We’re just a few days away from the opening of the NFL’s negotiating window on Monday at noon. Since the end of the season, the Green Bay Packers have given us substantial evidence that they want to upgrade their roster. Brian Gutekunst said they need to ramp up their sense of urgency.
Then, last week at the combine, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported he heard from agents that Green Bay will be active in free agency, emphasizing defensive line, cornerback, and wide receiver. According toKen Ingalls, Green Bay has about $45 million in cap space and about $29 million in effective cap. They also can free up almost $74 million more by restructuring contracts.
The Packers can sign anyone they want.
Let’s ponder what it could look like if Gutey puts his money where his mouth is in free agency, startingwith Green Bay’s free agents.
Already Signed
Brandon McManus, kicker
Isaiah McDuffie, linebacker
The Packersre-signed Brandon McManus to a three-year deal on Tuesday. Weirdly, of all the guys set to be free agents, McManus was the priority. After a roller-coaster season with Anders Carlson in 2023 and a depressing kicking competition in training camp, the Packers went with Brayden Narveson, who wasn’t on the roster.
However, they released Narveson six weeks into the season. McManus, 33, is an 11-year veteran and stabilized the position, making 20 of 21 field goals and all 30 extra points in the regular season.
Green Bay alsore-signed McDuffie on a two-year deal. McDuffie adds solid depth to a room that needs it. However, it shouldn’t preclude them from continuing to add to the room.
Re-Sign
Slaton provides a skillset as a big run defender the Packers don’t have otherwise. Re-signing him shouldn’t stop them from adding to the D-line, but it gives them depth and flexibility if they can’t add to it in the draft or free agency. The other guys are cheap depth pieces that make sense to keep around for depth.
Let walk
Josh Myers and Eric Stokes are the most notable names from this list. Myers isreportedly expected to have a strong market, so Green Bay elects to move on and go with an offensive line involving 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan.
On the other hand, after a stellar rookie season, Stokes fell victim to the sophomore slump that ended with a brutal leg injury that he never fully recovered from. At this point, both sides should move on. Eric Wilson loses the position battle to McDuffie.
Cuts/Trades
Jaire Alexander and a 2025 sixth to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2025 fourth and a 2025 seventh
Gutekunst finds a trade partner, and the second-longest Packers divorce of the Matt LaFleur era is over.
Free-agent signings
D.J. Reed – four years, $65 million (40 guaranteed)
After trading Alexander, the Packers quickly turned their attention to replacing him.Spotrac has Reed projected at four years, $58 million. Green Bay outbids to secure their guy.
D.J. Reed with great coverage vs Justin Jefferson on the circus route pic.twitter.com/f6lGPr6Trj
— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) March 4, 2025
In Demovsky’s comments that Green Bay will be active in free agency, he specifically named D.J. Reed as a guy they’re interested in. Reed instantly becomes the Alexander replacement as CB 1, but it shouldn’t stop them from adding to a room that lacks depth.
Davante Adams – two years, $50 million ($36 million guaranteed)
Spotrac has Adams at a two-year, $27 million valuation. However, given Adams’ production and the rising cap, I expect he will get an updated version of Mike Evans’ two-year $41 million ($35 guaranteed) contract.
71-YARD RUN TO THE END ZONE!!#NYJvsJAX on FOX pic.twitter.com/XK3rBXayBe
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 15, 2024
After the New York Jets officiallyreleased Adams, the Packers work aggressively to reunite with the star receiver. After signing him, there are no more questions about who Green Bay’s No. 1 receiver is.
The Packersreportedly were also interested in DK Metcalf, who the Seattle Seahawks recently granted permission to seek a trade. However, Seattle’s asking price and the contract they’d have to give Metcalf on top of trade capital made Adams the more intriguing target.
Adams wasreportedly interested in sticking with Aaron Rodgers or going to the West Coast. Still, it’s also beenreported that the interest in reuniting with LaFleur and the Packers is real because of the past connection.
The Packers (+165) opened as the betting favorites onDraftKings to sign Adams, followed by the California teams: the Los Angeles Chargers (+550), San Francisco 49ers (+550), and Los Angeles Rams (+750).
Green Bay will still address the defensive line after aggressively addressing corner and wide receiver. However, with a strong draft class, they will do so less aggressively, given what the D-line market commands with the Osa Odigizuah deal.
Azeez Ojulari – two years, $15 million ($10 million guaranteed)
The Packers arereportedly interested in Colts pass rusher Dayo Odeyingbo. However, after splurging on wide receiver and cornerback, they get outbid and settle for Ojulari.
Ojulari isn’t the splashy move at DL that Khalil Mack or Odeyingbo would be. Still, he provides pass-rush juice with some upside at only 24 years old.
https://twitter.com/Giants/status/1734420095089213630
Supplemental signings
Marquez Valdes-Scantling – WR
Austin Corbett – C/G
Jerome Baker – ILB
MVS gives the Packers a field stretcher option and joins a battle with Bo Melton and Malik Heath for the final roster spot(s) in the room. Corbett provides interior O-line depth after losing Myers. Lastly, Baker adds depth to the linebacker room.
None of these guys are sure things to make the roster.
Draft
After being aggressive filling needs in free agency, we’re left with few needs going into the draft. The defensive interior is one spot that Green Bay must address. That will be near the top of the priority list in a strong class. Otherwise, we will look to add long-term depth at spots already addressed (CB, WR, EDGE, OL).
Green Bay attacked the defensive interior and tookDerrick Harmon in the first round. Harmon is a 3-tech who started at Michigan State and transferred to Oregon. According to PFF, he broke out as an interior disruptor with 55 total pressures at Oregon, leading FBS interior defensive lineman in 2024. He had elite pass-rush grades in his final two seasons and was a good run defender.
Harmon is exactly what the Packers need in the middle of their defense.
The Packers landAzareye’h Thomas a round later, and I’m thrilled. Thomas, who will still be 20 when he is drafted, is a prototype corner build at 6’1” with long arms and huge hands. He’ll instantly come in and compete for outside CB2.
To round it out, we added some depth pieces.Tate Ratledge is a big, athletic, and versatile offensive lineman who played guard and tackle in college and looks like a prototypical Packers O-lineman.
Tory Horton is a bonafide Packers type at receiver. Finally,Jack Kiser is an older, experienced prospect who immediately adds some depth to the middle of the defense.
After adding Reed and Thomas to the secondary, they’ve beefed up the defensive line with Harmon and Ojulari and added juice in the receiving room with Davante and Horton. Therefore, they should be among the NFC favorites next year.