Don’t Overlook This Undrafted Free Agent the Packers Signed
By GilMartin
The Green Bay Packers have done a good job in recent years finding diamonds in the rough. At least one undrafted free agent usually makes the Packers opening day roster, which is a bit of a surprise when you realize how consistently the team has been winning over the last three-plus decades. This year, the most intriguing undrafted free agent signed by the Packers is former University of Georgia defensive lineman Nazir Stackhouse.
Stackhouse will compete for a roster spot at nose tackle. His size and ability to take on multiple blockers make him a candidate to replace T.J. Slaton as the Packers nose tackle on running downs.
The Georgia alum stands 6’3” and weighs 327 pounds. He played five seasons with the Bulldogs, gaining one extra year as a result of the Covid pandemic year in 2020.
Stackhouse’s biggest strength is that he’s tough to move out of the center of the defensive line. Over the last two seasons, he made two sacks and four tackles for loss. Stackhouse isn’t known for penetrating into the backfield, but he will help tangle up the blockers and free up his teammates to make tackles.
Most scouts listed Stackhouse as a fifth or sixth-round pick before the draft, but he went undrafted before Packers GM Brian Gutekunst signed him.
Gutekunst also selected Stackhouse’s teammate and fellow defensive lineman, Warren Brinson in the sixth round of the draft. As a result, two Georgia players who lined up next to each other along the middle of the defensive line will be in training camp together.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart appreciated what Stackhouse brought to the table during his time in Athens, Georgia. “He has tremendous flexibility, which keeps you from getting injured,” Smart said when asked about Stackhouse. “He has what we call contact balance, which means he can strike and not get knocked off when another person hits him on a double team. He can anchor. So, he’s been very durable, and we would be in trouble without him. And I thought he had a really, really good year two years ago. He had a pretty good year last year, and then this year he’s played better to me than last year. And he continues to grow and get better, but he’s just been a workload.”
Smart also appreciated the way Stackhouse carried himself and led in college. “He’s an invaluable leader because he sets an example by the way he practices and his toughness,” the coach added. “I mean, he carries more reps than anybody, and we’ve tried to take some of that off of him too in practice because he’s played so long.”
One interesting fact about Stackhouse is that he was diagnosed with narcolepsy during his first season at Georgia. That means he would fall asleep during team meetings on occasion.
After the diagnosis, doctors were able to treat the condition with medication. “He’s a great kid,” Smart said. “Once they got it under control, it was not a big deal. … It never affected his performance.”
After the draft, Gutekunst referred to the quality of the undrafted free agents the Packers signed, clearly alluding to Stackhouse among other players. “I just left the draft room, the UDFAs we were able to sign were guys we have pretty high on the board,” he said. The Packers had only eight picks in this year’s draft after having more than 10 picks in each of the last three seasons.
The Packers lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles in last year’s playoffs, in part because of how the Eagles dominated the trenches. Adding a run stuffer like Stackhouse could help the Packers in this department.
Stackhouse may not have been drafted, but he could become a useful piece in Jeff Hafley’s defense this season and beyond if he lives up to his potential.
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Comments (48)
PeteK
May 03, 2025 at 10:30 am
Freeing up the LBs will be valuable in stopping the opposing run game. Somebody has to do the grunt work.
Alberta_Packer
May 03, 2025 at 10:46 am
I view Stackhouse as a capable replacement for Slaton. Like Slaton - Stackhouse will not offer much in terms of a pass rush. However, he will reinforce the middle of the line and is also a decent run defender. I expect him to make the 53. Or - at the very least - the P.S.
TKWorldWide
May 04, 2025 at 06:42 am
At least the PS is better than being a POS.
Seeing as though the VP is such a VIP, shouldn’t we keep the PC on the QT, cuz if it leaks to the VC he could end up MIA and then we’d all end up on KP.
jannesbjornson
May 04, 2025 at 10:17 am
Where does Brinson fit in the picture?
TKWorldWide
May 04, 2025 at 01:43 pm
Right in the middle.
splitpea1
May 03, 2025 at 11:12 am
I was surprised he wasn't drafted, but I'm glad we signed him. From NFL Draft Buzz: "Anchor strength borders on elite--plants those tree trunk legs and becomes virtually immovable against single blocks, forcing offenses to commit additional resources to move him." More good stuff: "Demonstrates impressive conditioning for his size, maintaining his efffectiveness through four quarters without significant drop-off in performance or technique." Now I don't think we have to worry about four quarters, but it's nice to know anyway.
We have enough DLs that can provide a little rush, so there's definitely a place for a guy like Stackhouse on the team.
