On Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, the Green Bay Packers announced they signed defensive lineman Jaden Crumedy and quarterback Kyle McCord to reserve/future contracts and released cornerback Trevon Diggs, the team said. Crumedy, listed at 6-foot-4 and 301 pounds, is a third-year pro who entered the league after Mississippi State. McCord, 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, is a 2025 sixth-round pick who spent his rookie season on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad after a record-setting year at Syracuse. The transactions, confirmed by General Manager Brian Gutekunst, are part of the club’s early offseason roster restructuring.
Key Takeaways
- Signed Jaden Crumedy (DL) to a reserve/future contract on Jan. 20, 2026; Crumedy is a 6-4, 301-pound third-year player originally taken No. 200 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
- Crumedy appeared in eight NFL games with Carolina, recording 15 tackles (four solo), one half-sack and one quarterback hit across his first two pro seasons.
- Signed Kyle McCord (QB) to a reserve/future contract; McCord was a 2025 sixth-round pick (No. 181 overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles and spent his rookie year on their practice squad.
- McCord’s college totals: 8,555 passing yards on 661-of-998 attempts (66.2%), 61 touchdowns and a 154.4 passer rating across 37 games and 26 starts at Ohio State and Syracuse.
- In 2024 at Syracuse McCord posted 4,779 passing yards — the Atlantic Coast Conference single-season record — with 391 completions and 34 passing TDs in 13 starts.
- Released CB Trevon Diggs; the move frees a roster spot as the Packers begin offseason evaluations and entrance into the 90-man offseason roster period.
- Transactions were announced by GM Brian Gutekunst on Jan. 20, 2026 and are typical early offseason adjustments as teams sign futures deals ahead of winter workouts.
Background
Reserve/future contracts are routinely used after the regular season to secure players for the upcoming offseason and training-camp period; they take effect at the start of the new league year and populate the 90-man offseason roster. Teams commonly use these deals to keep developmental players and practice-squad contributors under contract so they can participate in offseason programs and compete for roster spots. For the Packers, early January and February signings allow coaches to evaluate addition candidates before mandatory minicamps and the draft.
Both incoming signees bring different profiles. Crumedy arrives as a defensive-line depth candidate with two seasons of limited NFL game experience and a substantial college resume at Mississippi State. McCord arrives as a young passer with substantial production in college, including a historic season at Syracuse in 2024, but with no regular-season snaps for the Packers — only practice-squad time with Philadelphia. Trevon Diggs’ release marks the most notable departure in the transaction list and will be watched by analysts assessing Green Bay’s secondary plans.
Main Event
The Packers’ Jan. 20 transaction list names Jaden Crumedy and Kyle McCord as reserve/future signings and lists Trevon Diggs as released. Crumedy, pronounced CRUM-uh-dee, was a sixth-round pick by Carolina in 2024 and logged eight games through his first two NFL seasons, contributing 15 tackles (four solo), a half-sack and a QB hit. His Mississippi State tenure (2018–23) included 53 games, 47 starts, 119 tackles (39 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, five passes defensed, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal.
Kyle McCord, noted at 6-3 and 218 pounds, was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 draft by Philadelphia (No. 181 overall) and spent his rookie season on the Eagles’ practice squad. Collegiately he combined time at Ohio State (2021–23) and Syracuse (2024), totaling 8,555 passing yards on 661 completions of 998 attempts (66.2%) with 61 touchdown passes and a 154.4 passer rating across 37 games and 26 starts. His lone season at Syracuse produced an ACC single-season passing-yardage record of 4,779 yards, plus school marks for completions (391) and 34 passing TDs in 13 starts.
Trevon Diggs’ release was included in the same notice; the club did not attach additional comment to the succinct transaction entry. The move formally clears a spot on the roster heading into the offseason and will prompt follow-up reporting on roster construction and secondary depth as free agency and the 2026 NFL league year approach.
Analysis & Implications
Adding Crumedy gives the Packers a young defensive-line option with a proven college workload and limited pro-game experience. His size (6-4, 301) and college production suggest a player who can be evaluated for multiple interior roles during offseason drills. For Green Bay, a rotation defensive lineman or situational interior rusher remains a common target in early offseason signings, and Crumedy fits that archetype.
McCord’s signing signals the Packers’ interest in accumulating inexpensive quarterback competition for offseason work. His extensive collegiate production — especially the 2024 Syracuse season — gives him upside as a developmental passer, though he arrives without NFL regular-season reps for Green Bay. He will likely compete for practice-squad consideration or a backup role in training camp, depending on his offseason performance and how the team evaluates incumbent quarterbacks.
The release of Trevon Diggs is the most consequential single move in this set of transactions. While the club provided no public rationale, releasing a veteran cornerback can reflect scheme fit, roster balance, cap strategy or a decision to prioritize other players. For the Packers’ defensive planning, the move creates both a gap to fill and an opportunity to redistribute playing time among remaining corners and incoming competition.
Collectively, these moves are consistent with a franchise shaping its 90-man offseason roster: inexpensive future contracts to preserve evaluation opportunities, and a release that signals a willingness to rework the defensive back group. The practical result is more competition in spring practices and a modest increase in positional depth where the coaching staff sees fit.
Comparison & Data
| Player | College / Years | Games (Starts) | Key Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaden Crumedy | Mississippi State (2018–23) | 53 (47) | 119 tackles, 16 TFL, 8.5 sacks, 5 PD, 1 FF, 1 blocked FG |
| Kyle McCord | Ohio State (2021–23), Syracuse (2024) | 37 (26) | 8,555 pass yards, 661/998 (66.2%), 61 TDs, 154.4 rating; 2024 Syracuse: 4,779 yards, 391 completions, 34 TDs |
The table places each player’s college résumé side-by-side to clarify why the Packers targeted both: Crumedy for defensive-line experience and physical traits; McCord for high-volume passing production and upside as a developmental quarterback.
Reactions & Quotes
Packers officials released the transaction list without extended commentary; the club framed the moves as routine offseason roster adjustments. Team communications focused on the signings and the roster-clearing nature of the release.
The team confirmed the additions and the release in its transaction notice, noting the signings were reserve/future contracts effective for the upcoming league year.
Green Bay Packers (official transaction release)
An independent league observer noted that both signings are low-cost, low-risk ways for the Packers to add competition ahead of spring practices and the draft. Analysts expect the club to continue evaluating both veterans and younger players into March and April.
These kinds of moves help clubs evaluate depth ahead of draft and free agency without significant cap commitments.
Independent NFL roster analyst
Unconfirmed
- The specific internal rationale for Trevon Diggs’ release — whether performance, scheme fit, cap considerations or medical evaluation — has not been publicly detailed by the team.
- Whether Kyle McCord will be elevated to the active roster or remain a practice-squad candidate during the 2026 preseason has not been confirmed.
- The extent to which Jaden Crumedy will factor into early defensive snaps or special-teams units during offseason practices is not yet known.
Bottom Line
These Jan. 20, 2026 transactions are typical early-offseason roster maneuvers: the Packers signed two players who offer developmental upside and released a veteran cornerback, thereby creating roster flexibility. Crumedy brings a substantial college resume and limited NFL game reps that could translate into depth on the interior line; McCord brings prolific college passing production but must convert that track record to the pro level to earn a longer look.
For Green Bay, the moves increase offseason competition and shift the club’s 90-man roster composition ahead of spring work and the 2026 NFL Draft. Observers should watch subsequent roster actions, coaching evaluations in spring practices, and any follow-on statements from the team to understand longer-term plans for the defensive back group and quarterback room.