The Green Bay Packers agreed to terms with 12 rookie free agents. The agreements were announced Monday by General Manager Brian Gutekunst.
| No. | Name | Pos | Ht | Wt | College | HS Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Keshawn Banks | LB | 6-3 | 251 | San Diego State | Rio Rancho, N.M. |
| 57 | Brenton Cox Jr. | LB | 6-4 | 250 | Florida | Stockbridge, Ga. |
| 65 | Chuck Filiaga | G | 6-6 | 321 | Minnesota | Aledo, Texas |
| 18 | Malik Heath | WR | 6-2 | 213 | Mississippi | Jackson, Miss. |
| 60 | Jason Lewan | DL | 6-6 | 293 | Illinois State | Yorkville, Ill. |
| 40 | Camren McDonald | TE | 6-4 | 237 | Florida State | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 49 | Christian Morgan | S | 6-0 | 200 | Baylor | Porter, Texas |
| 44 | Henry Pearson | FB | 6-2 | 249 | Appalachian State | Paramus, N.J. |
| 46 | Jimmy Phillips Jr. | LB | 6-1 | 232 | SMU | Mesquite, Texas |
| 48 | Benny Sapp III | S | 5-11 | 200 | Northern Iowa | Eden Prairie, Minn. |
| 77 | Kadeem Telfort | T | 6-7 | 322 | UAB | Miami, Fla. |
| 22 | Duece Watts | WR | 6-1 | 196 | Tulane | Petal, Miss. |
(key-shawn) Banks played in 59 games with 47 starts and registered 139 tackles (63 solo), 42 tackles for a loss (sixth most in program history since records were kept in 1979), 13.0 sacks, four passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in five seasons (2018-22) for the Aztecs. He earned second-team All-Mountain West honors from the league's coaches and media in 2019 and 2021 and honorable mention in 2020 and 2022. Banks posted 11-plus tackles for a loss and three-plus sacks in three of his five seasons.
Cox Jr. saw action in 46 games with 34 starts at the University of Georgia (13 in 2018) and the University of Florida (33 from 2020-22). Overall, he registered 137 tackles (69 solo), 34 tackles for a loss, 15.5 sacks, 10 passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Cox earned second-team All-SEC honors from The Associated Press in 2020 after he registered a career-high 41 tackles (21 solo), 9.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks, a fumble recovery and a team-leading 18 QB hurries. He matched his career high in tackles the next season and set career highs in solo tackles (26), tackles for a loss (14.5), sacks (8.5) and passes defensed (four).
Filiaga (fil-ee-ONG-uh) spent five seasons at the University of Michigan (2017-21) before playing one season at the University of Minnesota (2022). He appeared in 39 games with 11 starts (eight at left guard and three at right guard) for the Wolverines and started all 13 games he played in at RG for the Gophers. In 2022, Filiaga blocked for an offense that rushed for 2,698 yards and 33 touchdowns. He helped pave the way for Minnesota to gain 679 yards of offense (third most in school history) against Western Illinois.
Heath started his career at Copiah-Lincoln Community College (2018-19) before playing two seasons at Mississippi State (2020-21) and a season at Mississippi (2022). He played in 34 games with 21 starts in three years for the Bulldogs and Rebels, registering 131 receptions for 1,720 yards (13.1 avg.) and 13 TDs. Last season, Heath earned third-team All-SEC honors from Pro Football Focus after leading the team with 60 receptions for 971 yards (16.2 avg.) and five TDs. He finished No. 3 in the SEC in 2022 in receiving yards.
Lewan (loo-WAHN) saw action in 47 games with 41 starts in five seasons (2018-22) for Illinois State, recording 100 tackles (49 solo), 10 tackles for a loss, five sacks, eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a blocked kick. In 2019, he set career highs in games played (15), tackles (33), solo tackles (21), tackles for a loss (4.5), sacks (three), forced fumbles (one) and fumble recoveries (two) while tying his career high with three passes defensed.
McDonald appeared in 58 games with 30 starts for the Seminoles from 2018-22, finishing with 74 receptions for 861 yards (11.6 avg.) and five TDs. He posted 20-plus receptions in each of his final three seasons. In 2022, McDonald played in all 13 games with 10 starts and hauled in 21 receptions for a career-best 312 yards (14.9 avg.) and a TD as well as a career-long reception of 41 yards.
Morgan played in 56 games with 27 starts for the Bears from 2018-22, posting 154 tackles (103 solo), 7.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, seven INTs, 19 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two blocked punts. He finished his career ranked No. 6 in program history in games played. In 2020, Morgan was named honorable mention All-Big 12 after he tied for No. 1 on the team with a career-high three INTs and ranked No. 4 on the Bears with a career-best 54 tackles (39 solo).
Pearson started 43 of the 59 games he played in over five seasons (2018-22) and posted 74 receptions for 897 yards (12.1 avg.) and 11 TDs. Last season, he led the Mountaineers and tied for the conference lead among tight ends with a career-best five TDs. He also set career highs in receptions (25) and receiving yards (329). Pearson earned second-team All-Sun Belt honors from the league, Pro Football Focus and the Pro Football Network in 2022.
Phillips Jr. saw action in 59 contests from 2018-22, which tied the school record for career games played. He finished with 179 tackles (117 solo), 15.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, two INTs, nine passes defensed, a forced fumble and two blocked kicks. Phillips Jr. played in 13 games with 12 starts in 2022, leading the team with a career-best 85 tackles (50 solo). In 2021, he was named honorable mention All-AAC by Pro Football Focus.
Sapp III played in 24 games at the University of Minnesota (2018-19) before appearing in 30 games for the University of Northern Iowa (2020-22). In three seasons at UNI, he recorded 138 tackles (83 solo), 1.5 tackles for a loss, nine INTs, 16 passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. In 2022, he earned third-team FCS All-America honors from The Associated Press, second-team FCS All-America recognition from STATS Perform and the American Football Coaches Association and first-team All-MVFC honors from Phil Steele's College Football and The Bluebloods.
Telfort began his career at the University of Florida before playing three seasons at UAB, where he appeared in 31 games with 28 starts from 2020-22. Last season, he was named first-team All-Conference USA after starting at left tackle for an offense that ranked No. 8 in the country with an average of 235.3 rushing yards per game and posted 10 contests with 215-plus rushing yards. Telfort was part of a line that helped RB DeWayne McBride lead the nation in rushing yards per game (155.7).
Watts began his career at Jones County Junior College (Ellsville, Miss.) before playing three seasons (2020-22) at Tulane. He saw action in 37 games for the Green Wave, registering 81 receptions for 1,407 yards (17.4 avg.) with 16 TDs. He set his career high in receptions with 31 in 2020 and last season posted career bests in receiving yards (564), TDs (seven) and yards per catch (19.4 avg.). In 2022, Watts earned second-team All-AAC honors from the College Football Network.