LLCHESTY
May 03, 2025 at 11:40 am
I love how these articles make it sound like it's easy to predict when a team is going to run. Slaton played 427 snaps last year and 208 of them were passing snaps when he was a total liability. I guess if he comes in and does as good of a job as Slaton did you could see going from a 5th rounder to UDFA as a win but not when there were plenty of options in this draft that were more effective pass rushers. Stackhouse is good at what he does but having a player like that on the field for 200+ passing snaps is like giving the offense a free pass.
It's early days yet but next year's DT class looks very weak. Hopefully a lot of Juniors decide to come out early.
Coldworld
May 03, 2025 at 11:53 am
Part of predicting the run is tied to what you put out there against it. It’s a game of double bluff. Having a true anchor at times can be valuable outside of obvious run downs, for that reason as well as keeping the LBs clean. Obviously one would like players that excel at both. Teams are lucky if they have one of those though.
I was hoping we’d grab him in the 7th after a draft when we passed on a number of credible rare pass and run capable DTs in a very favorable draft. He is better against the run than Brinson (who isn’t bad) and much better at clogging the middle or tying up 2 OL to clear lanes for others.
Since'75
May 03, 2025 at 12:00 pm
See, i like this.
A realist, capable of critical thinking.
*********
I also see other comments, explaining what they will excel at in concerning the NFL level.
I'm sorry, but college players don't excel at anything in the NFL until....they do.
Generally speaking, players are undrafted for valid reasons, otherwise, they would have been drafted.
Good post LL
nagawicka
May 03, 2025 at 05:26 pm
I see what you mean now, no need to stop the run game. It's the NFL and you can't tell when they'll run it, totally agree.
SicSemperTyrannis
May 04, 2025 at 06:58 am
Show me one play in one game last season when GB fooled anybody about if they were going to run.
LLCHESTY
May 04, 2025 at 08:50 am
Who said anything about not stopping the run? I'm talking about not having a bad pass rusher on the field on a passing play. If you look at Slaton's snaps from last the Packers certainly didn't do a good job of predicting run or pass.
On the 3rd and 12 everybody knows what's going to happen. On 3rd and 2? Teams will lean run but there's plenty of passes in that situation as well.
I am merely pointing out that Stackhouse is just a replacement for what the Packers had in Slaton and not something better. This was a draft that doesn't come around very often when you look at how many 320+ lb DTs that were also decent pass rushers and they took none.
nagawicka
May 04, 2025 at 07:07 pm
We won't know if Stackhouse is better than Slaton til the end of training camp.
My point was that opposing teams will always run the ball we'll have to stop the run whether Slaton was/Stackhouse is on the field or not.
Opposing teams' running games don't go away just because Slaton/Stackhouse is or is not on the field.
nagawicka
May 03, 2025 at 05:27 pm
Stackhouse is on the 53 because anyone can totally predict that the other team will run it whenever they have the ball, not sure wym.
SicSemperTyrannis
May 04, 2025 at 06:54 am
I think the idea is that Stackhouse will be better.
We'll see ...
LLCHESTY
May 04, 2025 at 09:10 am
I seriously doubt Stackhouse will provide any more pass rush than Slaton did.
Leatherhead
May 05, 2025 at 05:59 pm
OK, 208 passing snaps. Given a league completion average of about .66, that would be about 140 completions, for an average of a little over 10 yards.
Now, what percent of those 140 completions would not have occurred if we'd had a better pass rusher than Slaton on the field?
I think it's probably closer to 10% than 50%, but let's split the difference and say 30%. So, that would have been 42 fewer completions over a 17 game season. About 2.5 a game.
And for that level of improvement, we needed to spend our first round pick??
IF THE GOAL is to stuff the run, and I've been told that it is by people who think they know a lot, then isn't the best possible run stuffer a guy who makes people pass it instead of run? I mean, if teams look across the line and see this guy and say "Pass", then hasn't he done what you want him to do?
I like the big hog in the middle of the line on first down and short yardage. If the opponent chooses to pass it, that's fine by me.
Y'all are obsessed with this pressure stuff. If we really, really, really needed more pressure, we'd blitz a little more. As it is, pretty much every team in the league blitzes more than us, yet we finished 9th in sack %, 9th in sacks, 9th in opposing QB rating, 6th in Adjusted yards/attempt, and 3rd in interceptions, which are sometimes caused by pressure. We did not do a bad job of getting pressure on the QB with 4 guys, and I don't think replacing Slaton with a pass rusher on first down is going to make that big of a difference.
Since'75
May 03, 2025 at 12:20 pm
First thing that came to mind seeing that photo, is he loves the China food.
No offense Eddie, hope all is well.
**********
We don't know who is a credible run defender and pass rusher, until they get into it at the NFL level.
