7 Packers players were put on notice by team's rookie class

The Green Bay Packers added a lot of young talent to the roster over the last few days. The team finished up the draft with 11 total picks, besides signing eight undrafted free agents.

Hopefully for the Packers, all these moves will make the team stronger for the short and long term. But they also mean veteran players on the roster will have to fight harder for a starting job or even to stay on the team.

Let's talk about seven players with tougher situations now that the rookie class is in place.

RB AJ Dillon

The initial plan for the Packers was not to re-sign AJ Dillon, but his market was so thin that the team was able to bring him back with the four-year qualifying offer, which means they will pay him slightly more than the veteran minimum, but the minimum is what will count towards the salary cap.

The problem for him is that the Packers drafted MarShawn Lloyd in the third round, and Dillon doesn't have the benefit of the doubt for being a second-rounder anymore. The veteran will have to play better than he did in the last two seasons not only to justify snaps, but even to secure a roster spot.

C Josh Myers

Myers was also a failed second-round pick, but he is still the presumed starter. That being said, he is in the last year of his deal with the Packers, and the future is uncertain. The Packers drafted two tackles (including first-round pick Jordan Morgan) and an interior offensive lineman in Jacob Monk, which gives them more flexibility. It's not absurd to suggest an offensive line with Morgan playing at right tackle, moving Zach Tom to center — which reportedly is the position where the Packers think Tom is better at.

G Royce Newman

Newman reached the proven performance escalator as a fourth-round pick because of the number of snaps he's played. But this might not be a great thing for him after all. Now, Newman is slated to make $3.116 million in 2024, a $3.240 million cap hit, but none of that is guaranteed. With three o-line draft picks, the Packers would be in a much more comfortable situation to release Newman, leaving behind a small dead cap of $124,836, and opening up more than $3 million in cap space. Newman will not only have to justify his roster spot after two tough seasons, but he will also have to play up to his new salary.

QB/WR Alex McGough

The Packers have Jordan Love, but they also drafted two quarterbacks in the last two drafts. When they took Michael Pratt in the seventh round last weekend, it was evident that Alex McGough would have a tough time making the team or even the practice squad. So he decided to move to wide receiver. Let's see if it really helps his chances, even though it doesn't seem like a realistic outcome.

LB Isaiah McDuffie

McDuffie was projected to be the starting middle linebacker for the Packers, until they drafted two day 2 off-ball linebackers in Edgerrin Cooper and Ty'Ron Hopper. Both are better suited to play as weak-side linebackers, but the Packers will probably bet on the higher upside and move Quay Walker to the middle, pairing him with Cooper. McDuffie will make the 53-man roster, but he will most likely play defensive snaps only in base defense.

S Anthony Johnson Jr.

There has been an incredible influx of (much needed) talent at the safety position. The team signed Xavier McKinney in free agency and drafted Javon Bullard, Evan Williams, and Kitan Oladapo. So last year's seventh-round pick went from presumed starter to fighting for a roster spot. The Packers will possibly keep him around for developmental purposes, but the situation is much different than it was a week ago.

LS Matthew Orzech

The Packers didn't draft a long snapper, but they signed talented Peter Bowden, from Wisconsin, as an undrafted free agent. Now, veteran Matthew Orzech will have to compete for the roster spot after a below average performance last season.