Welp, the Packers’ stock market hasn’t been the strongest over the last couple of days. The Packers’ first preseason game is behind them, and it wasn’t exactly pretty. The Packers lost to the New York Jets 30-10, but the game felt even worse than the score. The starters played a total of three series combined: two for the offense, one for the defense. It didn’t really seem to matter who was in the game, though. It was sloppy through and through. Matt LaFleur said after the game, “Well, that was a humbling experience…not what we want to put out there.”

Luckily, when examining the stock of individual players, some players did themselves some good. One thing to remember, though: it’s important not to react impulsively. It’s better to have a long-term perspective, stay calm, and keep everything in perspective. Saturday’s game was a good test for many young players, but it’s important not to overreact to one performance.

🧀 However you feel about that first pre-season performance is valid. pic.twitter.com/I5fAXGrjxh

— Pack-A-Day (@PackADayPodcast) August 10, 2025

Overall, several players improved their stock over the last week. The Packers had three strong practices on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, in addition to their preseason game on Saturday. But there are also a handful of players whose stock is trending in the wrong direction. There’s still time left in the preseason for any player to change their trajectory, but the number of chances to do so is decreasing. But without further ado, it’s time to dive into this week’s stock report.

Stock Up: Bo Melton

Melton might be one of the most talked-about players since training camp started, and the hype is warranted. The Packers toyed with the idea of switching Melton from wide receiver to cornerback during the off-season. Melton was on board with giving it a shot, and the rest is history. Now several weeks into training camp, Melton’s progress and performance have him gradually moving his way up the Packers’ cornerback depth chart.

With Nate Hobbs missing practice due to a knee injury and Keisean Nixon sitting out of team drills, Bo Melton was one of the starting cornerbacks for the Packers at last Thursday's practice. By no means was it a perfect day for Melton, but he didn’t look out of place either. “I definitely wasn’t expecting to make tons of plays. I ain’t made a million of them, but I’ve made some plays,” Melton said after practice. “I was like, ‘OK,’ so I did surprise myself with the skills I brought to the table, I would say.”

Saturday was another step for Melton. It was the first time he played cornerback in a game situation, and he played quite a bit. He took over for the second defensive series, but the Packers shut him down after halftime. His performance wasn’t perfect, but no one expected it to be. Melton played 12 snaps in coverage. He was targeted twice and allowed two receptions for 21 yards.

🧀 If you think the Bo Melton at corner thing is just a cute story, think again.

This dude looks the part… pic.twitter.com/NkV59LbVNf

— CheeseheadTV 🧀 (@cheeseheadtv) August 8, 2025

Every day continues to be a learning experience for Melton, and he seems to be taking it in stride. “I feel like they have really coached me up to the point where I am now. I feel like I’m going to get better every single day,” Melton stated. “I’m going to keep stacking, keep getting better every day. I can’t control everything, so at the end of the day, I just want to go out there, be myself, and play corner.”

Melton has always had the physical characteristics to stick at cornerback. As a draft prospect, his 9.24 RAS score was elite. Melton’s speed, explosion, and agility are all elite physical traits, and those have translated well in his transition to corner. And surprisingly enough, Melton’s lack of experience has been beneficial. Defensive passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley shared, “He’s done a really good job so far. He’s a blank slate with not a lot of bad habits.”

The more reps Melton gets, the better he seems to get. The Packers shouldn’t be relying on him to go out and play 70 snaps per game in the regular season, but he’s shown he can hold his own. Melton is also a vital member on special teams. “The guy gives you everything he has…We just need to keep playing him,” said defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley on Monday. “But I was fired up. I love the guy. You win with guys like Bo.”

If you thought Bo Melton wasn't a roster lock, he was wearing a ball cap with his pads off on the sideline in the third quarter.

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) August 10, 2025

Melton’s stock is definitely trending in the right direction. It’s time to lock it in: Bo Melton is making the team.

Stock Down: Karl Brooks

If Bo Melton is the most talked-about player at the Packers’ training camp, then Karl Brooks might be one of the least talked-about players. The third-year defensive tackle has had an underwhelming training camp thus far. He hasn’t been bad, per se, but he hasn’t been good either. He showed a few signs of life on Saturday evening. He was able to generate some pressure on the quarterback, albeit it was primarily against the Jets' second unit.

The Packers' defensive front was not good enough last season. The front office didn’t do much to address the position group over the offseason, in part because they are banking on their current players to step up. Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt should be the starters and log the most snaps, but after that, it’s very up in the air. Brooks was expected to be one of the main competitors to be the next man up. 