Players drafted, undrafted, 1st round, 7th round.... none of it matters now.
What they did in high school, college, what awards they won, where they grew up, what Division they played in, scouting reports, draft grades, etc.....means absolutely nothing.
All that is left at this point, is proving yourself on a NFL field.
That's all that matters...period.
Since'75
May 03, 2025 at 12:24 pm
Oops, almost forgot....
Just for discussion, who are these diamonds in the rough the Packers found in recent years?
Curious.
Coldworld
May 03, 2025 at 12:37 pm
Rasheed Walker and Carrington Valentine were both 7th rounders. Emmanuel Wilson, Brenton Cox and Malik Heath are UDFAs. All are players we drafted/signed first and played significant snaps last year, off the top of my head.
Since'75
May 03, 2025 at 01:10 pm
Yea Cold, Walker came to my mind, but a diamond? Mmmm.....idk bout dat
Valentine, meh.....need to see more than one season where he made some plays, but i'll give him credit.
Yea...2 picks, 2 forced fumbles.
Making more plays last season than some players, making far more money.
So Kudos for that. Keep it going CV
As far your other examples, diamonds are rare and special, so.....
************
When i think diamonds in the rough i think Sam Shields, Tramon Williams, and going back in the time machine, Willie Wood.
Coldworld
May 03, 2025 at 04:43 pm
A 7th rounder who is a legitimate starter works for me without doubt. A player who is a legitimate contributor as a 7th does too. The bar is a little higher for them perhaps, but both make it for me.
I ignored SFA types like Tramon and Whelan and just stuck with our draft picks and UDFAs here. For a UDFA to be a gem, regular contributions don’t have to be major, just consistent. Cox and Wilson have surpassed that thus far.
Since'75
May 09, 2025 at 01:01 pm
I was mentioning UDFA's. I'm really not concerned if they came from the street, Burger King, or living next to a dumpster, if they are better than average NFL players, that works for me.
If were including draft picks as diamonds...then i'd go with Donald Driver as a 7th round.
Again, better than average, way better than average.
Someone can be a starter, and still be just a body out there, so my bar is higher, especially if we're calling them a diamond in the rough.
Gman1976
May 03, 2025 at 04:40 pm
Looking further back, I would add Sam Shields who was a great cornerback, but had an injury shortened career.
NFLfan
May 03, 2025 at 01:06 pm
Rasheed Walker is the only real 'gem' IMO.
nagawicka
May 03, 2025 at 05:29 pm
Totally agree, Rasheed Walker came in as a 7th rounder, no expectations, and proceeded to lock down Left Tackle. Nothing to complain about here. PAY HIM.
SicSemperTyrannis
May 04, 2025 at 07:05 am
Replacing him with someone younger cheaper and better is also a pretty good option, if it presents itself. Soon GB won't be able to pay everyone they'd like to keep. There were a few players I thought they'd pay this year, especially when looking at how little they're being paid to play elsewhere.
nagawicka
May 04, 2025 at 07:02 pm
Do that too. If not Morgan or Belton, get another #1 LT and pay them both.
Winning in the NFL requires doing that at every position. What ya don't do is throw away a 7th round starting LT who's won the job and kept it and graded out well in the process.
Since'75
May 09, 2025 at 01:35 pm
To be fair he's graded out in the top 80% or so in the NFL, kudos.
In run blocking, he's near the bottom, reality.
I'd like to think, if the Packers think he's worth the money, they'll keep him.
I'm guessing the Packers GM and coaching staff have a better read on Walker than you, me or the kool aid connoisseurs.
Since'75
May 09, 2025 at 01:37 pm
Nagawicka, (golf course?)....BTW...are you in the Lake Country area?
blondy45
May 05, 2025 at 11:06 am
Until we have a Left OT that clearly is better than Walker, we need to pay for what we have now, not what we hope will be a better option in the future. If we can sign him to a 3 year deal with incentives for playing time, that signing would be well worth it. Pay Rasheed!
nagawicka
May 05, 2025 at 05:32 pm
Exactly! Rasheed Walker is a known quantity. Pay your proven Left Tackle.
Every single person who keeps repeating the Packers have a better LT and [somehow] dictating that Rasheed's history--had better show their evidence that the Packers DO in fact have a league-dominant starting Left Tackle replacement on the roster. Prove it. Until then, Rasheed Walker's starting. Respect. ALso they keep saying 'Morgan will compete' at left tackle and right guard and cool coolio that's all anyone can ask.
Leatherhead
May 05, 2025 at 06:12 pm
In order of priority, tell me where Walker ranks.
Resigning Tom. Keeping Jenkins. Keeping Banks. Resigning Walker. Resigning Rhyan.
