The Packers could go shopping in free agency this offseason to add quality depth defensively, and bring in players with ties to new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
As Gannon works to import his scheme to Green Bay, bringing in players who understand the system, can play it at a high level, and help translate the verbiage and plays to the other players inside the meeting rooms and on the practice field.
In the weeks ahead, there could be a player who checks all of those boxes available to general manager Brian Gutekunst and the Packers.
Packers linked to free agent linebacker Nakobe Dean
Nov 16, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) reacts against the Detroit Lions during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
As free agency nears, Eagles free agent linebacker Nakobe Dean could be an ideal fit for the Packers, given his ties to Gannon and the fact that he has plenty of remaining upside at age 25.
“Signing Dean would be a little redundant with Edgerrin Cooper’s skill set,” Justis Mosqueda writes for SBNation. “But ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler stated that the Dallas Cowboys, who are also transitioning to a 3-4 defense this year,consider Dean to be a green-dot middle linebacker. The Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator, Christian Parker, also comes from the Eagles’ coaching tree.
“In Gannon’s final year in Philadelphia, Dean was drafted in the third round, after sliding from his first-round projection due to injury concerns. Dean didn’t start until 2023, when Gannon was already in Arizona, and has missed 21 games over the last three seasons due to injury.”
Dean has battled through numerous injuries throughout his career, but is hitting free agency off a career-high four sacks during the 2025 campaign.
Given Dean’s ability to add a pass rush presence, and his knowledge of Gannon’s system, pairing him alongside Micah Parsons and Cooper in the front seven could be a significant upgrade for the Packers’ defense.