If you frequent social media, especially in the football realms, you're probably very familiar with the "First Time?" gallows meme/gif. This particular piece of internet art comes from the Netflix movie, "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs," showing actor James Franco with a noose around his neck, making light of a perilous situation and asking another potential gallows victim if it's their first time being there. The meme/gif is often used when a fan is upset about a situation, and another fellow fan is expressing humorous empathy because they've been in that situation before.
You may have seen this used in the last few days as Green Bay Packers fans refreshed their news feeds, hoping for the team to sign a big-ticket free agent like the rest of the league, only for them to announce nothing but trades and player releases on the coveted "legal tampering day." It's like being a kid at a family Christmas gathering, watching their cousins open all these cool toys while they anxiously wait their turn. Or sitting on the sideline watching a game, hoping and praying for the chance to join, but it never seems to come. It can be maddening. But be patient, your time will come.
Many of us Packer fans are used to this. The rumors swirl, the Packers may be interested in this player, or that player, but while all those players begin to agree to contracts, you hear crickets from 1265 Lombardi Ave. And when there is some noise from the Packers, it's to sign a player that no one had very high on their lists. A depth addition with possibly a high ceiling. Sometimes it feels like it's done on purpose. Getting back to that Christmas gathering, it's like that kid watching their cousins open these shiny, exciting new toys, and when they finally get their turn to open a gift, it's a new pair of pants. Something they need, but aren't necessarily excited about.
This doesn't fit with the kid at Christmas comparison, but as an NFL fan, this is the price to pay when your team is a consistent competitor.
Every single year when free agency rolls around, it's often the same teams deploying the armored Brinks trucks to the driveways of top free agents as their fans salivate at the possibility of a successful season. But why do they always roll out that red carpet, you ask? In some cases, desperation. Teams that aren't winning are desperate to land those top free agents to ignite their fanbase and hopefully turn things around. They emotionally spend, often leading to bloated contracts that the players themselves love, but the franchise is going to regret, no matter the outcome.
The consistently competitive teams are often content to sit back and wait for prices to drop or to sign more depth pieces than make a huge splash.
In the last two decades, the Packers have notoriously been a team sitting back on Day 1, and 2026 has been no different. But just because top players weren't signed within the first 48 hours doesn't mean the Packers won't find contributors for this season. The 2006 free agency wave was notorious for landing the Packers two players who would be crucial in eventually winning them Super Bowl XLV. They went into free agency needing defensive backs and defensive tackles. Not much different than today. Charles Woodson signed with the Packers over a month and a half after free agency started and reignited his future Hall of Fame career. Earlier, Ryan Pickett signed with Green Bay almost a week after free agency started. Both of these players would go on to play huge roles in the Packers' defense. As the years went on, many other late free agency diamonds were uncovered by the Packers, allowing their patience to consistently pay off.
Does that mean a player of Woodson or Pickett's caliber is still out there for the taking right now? In Woodson's case, likely not, we're talking about a member of Canton's elite. But Ryan Pickett wasn't even considered a top-50 free agent heading into the signing period. So, that could still be possible.
One thing is for sure: the Green Bay Packers only break the bank early in free agency when they know it's a slam-dunk signing. See Xavier McKinney or Preston Smith for reference. Two players signed early on in free agency that paid off immediately. Perhaps in 2026, it's believed that value just isn't there with this free agent class, despite the fanbase being a bit desperate for another big move.
Free agency isn't over yet, and everyone knows the biggest move of 2025 came less than two weeks before the week 1 kickoff. While Packer fans are on the sidelines right now, with only two minor signings at this point, watching others boast about their splashes, the Packers aren't out. Sometimes, the move that can put you over the top comes when you least expect it.