Re-sign, let go and prediction: Packers free agent CB Robert Rochell

Paul Bretl | 2/17/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — In the coming weeks, I will take a closer look at the Packers pending free agents in my ‘Re-sign or Let Go and Prediction’ series.

For each free agent I will make a case as to why the Packers should re-sign them and I’ll also discuss why the Packers would let them walk and play elsewhere. Then at the end, I’ll make my prediction.

This will be my third offseason doing this series and through the first two, I’ve gotten 24 of the 27 predictions correct.

Up next, let’s take a closer look at whether or not cornerback Robert Rochell will return for the 2025 season. If you missed our other previews, you can find them below:

Eric Wilson
Isaiah McDuffie

Why the Packers re-sign Robert Rochell

The Packers under Rich Bisaccia call the special teams unit the ‘wefense’ because it takes everyone to contribute to that unit. Offensive players, defensive players, some starters, and backups. But the Packers also have a few core–this is their job–special teams players, and Rochell fits that mold.

The 2024 season was Rochell’s second with the Packers after spending his first two season with the LA Rams as a former fourth-round selection in the 2021 NFL draft. He began the year on the practice squad but the Packers quickly burned through his three practice squad elevations in the first five games in order for him to help out on special teams.

Hit like and subscribe to my YouTube Channel ‘The Paul Bretl Show’ for more Packers coverage.

Then coming out of the bye week, Rochell was signed to the 53-man roster. In total, he would play 124 special teams snaps last season and did so across four different phases. Where you can see Rochell’s impact the most is on the punt coverage team as a flier, which included a fumble recovery this past year, but also playing a key role in helping punter Daniel Whelan rank seventh in punt return rate in 2024.

“As far as Robert goes, every time he’s up, he plays well for us,” said Rich Bisaccia during the season. “He plays in all four phases, does a really good job. He’s physical, he can run, he’s really smart. We play him at multiple positions.”

Rochell has played only seven defensive snaps over the last two years in Green Bay. But while the focus this time of the year is on the high-impact additions, teams also need to build out their 90-man rosters as well.

When it comes to the cornerback position specifically, there are unknowns for the Packers. Eric Stokes is a free agent and Jaire Alexander could end up playing elsewhere. That leaves the Packers with Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, and four other young and inexperienced players in Kamal Hadden, Kalen King, Kaleb Haynes, and Isaiah Dunn.

Depth is needed, and by re-signing Rochell, you get a player that, at the bare minimum, can be one of your key contributors on special teams–and there is plenty of value in that, especially for a player who probably won’t command much more than the league minimum.

Why the Packers won’t re-sign Robert Rochell

With the Packers having to address cornerback this offseason by having to spend either some premium draft or salary cap capital on the position, perhaps GM Brian Gutekunst also uses this as an opportunity to hit the reset button, to a degree on the position.

And what I mean by that is, instead of re-signing a veteran player like Rochell who, while he can help on special teams hasn’t contributed on defense, the Packers instead opt to infuse this position group with more high upside potential. To a much greater extent than what I’m suggesting, we saw Gutekunst do this last offseason with the safety position.

The downside is that, potentially, in the short term, the special teams contributions take a hit as the Packers rely on possibly more inexperienced players. But the upside is the hope that Green Bay is taking a swing at landing more help on the defensive side of the ball.

When it comes to building out a roster, Gutekunst has often churned the back end of the depth charts is search of more high-upside players. With the cornerback room likely going under some sort of makeover this offseason, there is the potential for him to go that route here, which may mean letting Rochell hit free agency.

Prediction: Packers re-sign Rochell

The Packers have several other positions of need that they have to address, including defensive end, defensive tackle, wide receiver, and the offensive line.

Resource-wise, in terms of salary cap space and draft picks–which there isn’t an abundance of this year–the Packers have the means to upgrade their starting cornerback position, but I’m not sure the ability to revamp the back-end of the depth chart with players outside of late-Day 3 picks is available to them. Or another way of saying this: unlike at safety a year ago, I don’t anticipate there being a big free-agent addition and two early to mid-round picks spent solely on the cornerback position.

So if that’s the case, there is value in re-signing Rochell. Rather than completely diving into the unknown, the Packers know what they have in Rochell, who, like I said, at a minimum is a special teams contributor and also is familiar with Jeff Hafley’s defense.

Now, this doesn’t mean that Rochell is going to make the 53-man roster–I’m sure the hope is that Kalen King could elevate into a larger role in Year 2. But bringing Rochell back provides the Packers with insurance and it’s a low risk move. At what I’m guessing is a near league-minimum deal with little to no guarantees, if the Packers did move on from Rochell, the cap impact would be almost nothing.

“We get a contribution every time Scoota’s (Rochell) up,” Bisaccia said. “Every time Double-Deuce is up, he plays well for us.”

Powered By SoCast