Latest roster move in the NFL gives the Packers a chance to bring an old friend back, and he could have a real role on the team

Rochell had played the last two seasons for the Packers. He arrived in October, 2023, being signed off the Carolina Panthers' practice squad. Last year, he started the regular season on the practice squad, but was elevated three times and then promoted to the 53-man roster late in the season.

Even though he wasn't a significant part of the defensive plans, Rochell was a valuable special teamer. In 2024, he played 27.38% of the special teams snaps.

The lack of cornerback depth for the Packers has been considered a problem, especially because the final roster spot is usually designed to accomodate a special teamer—and Rochell fits that profile.

The Packers had decided not to bring Rochell back, and that's why he ended up signing with the Chiefs in the first place. However, the Packers didn't invest as much in the cornerback room as expected this offseason, only adding one free agent (Nate Hobbs) and a seventh-round pick (Micah Robinson).

Rochell wouldn't have a locked roster spot by any means, but he could be a useful 90-man roster addition to compete—and maybe even a practice squad piece to give the roster more flexibility with three elevations allowed per season.

A fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, Robert Rochell has also played for the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers in the NFL. He was a member of the Rams' Super Bowl-winning roster as a rookie and appeared on 11 games that season.