The Green Bay Packers had a clear, deliberate internal growth plan for their defense this offseason. They moved on from Jaire Alexander but didn’t pursue any star cornerbacks to replace him, which speaks volumes about the trust they have in Jeff Hafley to develop the players already in the room.
Green Bay also didn’t make a big splash for a top-tier pass rusher. Instead, they brought in DeMarcus Covington to coach the defensive line. He’ll play a crucial role in trying to revive a unit that finished 27th in pass-rush win rate last season.
Meanwhile, Brian Gutekunst took a different approach on the offensive side, surrounding Jordan Love with more help, hoping to accelerate his development. Green Bay added playmakers and protection through the draft and free agency, selecting Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, Anthony Belton, and John Williams, while also signing veterans Aaron Banks and Mecole Hardman in free agency.
Gutekunst still has a couple of weeks to add more talent to the roster before training camp starts. Considering the contrasting approaches he took with the offense and defense this offseason, which side of the ball is more likely to get one last injection of help before the regular season begins?
One could argue that the Packers should add on defense because they focused so much on offense during the offseason. However, that may not be the case. The Packers have already made major investments up front, with two first-round picks in Lukas Van Ness and Devonte Wyatt, plus big contracts tied to Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary.
Sure, Green Bay could bring in another edge rusher to rotate with Van Ness, but he’s entering his third season, and at this point, he needs consistent playing time. Without it, his development could stall, and the conversation around him might start drifting dangerously close to bust territory.
Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper should be the starting off-ball linebackers, with Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, Xavier McKinney, and Evan Williams rounding out the secondary. In the 4-2-5 look, Williams and Javon Bullard can rotate in the nickel depending on matchups and situations.
Of that group, only Williams wasn’t a first- or second-round pick or a player tied to a significant contract. Teams don’t use that kind of draft capital or money on players only to have them watch from the sidelines. One way or another, those guys are going to be on the field — because that’s what they were brought in to do.
Meanwhile, the Packers could have as many as six offensive starters set to hit unrestricted free agency next year. That includes wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson, along with offensive linemen Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, and Sean Rhyan.
There’s also no guarantee Elgton Jenkins will be on the roster in 2026. So while the focus this year is on helping Love take the next step, the Packers may need to reshape Matt LaFleur’s offense next offseason.
Brian Gutekunst has said this offseason that he believes the Packers have the pass rush they want and a solid group of starting cornerbacks.
Still, he likely hasn’t forgotten how the Philadelphia Eagles exposed Green Bay’s interior offensive line after Jenkins got hurt. Although the team added Banks and Belton, there’s still limited protection for their $55 million quarterback. If an interesting offensive lineman becomes available, the Packers should at least explore the opportunity.
Tight end is another position worth monitoring. Tucker Kraft should be Green Bay’s top option, with Luke Musgrave serving as a solid No. 2. However, Musgrave has had trouble staying healthy. If that continues, the Packers might look to the market to find someone who can spell Kraft.
LaFleur also loves to run 12-personnel. However, that only works if he has at least two tight ends who can consistently contribute in both the passing game and the run game. If that depth isn’t there, it could limit what the offense can do schematically.
So while adding to the defense might seem like the obvious move, it actually makes more sense for the Packers to stay committed to the approach they’ve taken this offseason. They know they have one of the better defensive minds in the league. Jeff Hafley helped guide the unit into the top 10 in nearly every advanced metric last year, despite a limited pass rush and spending most of the season without an All-Pro corner.
On the other side of the ball, the offense showed plenty of promise but struggled with slow starts, particularly against tougher opponents. If Gutekunst makes another move before Week 1, it likely won’t be about overhauling the roster. It’ll be about fine-tuning the supporting cast around his quarterback to help the offense find more consistency immediately.