The Green Bay Packers stand on solid financial ground entering the offseason. The Packers can be in play for a big move if they desire. They can dish out extensions to a few players if they so choose. Hell, they can dabble in both worlds.
Despite the financial flexibility, Green Bay will need plenty of growth and improvement from within. That’s because so many critical parts of the operation are set to return.
No team in the NFL has fewer snaps played in 2024 entering free agency than the Packers. Only 14.6% of Green Bay’s players who accumulated snaps last season are free agents this offseason. For reference, the Minnesota Vikings are on the opposite side of the spectrum, with players representing 45.4% of the team’s total snaps entering free agency.
The Packers chipped into that 14.6% even more when they announced they re-signed linebacker Isaiah McDuffie to a two-year contract. McDuffie saw the second-most snaps at linebacker for Green Bay last year, trailing only Quay Walker. McDuffie finished the campaign having played 64% of the snaps on defense.
It’s a good dilemma for the Packers.
Outside of Josh Myers, the Packers have no internal priority signings; some might not even put Myers into this category. In an ideal scenario, Myers would be back on a team-friendly deal. However, it isn’t the end of the world if that’s not the case.
I don’t intend to take a shot at this group. It’d be great to have Eric Wilson back if it makes sense. The same can be said for T.J. Slaton and some others. Brandon McManus would have been the other priority, given the kicking woes before he arrived in Green Bay. However, they have him locked in, too.
The point remains that the Packers aren’t going to have to panic and scavenge for parts to reassemble the roster. All of their key pieces are under contract through at least 2025.
That also means Green Bay will rely heavily on internal growth to reach the next level. Sure, they will have the option of plugging some holes in free agency. However, there must be improvement, primarily from some of the younger players.
Defensive end Lukas Van Ness has severely underwhelmed in his first two seasons. The former first-round pick out of Iowa was a non-factor in far too many games in 2024. While the spotlight doesn’t solely go on Van Ness, he’s one of the young guys at a position of need who must step up.
Speaking at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, a reporter asked Brian Gutekunst about the Packers needing to get better at getting to the quarterback. He also mentioned Van Ness.
“We need to affect the quarterback more in the front four, just with four players,” Gutekunst said, “and Lukas is a big part of that.”
Gutekunst also praised Van Ness’ work ethic and reaffirmed his belief in the defensive end.
He does everything he can. He is everything you want in a professional as far as his work ethic and what he puts into it, and I expect him to take a big jump this year.
Whether it’s Van Ness stepping up or Brenton Cox Jr. taking a big leap, there has to be development that comes from within up front for the defensive line. Gutekunst knows this.
We need to affect the quarterback with four. It needs to be more consistent. It needs to be able to control the game when we need to, finish games off … that has to get better if want to accomplish the goals we want to accomplish this season.
Wide receiver is another spot where the Packers must take a step forward. Even if Green Bay were to add a big name into the mix at wideout, the team has too much young talent that hasn’t taken a leap.
Whether it’s Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, or Dontayvion Wicks, the Packers know it would be best if at least one emerged as a top threat in the passing game in 2025.
Gutekunst is part of the group that would like to see one of Green Bay’s receivers move into No. 1 wideout territory.
You’d like to have somebody move into that space … I’d like multiple guys to be able to move into that space. What I’m looking for is guys that when they’re called upon can perform at a high level. I think we have a lot of guys that have done that.
Many of Green Bay’s returning players haven’t reached their ceiling, which bodes well for the Packers. They don’t have an aging roster with bloated contracts that feels trapped. Instead, it’s the youngest roster in the NFL, with players like Edgerrin Cooper, Tucker Kraft, Evan Williams, Carrington Valentine, and countless others who played a ton but haven’t peaked.
There’s a risk in banking on that growth; it’s far from a certainty. Still, Green Bay has no choice but to buy into the notion that at least some of its young talent will continue to evolve.
Entering the offseason, the Packers are in a great spot with financial flexibility and not having to deal with the headache of retaining a bunch of their talent. That talent is here to stay through at least next year. What Matt LaFleur and his staff can do with them will make all the difference.