The Green Bay Packers’ special teams units have been a major source of frustration for fans over the past several years. The high-profile hire of coordinator Rich Bisaccia has so far yielded mixed to disappointing results. However, a recent shift toward loading the special teams with higher-level talent — rather than filling them with end-of-the-roster, undrafted rookies — could finally begin to deliver a more respectable performance.

In this year’s draft, the Packers added several players who could log significant snaps across various units and finally give Bisaccia a top-15-level special teams group.

Four picks in particular from this year’s class — Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, Collin Oliver, and Micah Robinson — should see immediate playing time on special teams as rookies.

Golden and Williams should be expected to take over kick and punt return duties, respectively. Former All-Pro returner Keisean Nixon has made it clear that he no longer has interest in return duties and is instead targeting the Packers’ No. 1 cornerback spot in a likely post-Jaire Alexander era.

Golden returned kicks at both Houston and Texas in college, with two kick-return touchdowns as a Cougar. Last season at Texas, he returned 14 kicks, averaging just over 20 yards per return and recording one return of over 30 yards. His blazing 4.29-second 40-yard dash speed should be a welcome addition to the Packers’ return game. While Green Bay did sign Mecole Hardman in free agency with the likely intention of making him the primary returner, if roster spots become tight, there’s little reason to keep Hardman when Golden clearly has the juice to ignite the return game and possess a much higher upside.

Savion Williams, meanwhile, has the size and athletic profile to make an immediate impact on special teams. Though he’ll need to refine his route tree to contribute offensively, and is likely to be used as more of a gadget player early on, special teams will be his clearest path to the field in year one, especially with four receivers ahead of him on the depth chart. I could see him playing a major role on kick and punt coverage units thanks to his combination of speed and physicality. While his college special teams experience was limited to returning kicks as a freshman (312 return yards), with the right NFL coaching, he could develop into a core special teams contributor.

Fifth-rounder Collin Oliver brings a unique body type at the edge position that Green Bay hasn’t had in a while. At 6’1” and 240 pounds, his build is almost identical to that of former Packers special teams stalwart Eric Wilson. Wilson signed with the rival Minnesota Vikings this offseason, leaving 321 special teams snaps to replace. Some of those could go to returning linebacker Kristian Welch (if he makes the team), but Oliver is such a high-end athlete that it will be tough to keep him off the field on coverage units. At Oklahoma State, he proved to be a willing and capable tackler in space and brought consistent effort and intensity — all essential traits for special teams success. While he’s likely to begin his NFL career in a rotational role behind Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, and fellow 2025 draft pick Barryn Sorrell, special teams will be his fastest path to consistent playing time.

7th round corner Micah Robinson is another rookie who could slide into one of the roles vacated by 2024 core special teamers Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell. Those reserve corners logged a combined 316 special teams snaps last season, which now need to be replaced. With a crowded top of the cornerback depth chart — featuring Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, Carrington Valentine, and Javon Bullard in the slot — Robinson’s clearest path, much like Ballentine and Rochell before him, is via special teams. His top-end NFL-caliber speed and his aggressive approach as a run-defending corner make him a strong candidate for the gunner role. One especially impressive aspect of his game is his discipline — something not all Packers special teamers have possessed. During his lone season at Tulane, he committed just one penalty, which should be a welcome addition to a Bisaccia-led unit that ranked 10th in the NFL in special teams penalties last season.

It also helps when a player is fully embracing the role. After he was drafted, Robinson told Packers.com, “I want to play special teams. With my skill set, I want to show them they can put me anywhere on the field, and I’ll be a low-maintenance guy. Whenever they need me, I’ll just go out there and do what I have to do.”

I’m not suggesting that these four rookies are going to completely transform the Packers’ special teams overnight — that would be unrealistic. However, they bring a combination of youth, speed, and college-level special teams experience that could elevate the group’s performance significantly. As Rich Bisaccia enters his fourth year as special teams coordinator, he now has the potential to mold this rookie class into core contributors for years to come.