What to Expect from the Green Bay Packers in Free Agency

NFL free agency gets under way this week as the new league year gets started Wednesday. The legal tampering period begins on Monday. The Green Bay Packers have plenty of cap space and some clearly defined needs. So, what can we expect from the Green Bay Packers in free agency this offseason?

What to Expect from the Packers in Free Agency: Cap Space and Resources

The Packers do not have major problems with the salary cap entering free agency. Before re-signing linebacker Isaiah McDuffie and kicker Brandon McManus to new contracts, GM Brian Gutekunst had approximately $49 million to work with. That number can go up by approximately another $50 million if the Packers choose to restructure the roster and performance bonuses of several players to signing bonuses. They do not need the players’ permission to do this.

The Packers will also add at least $6.7 million in 2025 cap space if as expected, they move on from veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander.

All indications are that the Packers will have enough money to make additions if they choose to.

Biggest Areas of Need

The Packers do have several areas of obvious need. One of the most publicized is for a go-to, wide receiver. Running back Josh Jacobs spelled that out to reporters during Super Bowl week. Getting quarterback Jordan Love a reliable target who will hold onto the football and keep the chains moving will certainly upgrade the offense which struggled to do that in 2024. It is also possible Gutekunst looks to add a veteran wideout via trade.

Another position of need for the Packers remains cornerback. If Alexander departs as expected, the team will have Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine starting on the perimeter and Javon Bullard in the slot. More depth would be required. The team also lacks a shutdown cornerback like Alexander which could help take the defense to another level.

Fortifying the pass rush would be another need for the Packers. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley was forced to rely on blitzing far more often than he wanted to because the front four was unable to consistently get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Rashan Gary led all defensive linemen with just 7.5 sacks. No other defensive lineman had more than five sacks and that came from defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt.

Overall, what the Packers are looking for at these positions is impact players. Essentially, players who can make the other players around them better because opposing teams need to account for them any time they’re on the football field.

What to Expect from the Packers in Free Agency: What the Packers Look For

If last season is any indication, the Packers have specific guidelines they seek when they want to sign free agents. These guidelines are applied more strictly to big signings. The Packers added safety Xavier McKinney and Jacobs last season. Both players paid off handsomely as they earned Pro Bowl honors and proved to be difference makers for the Packers.

One thing they both had in common was that they were both still in their 20s. McKinney was looking for his second contract and was available because his initial four-year, entry-level contract had expired. Jacobs was one year into his second contract but wanted to move on from the Raiders.

Gutekunst may sign older players in free agency, but usually they are brought in to be role players rather than to become cornerstones of the roster. The older players are likely to sign one or two-year deals rather than multi-year, top of market contracts.

Outlook

I expect the Packers to add one big-ticket free agent, possibly two. Gutekunst indicated he wanted a greater sense of urgency to win Super Bowls in his season ending press conference. This is his chance to back up those words.

But the Packers will not spend money for the sake of spending money. If the players they want are not available, they will not spend big bucks on players that don’t meet their criteria and may look to the draft or trades to add the players they need.