The NFL Combine kicks off next week which always feels like the kickoff to a new NFL season. Shortly after, free agency begins, then we dive into draft prep and before you know it, the players are reporting to camp. But I’m getting ahead of myself. I hope you all enjoyed your mini “offseason” after the Super Bowl, because we’re back with plenty to talk about!
“Dang it! I forgot you were switching to Friday and missed submitting a question last week. Sorry! :) Wanted to ask, what’s your opinion on our “pending” free agents? Anyone you’d try to sign before the dreaded legal tampering period?” - Jim
Hey Jim! Happy you’re back. The unrestricted free agents this year are Quay Walker, Malik Willis, Sean Rhyan, Rasheed Walker, Romeo Doubs, J.J. Enagbare, John Fitzpatrick, and Nick Niemann.
John Fitzpatrick would’ve been an easy keep candidate for a low price and for depth in the room, but after suffering a torn achilles in December, that’s going to be a long road back. I love Romeo Doubs but it’s a crowded room and he’s going to find some good WR2 money on the open market, so he’s the furthest out the door at this point. Nick Niemann is a core special teamer when he’s healthy, so it’ll depend how much the new coordinator values him (more on that in a minute). Malik Willis is deservedly going to be a starter somewhere, so he’s out the door with Doubs.
That leaves Quay Walker, Rhyan, Rasheed Walker, and Enagbare. I don’t think this is going to be a hot take, but if I can only keep one of those guys I want Enagbare back. He’s never missed a game in his four-year career and his motor is always hot. If the Packers do move on from Rashan Gary this offseason, Enagbare would likely be one of the team’s starters when the season kicks off, opposite Lukas Van Ness. Micah Parsons is probably going to need a few weeks to ramp up (although it sounds like he’s crushing through his recovery). Regardless, I’m offering Enagbare a deal to stick around as my EDGE 3. I think the Packers draft a pass rusher in this draft, but I’m all for rewarding the homegrown talent and giving the former fifth-rounder a second contract in Green Bay. Spotrac estimates his value at roughly $6 million per year. I’d be comfortable with that. Gary is getting paid Quinnen Williams numbers. Certainly that money can be better-spent elsewhere.
I think Rasheed Walker is going to get overpaid in free agency because left tackles don’t grow on trees, and I don’t think the Packers should be in that conversation at all. Jordan Morgan was drafted to be the left tackle of the future, so do it. With Quay, I think it’ll depend on how Jonathan Gannon views his defense. I know teams are pretty scheme-versatile now and don’t run traditional 4-3 or 3-4 defenses out of base very often, but Gannon might look to utilize only two inside linebackers on the field at a time. Especially if he’s playing a lot of match quarters. I’d imagine Isaiah McDuffie will be Edgerrin Cooper’s running mate there, which makes Walker expendable. I think he falls into the Rasheed category, where he can find a larger contract on the open market.
And finally there’s Sean Rhyan, who I think has a realistic shot to come back, especially if the Packers need depth along the interior. We don’t know what’s going to happen with Elgton Jenkins, and if Walker is leaving at left tackle, that removes Morgan from a guard spot. Rhyan could realistically come back to play right guard, or be a backup interior lineman if he doesn’t win the center job outright.
There are a number of restricted free agents and exclusive rights free agents, but I’d expect the Packers to have interest in bringing quite a few of those guys back for depth. I’d be calling Kamal Hadden, Darrian Kinnard, Josh Whyle, and Brenton Cox. Jr. specifically, although Hadden will need to work his way back from the gruesome ankle injury first. I thought he had a nice preseason.
With the news that Bisaccia is stepping down breaking on Tuesday, that means the Packers will have a new special teams coordinator for 2026. Assuming they look externally and don’t promote Cory Harkey as the internal candidate (he’s been with the team for one season), that may impact which depth pieces the team wants to bring back, too. A lot of the RFAs/ERFAs play primarily on special teams. Zayne Anderson. Arron Mosby. Bo Melton. It’s possible the Packers will have a new approach to building the back end of their roster/special teams squad, but that seems unlikely.
Phew. That was a long one. But to concisely answer your question, I’d sign Enagbare before free agency starts and I’d make Rhyan an offer but let him test the market, knowing he might not be a starter in Green Bay come Week 1.
“I am not feeling excited for the draft this year (no 1st round pick, not in Green Bay). What off-season events do you look forward to the most?” - Tony
I’ve always loved the draft, so that’s definitely my favorite off-season event. Free agency is fun because it shakes up the NFL, but I like the injection of new talent that the draft brings. The draft brings you at least a handful of new prospects that’ll compete for roster spots. And some of those depth pieces end up needing to fill in right away. So I always find that interesting.
I know the mock drafts can get annoying for people who don’t follow the draft closely, so I try not to do too many of them, but it’s one of my favorite Pack’s What She Said episodes every year with Perri. There’s always a list of players I really love that I don’t think Green Bay would go for, so it’s fun to follow their careers and see how they pan out in the NFL. This is especially true of late-round picks. Romeo Doubs and Kitan Oladapo were a few of the late-round picks I’ve gotten right over the last few seasons.
The first round typically feels pretty established, so I’m not as into night one, which works this year since the Packers don’t have a first-round selection. We may not know where the players are going, but we normally know about 25 names that will be called. That’s why I like the surprise of night two. Seeing who slides. Seeing if there’s a run on a specific position.
I’ve always liked night two the best, personally. But the Packers are going to need to nail it this year with only two picks inside the top-100. The consensus no matter where you look around the league seems to be that Green Bay’s two biggest needs are nose tackle and cornerback, which is what I’d see them doing on night two, too. That’s what makes the draft fun, though! It’ll probably end up being an edge rusher and a center.
Outside of the draft, I think training camp is a blast. If anyone is looking for a fun weekend trip, Green Bay never disappoints. Take the stadium tour. Visit the Hall of Fame. Go to some of the amazing restaurants and breweries in the area. And take in a Packers practice while you’re there. It’s the best. Players riding bikes to practice is a tradition that’ll never get old. My kids aren’t old enough to do the bikes, but we may attempt Family Night this year. We’ll see.
“We know from your all time Packer team that you have an affinity for Jerry Kramer. I just saw the he is going to be signing his book at the Packer Pro Shop on February 23rd. Are you going to be there?” - Tony
Tony with the doubleheader this week. I would have loved to go, but no, I won’t be there. I had the privilege of meeting Jerry at a card shop in Milwaukee prior to his induction into the Hall of Fame. He’s every bit as charming and personable as you’d expect him to be. I think he’s always just been so easy to root for, especially following his Hall of Fame candidacy, knowing how long it took him to finally get inducted. I made the trip to Canton to watch his induction in person. It was such a fun weekend to tour the Hall of Fame and appreciate the NFL’s rich history. I mentioned it in the comments section last week, but I stumbled across a signed copy of “Instant Replay” at a used book store, so that was a necessary addition to my Packers collection, too. I just have a soft spot for the 60s Packers, which I’m sure a lot of people do. Having grown up with the Rodgers-led Packers, guys like Jerry Kramer, Bart Starr, and Dave Robinson helped me grow a deeper appreciation for the football team I love so much. Does anyone remember the videoboard commercial for Johnsonville from a few years ago at Lambeau Field with Jerry where he mentioned a bunch of memorable moments and then ended it with “Today could be one of those days when you get to say, yeah, I was here.” Chills. Every time.
Who’s your favorite Packer and why? Let me know in the comments. And don’t forget to send your questions for next week’s mailbag to [email protected].