Green Bay, WI – April 6, 2025
The Green Bay Packers have made a surprising move, cutting rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd after a disappointing debut season, sources confirmed to ESPN on Saturday. The third-round pick from the 2024 NFL Draft, once hailed as an explosive addition to the backfield, failed to ignite—leaving Packers fans stunned and relieved in equal measure.
Lloyd, 23, arrived from USC with buzz as a speedster—clocking a 4.46-second 40-yard dash—and a potential complement to Josh Jacobs. But injuries derailed him fast. An ankle sprain in his NFL debut sidelined him for seven weeks, followed by appendicitis that ended his rookie year on IR (Packers Wire). He managed just 6 carries for 15 yards across limited snaps—no spark, no shine.
“MarShawn didn’t hit the mark we’d hoped,” GM Brian Gutekunst said tersely. With Jacobs racking up 1,300 yards in 2024 and backups Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks stepping up, Lloyd’s $1.2 million cap hit for 2025 (Spotrac) became expendable. The Packers’ 22-10 wild-card loss to the Eagles cemented the need for proven depth over projects.
Packers Nation erupted on X: “Lloyd cut? Good—total bust!” one fan tweeted. “Third-round flop—time to move on,” another jabbed. Drafted at No. 88, Lloyd’s hype—built on 47 missed tackles forced in college (PFF)—fizzled. His PFF grade barely scraped 55 in scant action.
The cut saves $1.2 million, bolstering Green Bay’s $22 million cap space for 2025 moves. Lloyd joins a list of rookie whiffs—Kalen King’s already gone to Tampa Bay’s practice squad. At 23, he’s young enough for a second shot, perhaps with a RB-needy team like the Giants.
For the Packers, it’s a reset. Lloyd’s out, the RB room’s tighter, and fans eye a stronger push—hoping the next rookie delivers.
