Packers Release Coco, Create Long Snapper Competition

The Green Bay Packers signed three tryout players from their rookie camp, including long snapper Broughton Hatcher.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
May 8, 2023 5:03 PM EDT
Original:
May 8, 2023

In this story:

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers will have a new battle at long snapper after releasing incumbent Jack Coco and signing Broughton Hatcher on Monday.

Hatcher was one of three undrafted rookies who were signed after trying out at the team’s rookie camp. The others are cornerback William Hooper and defensive lineman Antonio Moultrie.

Hatcher will challenge Matt Orzech, who was signed in March. Orzech, who won a Super Bowl championship with the Rams a couple years ago, lived in Wisconsin for about five years as a kid.

“There was definitely the allure of the history and culture of the team,” he said in a March interview. “I talked to a few guys that I know that played here in the past that loved the organization from the top down and sang their praises.

“On top of that, there’s a whole clan of Orzechs in the Wisconsin era that are over the moon right now to be able to wear green and yellow again after being forced to wear other teams’ logos over the last few years.”

Rather than battling Coco, who emerged with the snapper job as an undrafted free agent last year, Orzech will take on an undrafted rookie.

Hatcher snapped at Old Dominion for 35 games. He snapped in 12 games as a team captain last season after missing all but one game in 2021 with an ankle injury.

“My job’s not to get noticed,” Hatcher told The Virginia Pilot. “That’s kind of how I look at it.”

As is the case with Orzech (a former tight end) and Coco (also a former tight end), long snapping wasn’t Hatcher’s plan. He was a high school left tackle.

“If you want to do this,” regional long snapping coach Anthony Giugliano told him, “I can make you good at it.”

Replied Hatcher: “Sounds good to me.”

Moultrie opened his college career at Northeast Mississippi Community College in 2017 before spending the next four years at UAB. After recording 62 tackles for the Blazers in 2021, he transferred to Miami. As a sixth-year senior, he played in 10 games and recorded a half-sack and two tackles for losses among 14 total stops.

“This school is at a high level,” Moultrie told The Miami Herald. “I played a high level, and I’m glad to be here.”

At pro day, he measured 6-foot-3 5/8 and 275 pounds but showed his athleticism with a 5.08 in the 40.

The Packers also announced the signing of seventh-round receiver Grant DuBose. With that, all nine Day 3 selections are under contract.