There simply isn't enough money to pay every player on your offensive line $20M/year, so you have to choose.
Jenkins is the oldest and most expensive, but he also our best Olineman. Tom is a very good starting tackle that we'd like to keep. So can we afford to pay for the rest, or do we end up choosing between Walker and Banks?
Bitternotsour
May 05, 2025 at 06:23 pm
Consistency is none of our strong suits, but you've spent a fair amount of keystrokes arguing about the availability of a certain cornerback, but for some reason that same concern is lacking regarding our "best Olineman?
Elgton Jenkins has missed multiple games due to injuries, including a season-ending ACL tear in 2021 and a sprained MCL in 2024
2021 Season: Jenkins suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his left knee during the 2021 season.
2024 Season: Jenkins suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee during the 2024 season.246 Jenkins has been a key player for the Green Bay Packers, but his injuries have significantly impacted his availability and performance on the field.
I'd also argue that he was hardly his best self coming back from the ACL tear in 2022, and that his 2024 first half wasn't all that great either.
nagawicka
May 05, 2025 at 08:54 pm
Why would I tell you where Rhyan or Walker ranks when I'm in the middle of contract negotiations for a half-dozen players at a time, hey thinkin about all 53 round the clock. You see? Zero option here for repeating 'there simply isn't enough' just because you heard someone else say it before. Maybe Walker's at the head of the line; we got our money's worth. What makes you think re-signing Walker--an LT in a Left Tackle-hungry league--isn't a major priority? To pay *him*, and not some unproven schlub at a dime-a-dozen spot? End-of-season OLine breakdowns cost us the playoff run so carrying a few big lugs and paying them accordingly is only predictable. a) Packers have the power to allocate salaries as they see fit; b) find a replacement LT and prove him better before buying tombstones for current starters; c) Consigning Walker to the trash heap before training camp opens and the roster sorts itself out is . . .. sorta asinine. It'll be interesting to see how they all stack up. It always is. More interesting than watching folks skip over the good part in some blog. Let 'em play.
nagawicka
May 03, 2025 at 05:32 pm
Donald Driver was an unknown 7th rounder the year the Derrick Mayes hype turned out differently in training camp. Tauscher picked in the 7th
Turophile
May 03, 2025 at 05:45 pm
NT Stackhouse, Big CB/S 'Buggs' Brown, and LB Dumas-Johnson, are my favourite undrafted guys.
I'm betting Stackhouse ends up a better NT than Brinson.......and if Brown can develop, he has great height/weight/speed. Dumas-Johnson has plenty to learn - but you can't teach speed.
SDPack
May 03, 2025 at 09:32 pm
Don’t forget we were developing Jonathan Ford on our practice squad before the Bears signed him to their roster. Ford is 6’5”, 337 and played well in our preseasons and flashed for the Bears in his brief regular season snaps. He would have been the heir apparent to Slaton had the Packers figured out a way to roster him last year.
SicSemperTyrannis
May 04, 2025 at 07:09 am
Yup. Lots of big guys GB spent roster spots on who never played a meaningful snap, too. Hopefully that wasn't a mistake and they just weren't good, and all the current big men are better? I'm not sold on talent evaluation over the past few years. Hopefully staff is improving at that..
BubbaOne
May 03, 2025 at 10:28 pm
If he's successful, he could open up a restaurant with a great name...
STACKHOUSE'S STEAKHOUSE
SicSemperTyrannis
May 04, 2025 at 07:10 am
He might stack a house full of pancakes, lol
LambeauPlain
May 04, 2025 at 09:38 am
Big man! The DL room is getting very crowed, however. Figuratively and literally..."tons" of talent. At worst Stack will be a PS candidate. Has a chance for the 53 but not a huge chance.
The rookie DL and DE's will greatly challenge Enagbare, Wooden, Brooks, Mosby and even Van Ness...he's got to show it this season.
Leatherhead
May 05, 2025 at 06:14 pm
I think he's the best NT on the roster.
Unless Van Ness has the worst training camp in history, he's on the 45.
Bitternotsour
May 05, 2025 at 06:33 pm
the best nose tackle on the roster is Kenny Clarke. There will be no debate over objective facts.
Leatherhead
May 05, 2025 at 07:36 pm
Then why doesn't he play nose on first down? Why did we bring in Slaton for that?
Bitternotsour
May 05, 2025 at 07:38 pm
Slaton is gone. I'm talking about the roster today.
Leatherhead
May 06, 2025 at 09:12 am
I think that Clark has slimmed down, according to him and the team. He's not going to be playing NT for us.
nagawicka
May 06, 2025 at 10:38 am
How do we know? When none of them have hit the field?