ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently highlighted the NFL’s best “luxury players,” or players who might not be highly lauded but still play important weekly roles for a football team. No one from the Green Bay Packers made the 11-player list, but it provided an idea: Who are the Packers’ important specialized players entering 2025?

The modern game is evolving in all three phases every year, and a 17-game regular season schedule requires depth at key spots. The best teams have the right players handling important roles and can adjust quickly based on the situation or opponent.

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Using Barnwell’s blueprint, here are the Packers’ “luxury” players in specialized roles for Matt LaFleur’s team entering 2025:

Sixth offensive lineman: TBD

The Packers believe they have at least six starting caliber players along the offensive line. It’s just unclear, based on the upcoming competitions, which of the six will end up being the true No. 6 option. Rasheed Walker and Jordan Morgan will compete at left tackle, while Morgan and Sean Rhyan will compete at right guard. Walker and Rhyan are multi-year starters, but the Packers want Morgan, a 2024 first-round pick, on the field. In second-round pick Anthony Belton, the Packers might have a seventh starting-caliber offensive lineman in 2025.

Blitzing off-ball linebacker: Edgerrin Cooper

By this time next year, Cooper could be widely viewed as the NFL’s best blitzing linebacker. There’s an argument to be made that he’s already there. By PFF grade, Cooper had the second-best pass-rush grade among off-ball linebackers in 2024, when he produced 12 pressures (including 3.5 sacks) on only 56 blitz attempts. Kaden Ellis, Barnwell’s pick for best blitzing off-ball linebacker, had a position-leading 43 pressures on 156 blitzes. Cooper will be a full-time player in 2025, but he might not get that many blitz opportunities. Still, his impact as a pass-rusher in Jeff Hafley’s aggressive scheme will be substantial. In addition to Cooper, Quay Walker is a quality blitzer from multiple linebacker alignments. Second-level blitzes is a strength for the Packers entering 2025.

Slot cornerback: Nate Hobbs

The Packers gave $48 million to Hobbs, who played his best football with the Raiders while in the slot and figures to play a versatile inside-outside role for Jeff Hafley in 2025. He is a fiery competitor with the physicality and movement skills to handle all the responsibilities against the run and in coverage against quick, shifty receivers. Keisean Nixon also has experience in the slot, and Javon Bullard played a hybrid safety-slot role as a rookie. Thet Packers are surprisingly deep in slot options, but Hobbs has the most difference-making potential. He has a chance to be a fun player in the slot for Hafley.

Kickoffs: Brandon McManus

By average field position following kickoffs, McManus ranked 14th among qualified kickoff specialists in 2024, suggesting the Packers have some room for overall improvement here. But there’s not much to complain about here. With new kickoff rules, the value of distance control and hangtime has never been higher. Over 50 percent of McManus’ kickoffs were returned, a strong number. If a kickoff specialist is forcing returns on over 50 percent of kicks and keeping average field position short of the 30, everything is in pretty good shape.

Special teams gunner: Bo Melton

Melton is cross-training at cornerback in large part due to his ability covering kicks and punts as a gunner. He is fast, nimble, surprisingly physical and a capable tackler — all the things you want in a gunner. Melton did miss seven tackles last season, so he must be more consistent getting people on the ground. Playing a little more under control is required, but it’s hard to fault a guy who is flying down the field and causing chaos near the catch point, especially on punts. While the depth chart is crowded at receiver, Melton is a valuable special teamer who is giving himself a chance to provide even more value if he can prove capable at corner.

Blocking tight end: TBD

The Packers want to use Tucker Kraft more in the passing game in 2025, which may mean lessening his responsibilities as a true in-line blocker. A roster battle to watch this summer is between Ben Sims and John FitzPatrick, two players the Packers have used as a blocking option behind Kraft and Luke Musgrave. Altogether, Sims and FitzPatrick played over 200 run-blocking snaps in 2024 but were merely average as blockers. One must emerge as a consistent option entering 2025. FitzPatrick (6-7, 250) has the frame from blocking and plenty of experience dating back to his time as the go-to in-line blocker for Georgia.

Short yardage running back: Josh Jacobs

The Packers got a bunch of short touchdown runs from Jacobs, showcasing the Pro Bowler’s ability to find enough room in crowded spaces and convert in short yardage situations. Matt LaFleur even utilized Tucker Kraft in some modified “Tush Push” plays late in the season, and all five attempts were successful. In most cases, Jacobs is going to be the preferred option, and his combination of vision and power is a good one for converting the important short yardage opportunities — although the Packers must run block more consistently in these situations in 2025.

Gadget player: Savion Williams

This title could also go to Jayden Reed or Bo Melton, but Williams is tailor-made for playing the gadget role in Green Bay. He was a dominant gadget player at the collegiate level, and the NFL is using gadget weapons more and more. An elite athlete with elite tackle-breaking ability, Williams could give the Packers a big-play threat on jet sweeps, designed runs, screens and other manufactured touches. The Packers offense has plenty of gadget opportunities available, and Matt LaFleur is creative enough as a playcaller to design specific looks for a player like Williams. It might not happen right away, and Williams is more than just a gadget weapon, but expect LaFleur to find ways of getting him the ball in easy ways in 2025. He’s too good with the ball in his hands to have a redshirt rookie season, even in a deep receiver room.

Fourth wide receiver: TBD

Considering Christian Watson’s injury situation, the Packers’ top four at receiver entering 2025 will likely be Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and first-round pick Matthew Golden. Doubs and Reed are the most likely top options, and Golden is going to get opportunities as a speedster who can play outside and in the slot. A passing game is in pretty good shape if Golden or Wicks is the No. 4 receiver option. The Packers need more consistency from the position in 2025, but the depth entering the season is attractive.

Backup quarterback: Malik Willis

At this time last year, the Packers were preparing to stage a competition between Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt behind Jordan Love. Things are much different entering 2025 after acquiring Willis, who won both of his starts and was solid in two other appearances in relief of Love last season. Another year of experience in Matt LaFleur’s system should have Willis — a dynamic runner with a big arm — more comfortable should the Packers need him. Love must stay healthy and play more consistently in 2025, but having a capable backup quarterback — especially one with a few elite traits — is always valuable. Willis can salvage a stretch if Love is injured again. It’s possible he will be a coveted starting option as an unrestricted free agent in 2026.

Two-down defensive tackle: TBD

This spot was held down by TJ Slaton, who Barnwell actually names as his top two down run stopper. He signed a two-year deal with the Bengals. The Packers, meanwhile, must find his replacement this summer. Rookies Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse will get opportunities. So will former Seahawks draft pick Cameron Young. It’s also possible Kenny Clark will play more snaps as the block-eating defensive tackle next to Devonte Wyatt in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Who are the Packers’ ‘luxury players’ entering 2025?