may not be that stark, but I do think that their performances could be a significant factor when it comes to another playoff exit or a ring.
Cisse, if effective, could become a starter on the boundary very quickly, and when it comes to Smack, well, we’ve seen what a kicker can cost you.
Regardless, it’s far too early to make any sort of judgement.
Family Ties
One of the running themes of minicamp this year was family ties, as several of the Packers’ attending signees had some sort of previous relationship to the team.
The most obvious of those were tryout running back Isaiah Jacobs and UDFA tight end RJ Maryland.
Isaiah Jacobs is the brother of current Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs, and his presence at Green Bay’s minicamp was likely great fun for the family.
Isaiah spent his first two college seasons at Maryland before transferring to Independence Community College, then finally settled at UAB.
A string of injuries stopped his college career from ever getting off of the ground, and despite the fact that Isaiah didn’t get signed by the Packers, it seems like he’ll be getting another shot at sticking in Miami, where former Packers front office member Jon-Eric Sullivan runs the show.
For RJ Maryland, the relation comes by way of his father, Russell Maryland, who started at defensive tackle for the Packers for a season in 2000.
Russell was signed to replace Gilbert Brown after the Packers chose to move on from him, and now his son will get the chance to don the same colors.
Of the UDFA’s Green Bay brought on, RJ Maryland could have one of the best shots to make the roster, which might make the pair the first father and son duo to appear in a regular season game for the team.
As Vince Lombardi once said, it’s God, family, and the Green Bay Packers, and that doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon.
A Interesting Cameo
Of the news to come out of Green Bay’s minicamp, one story stuck out, and that was the Packers’ try out of former Steelers wide receiver, Chase Claypool.
After being out of the NFL for the entirety of the 2025 season, Claypool made an unexpected appearance in Green Bay, nearly three and a half years after the team considered trading for him in 2022.
At that time, Claypool landed in Chicago in exchange for the thirty-second overall pick, but shortly afterward, his career fizzled out.
On Friday, he took the practice field donning a combination made famous by former Packers receiver James Jones, number 89 and a hoodie.
Although Claypool’s comeback attempt appears to have fallen short, with the Packers passing on signing him, he likely won’t be the last veteran that the team takes a flyer on this spring.
What’s Next?
Following the conclusion of rookie minicamp, the Green Bay Packers’ next stop on the offseason agenda will be OTA’s, which start at the end of May.
Until then, we’ll be in a bit of a dry spell, but some more important news will likely be coming later today.
New staffers Jonathan Gannon and Cam Achord will be speaking to the media for the first time since their hiring, and those press conferences should give us a solid idea of where this team is headed in 2026, especially in regard to those units.
Considering how heavily the Packers invested in their defense in the draft, there’ll be a lot to chew on.