Brooks showed promise as a rookie. Last season, he appeared to take a step back, and that was reflected in his poor PFF grade. Brooks' overall grade was 58.8; anything below 60.0 is considered below average. The Packers can’t afford for Brooks to take another step back this season. They need progression, not regression. It’s not time to sound the alarms yet. Brooks isn’t at risk of being cut, but his stock is dropping. The Packers need him to start performing much better than he has thus far. Saturday was a good start, but he still has work to do.

Stock Up: Chris Brooks

The stock of one Brooks has dropped, but the other Brooks’ stock is skyrocketing. Chris Brooks heads into his third NFL season, his second season with the Packers. Matt LaFleur, who can be stingy with his compliments, stated, “I think he’s really good. I think there’s nothing he can’t do. In terms of, obviously, as a runner, but certainly in the passing game as well. He’s a hell of a protector. He’s got good hands out of the backfield. Many times you see him running those choice routes out of the backfield, so I think there’s nothing he can’t do.”

At the start of his first full training camp with the Packers, Brooks was often viewed as fourth on the running back depth chart. Brooks has done an excellent job taking advantage of the increased reps with the offense. He’s frequently pointed out by the beat writers in attendance for good blitz pickups, quality runs, and catching passes out of the backfield. It’s also notable that he is a viable contributor on special teams.

With MarShawn Lloyd and Emmanuel Wilson missing time due to injury, Brooks has been thrust into a larger role, and he’s continued to help his cause. Lloyd or Wilson missed the Jets game due to injury, and Jacobs only played the first snap, so Chris Brooks effectively became the team’s top running back. He played all 11 of the 12 snaps with the first team offense and took all of the carries. While his performance wasn’t eye-popping, he didn’t play for very long. He rushed five times for seventeen yards. The Packers shut him down rather quickly.

Everyone in the building seems to have confidence in Brooks. “Since he’s been here, he’s been like a Swiss army knife,” Josh Jacobs said. “He can really do it all. Pass protect, run block, run the ball, catch. Whatever we ask him to do, he can do.”

LaFleur added another compliment in an interview with Kevin Clark: “Guys like Chris Brooks, who might not get the national attention. He’s a badass.” For anyone making a 53-man roster prediction, Chris Brooks’ name can be sharpied in.

Stock Down: Kadeem Telfort

There was a time last season when Kadeem Telfort was the first man off the bench for the offensive line. With Jordan Morgan missing a large chunk of the season due to injury, Telfort became the primary backup at both tackle and guard. Now in his third year with the Packers, Telfort is finding himself moving down the depth chart, not up. 

Telfort’s start to camp hasn’t helped his cause. His performance in practice hasn’t exactly been stellar, and that’s against second- and third-string pass rushers. Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com noted on two separate occasions that Telfort struggled in one-on-one drills against rookies Barryn Sorrell and Warren Brinson. During Saturday’s preseason opener, Telfort didn’t play until the second half. He took over for Morgan at left tackle at the start of the third quarter. His performance was okay, but his play didn’t really move the needle.

Throughout training camp thus far, Telfort has worked primarily with the second and third offensive units. Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, Jordan Morgan, and Anthony Belton have all been working ahead of Telfort at tackle. He’s not seeing much action at guard, either. Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Donovan Jennings, and Jacob Monk have all been getting more work there. Oh, and how could anyone forget about Elgton Jenkins? That’s nine players all getting work ahead of Telfort.

So where does that leave Telfort now? Luckily for him, the Packers have kept at least ten offensive linemen on their initial 53-man roster for three years in a row. But there are at least nine guys ahead of him already. He also isn’t the youngest prospect anymore. He turns 27 later this season. If he doesn’t turn things around quickly, the Packers may look to find another developmental prospect to keep on the roster.

Stock Up: Jordan Morgan

The 2024 first-round pick is finally trending in the right direction. His rookie season started off on the wrong foot. Morgan came in and was immediately competing at both left tackle and right guard. Learn two different positions on different sides of the line? That’s no easy task. Morgan eventually settled into a rotation with Sean Rhyan at right guard before his season ended prematurely due to injury.

The 2025 season started similarly. Morgan began camp by taking snaps at left tackle, left guard, and right guard. The constant switching wasn’t allowing him to get comfortable at any one spot. But now that Rasheed Walker has missed some time due to injury, Morgan has taken all of the reps at left tackle, and he really settled in.

Morgan was one of the few positives that came from Saturday’s preseason game. He started at left tackle and played the entire first half against the Jets. Per PFF, Morgan didn’t allow a single pressure across 23 pass-blocking snaps. His footwork was good, and he held his own. Take a look at some of his pass block reps:

Squeaky clean night for Morgan https://t.co/1sVdSYPTyk pic.twitter.com/ZFdtDDGk8w

— Brandon Carwile (@BCarwile_NFL) August 10, 2025

The Packers used a premium pick on Morgan for a reason. They didn’t draft him to sit on the bench for several years. While it is still unknown what his 2025 outlook will be, he’s starting to show why the Packers drafted him. At this point, the best-case scenario for Morgan could be winning the left tackle position. At worst, he’s the primary backup at four of the offensive line spots. Either way, that’s an asset the Packers should be happy to have. Morgan’s performance over the last week has his stock soaring.

