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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Zach Kruse

Packers had youngest and least experienced roster, most first-year players to open 2023

The Green Bay Packers had the youngest and least experienced overall roster, the most first-year or rookie players and the second-fewest players over 30 years old to open Week 1 of the 2023 season.

They were also one of the biggest teams to start 2023.

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According to information collected by the NFL, the Packers had an average age of 25.13 years, average experience of 3.0 years and 17 rookies or first-year players. The Cincinnati Bengals ranked second in age at 25.42 years on average. The Los Angeles Rams ranked second in experience at 3.19 years and had the second-most first-year or rookie players with 15. The Packers had only three players age 30 or older, an NFC low; the Indianapolis Colts had the fewest in the NFL with two.

For comparison, the New York Jets had an average age of 27.11, average experience of 5.27 years and 15 players over the age of 30.

The only three players aged 30 or older in Green Bay are David Bakhtiari, De’Vondre Campbell and Preston Smith. The Packers actually have more first-year or rookie players (17) than players with five years or more of experience (16).

The youth movement is on in Green Bay. So far, so good. The Packers are 1-0 after beating the Bears in Week 1.

While young and inexperienced, the Packers were the biggest team by average height and weight in the NFC. In fact, the Packers’ average height of 6.25 was the tallest in the NFL, and only the New England Patriots (249.11) were bigger than the Packers (248.89) weight-wise.

Young and big. And undeniably fast. The Packers will likely go through ups and downs during the 2023 season, but general manager Brian Gutekunst has built a developing yet competitive group of young, exciting players around a strong, experienced core.

Packers rookies, first-year players

DL Karl Brooks
K Anders Carlson
QB Sean Clifford
OLB Brenton Cox Jr.
WR Malik Heath
S Anthony Johnson Jr.
TE Tucker Kraft
TE Luke Musgrave
WR Jayden Reed
TE Ben Sims
CB Carrington Valentine
OLB Lukas Van Ness
WR Dontayvion Wicks
RB Emanuel Wilson
DL Colby Wooden
P Daniel Whelan
S Zayne Anderson (first-year)

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