The Green Bay Packers are adding to their wide receiver group following the conclusion of their first two-day OTA session earlier this week.
On Thursday, the team signed former Miami (FL) undrafted rookie wide receiver Sam Brown Jr. To make room on the 90-man roster, they waived defensive lineman Jeremiah Martin with an injury designation.
Sam Brown Jr. previously teamed up with Packers first-round rookie wideout Matthew Golden at the University of Houston, where they played together during the 2022 and 2023 seasons before both transferring to new programs for 2024. Interestingly, during their time as Cougars, Brown actually outproduced Golden—recording 103 receptions for 1,286 yards over 23 games, compared to Golden’s 76 catches for 988 yards in 20 games.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Bill Huber, the Packers had shown interest in Sam Brown Jr. prior to the draft and made the decision to sign him following a workout on Thursday morning.
With Brown’s addition, the Packers now have 13 wide receivers on their 90-man roster. That group includes returning starters Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed, veteran free-agent pickup Mecole Hardman Jr., and third-round rookie Savion Williams from the 2025 draft class.
Jeremiah Martin Joined Packers Late in 2024 Season
The Packers are down one defensive end in their rotation competition following Thursday’s roster moves. Jeremiah Martin, who hadn’t had much of a chance to prove himself, was waived with an injury—though the team did not reveal the nature of it—effectively ending his bid for a roster spot.
Martin originally joined Green Bay’s practice squad in December during the 2024 season but was never elevated to the active roster. Still, the Packers saw enough potential to make him one of their first reserve/future signings after their 2025 playoff run concluded.
Some of the Packers’ interest in Jeremiah Martin likely stemmed from his standout final season at Washington, where he posted 41 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles over 13 games as an outside linebacker. While that production didn’t translate during brief stints with the Browns and Giants, Martin gained further experience playing in the UFL with two different teams before Green Bay gave him a shot.
With his latest setback, Martin will now need to focus on recovery. The severity of his injury remains unknown, but if he can return to health by July, there’s still a chance he could land a spot on a team’s training camp roster.
Can Sam Brown Jr. Stand Out in Crowded WR Room?
Sam Brown Jr.’s athleticism adds intrigue to the Packers’ wide receiver group, though his production didn’t take a major leap after transferring from Houston—unlike his former teammate Matthew Golden.
In his lone season at Miami, Brown did post a career-best 14.1 yards per reception. However, he ranked just fourth on the team in catches (36), fifth in receiving yards (509), and tied for sixth in touchdowns (2). That said, Miami’s offense under 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward was known for distributing the ball broadly, which likely limited any single receiver’s volume.
The bigger challenge for Sam Brown Jr. isn’t just his own performance—it’s the sheer depth and quality of the Packers’ current wide receiver room.
While it’s normal for teams to carry 10+ receivers during the offseason, Green Bay’s depth chart is unusually competitive. They’re returning key contributors from 2024 like Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, and Malik Heath. On top of that, they’ve added veteran Mecole Hardman Jr. and two draft picks—Matthew Golden and Savion Williams—this offseason. That gives the Packers nine legitimate candidates already vying for what may be just six or seven final roster spots.
Christian Watson’s recovery from last year’s knee injury could open a temporary roster spot if he begins the season on injured reserve, but even with that possibility, the Packers’ receiver room remains overcrowded. With a mix of proven contributors and recent draft picks already in the fold, there simply won’t be enough active-roster slots to go around — and that puts fringe players like Sam Brown Jr. at a clear disadvantage as they fight for a chance to stick.