Stock Down: Jacob Monk

Prior to Saturday’s game, there was an argument that Monk fit into the “stock up” category. The second-year interior offensive lineman was getting a lot of work with the first unit when Jenkins wasn’t practicing. Throughout training camp, he has also been the primary backup for all three interior offensive line spots. Things seemed to be trending in the right direction for Monk. Unfortunately, that might’ve been fool's gold.

Monk entered Saturday’s game at the start of the third series. It was downhill from there. Long story short, Monk was called for three holding penalties and gave up a sack. He struggled all night, and he wasn’t even facing New York’s top units. Per Matt Schneidman of the Athletic, Monk said after the game, “I’ve just got to get better…I felt I haven’t done that at all in camp and gotten three holds like that in camp, maybe this whole camp. It showed up tonight, and it’s something that I’ve got to continue to work on.”

Down the stretch of the 2024 season, Monk was often a healthy inactive. The Packers clearly didn’t feel that he was ready to contribute then, and he’s showing he’s not ready to contribute now either. The Packers would really benefit from Monk stepping up and being the primary backup along the interior. It’s too early to write him off yet, but Saturday’s performance showed he still has a long way to go.

Stock Up: Barryn Sorrell

Sorrell’s stock started high on draft day, and it just continues to rise. The fourth-round pick out of Texas just continues to make plays, both in training camp and in game action. “He was one of the few positives on the night. He got better as the game went on,” Hafley said on Monday. “I thought Sorrell had some good pass rushes. He got a couple hits on the quarterback. He got better as the game went on. He made mistakes in the game, and in the same drive, he was correcting them…To me, that might be the most promising thing.”

Last week, Sorrell earned a “B+” in the Rookie Report Card. That grade might be even higher now. Packers.com’s Wes Hodkiewicz brought up Sorrell quite a few times over the last week for strong plays in practice. Hodkiewicz noted Sorrell’s “natural power and balance” was evident in one-on-one drills. He has shown to have multiple pass rush moves. He possesses speed, power, and good use of his hands. Sorrell wants to get to the quarterback, and it’s evident.

Positive: Barryn Sorrell wants to devour quarterbacks.

— Jersey Al - GBP (@JerseyAlGBP) August 10, 2025

With Sorrell continuing to stack strong performances, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get more opportunities. He’s not going to log many snaps with the first-team defense as long as Lukas Van Ness and Rashan Gary are healthy, but he could work his way into getting more and more opportunities with the second unit. The Packers need as many pass rushers as they can get, and they seem to have found one in Sorrell.

Stock Down: Mecole Hardman

Up until Saturday, Hardman had been having a strong training camp. "He's made a splash play every day,” said LaFleur. “He's certainly a playmaker, and we know what type of player he can be as a returner." LaFleur also went on to emphasize consistency, but his performance on Saturday was the opposite of consistent. He didn’t make many plays, and the plays he did make only made seemed to benefit the Jets.

Hardman had a sequence where he had three really poor plays in a very short span. First, he fair caught a punt inside the five-yard line. The Packers eventually were strip-sacked, and the Jets scored a touchdown. In the next series, Hardman dropped an easy pass that led to the offense stalling out and having to punt. Then, on his next opportunity to field a punt, he biffed it. He let the punt drop, couldn’t field it cleanly, fumbled it, and the Jets ended up recovering. The second quarter was one to forget for Hardman.

Mecole Hardman muffs the punt & the Jets recover 😓

pic.twitter.com/BZ0lKQM5Dr

— GBP Daily - Rob Westerman lll (@GBPdaily) August 10, 2025

Per Schneidman, Hardman was asked about his poor punt return reps, and he explained, “Catch it inside the 5, try to make something happen. Could have made one man miss, but I didn’t, so that’s all on me.” When asked about the second rep, Hardman added, “Could have just let it bounce and let it do what it was going to do, but I feel like I was in a position to catch it and get some positive yards, and it didn’t roll my way.”

It’s important not to overreact to one preseason game, but the performance also can’t be ignored. “I’m hoping he was trying to make too big a play too early,” said special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. “I’m expecting him to respond the right way.” The Packers can’t afford to roster a wide receiver who can’t catch a pass or a punt. “I made two bad decisions, so that’s all on me,” Hardman said. His training camp might’ve been decent up until Saturday, but Saturday was awful. If Hardman doesn’t bounce back, he might’ve cost himself a chance at making the team.