At the end of the 2025 season, running back appeared to be one of the deeper position groups on the Green Bay Packers roster. But after the Packers announced they would not give a tender offer to restricted free agent Emanuel Wilson, the position suddenly has a lot more questions heading into free agency and the draft. We break down the Packers needs at running back and how they’ve changed after the team’s recent decision not to tender Emanuel Wilson.
The Packers Needs at Running Back Have Changed: The Running Back Room in 2025
Josh Jacobs returned as the Packers number one running back in 2025. Unfortunately, Jacobs struggled with nagging injuries that caused him to miss two full games and limited him in several other contests.
Jacobs finished the season with 929 yards rushing and averaged 4.0-yards per carry. He gained exactly 400 more yards in 2024 and averaged nearly one half yard more per carry. Part of the issue was a drop in the play of the offensive line.
Wilson served as the primary backup. In fact, he recorded the only 100-yard rushing game by the Packers in one of the games Jacobs missed. Wilson finished the season with 496 yards on the ground.
Chris Brooks served as the third running back on the depth chart. Brooks’ biggest contributions came as a blocker. He proved to be the team’s best running back in pass protection and was adept at picking up blitzes and stunts. He gained 106 yards on 27 carries over the course of the season. Most of his contributions don’t show up in the box score, but he did a good job of making sure Jordan Love had enough time to throw the football. Brooks will be a restricted free agent as well.
The Decision
By not giving a tender offer to Wilson, the backup running back will become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year starts later this month. Had they tendered him, they would have had the option to match any offer at minimum or would have received compensation had he signed with another team depending on whether they offered a first-round tender, a second-round tender, or a right of first refusal tender.
The first-round tender would have guaranteed Wilson a salary of $8.74 million this season, clearly more than the team wanted to pay. Had a team signed Wilson, they would have had to send the Packers a first-round pick. The second-round tender would have cost $6.26 million, still excessive for a backup running back. The right of first refusal tender would have cost $3.8 million. Apparently, GM Brian Gutekunst didn’t want to pay Wilson that much money in 2026.
The Packers are taking a chance. They will either try to sign Wilson for less than $3.8 million or risk losing him for nothing if he signs elsewhere.
The Packers Needs at Running Back Have Changed: Looking Ahead
If the Packers lose Wilson this offseason, they will need more depth at running back. The next running back on the depth chart is MarShawn Lloyd, who missed the entire 2025 season due to an assortment of injuries. In fact, in two NFL seasons, the former third-round pick has played just one NFL game and missed 33 due to injuries.
While the team loves Lloyd’s potential if he could get on the field, the Packers cannot rely on him to play a big role in 2026. Anything they get from Lloyd would have to be considered a bonus.
Jacobs struggled with injuries in 2025 and just turned 28 last month. He has a lot of wear and tear on his body 1,840 career rushing attempts and 269 catches seven NFL seasons. That doesn’t include the playoffs or his high school and college career. Jacobs has reached the age when NFL running backs start to slow down.
The only running backs under contract besides Jacobs and Lloyd as of now are Pierre Strong Jr., and Damien Martinez who both signed futures contracts after spending the season on the practice squad.
Unless the Packers re-sign Wilson, running back goes from a future need to an immediate need and a position the team will have to address in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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