After agreeing to deals with offensive lineman Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs on the first day of free agency, the Green Bay Packers are currently in wait-and-see mode for free agents from other teams.
As free agency enters Week 2 on Monday, the big names who are still available are guys who would make Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams in the last decade, not in the year 2025.
The names of the 30-somethings at edge rusher and wide receiver include: Matthew Judon, Z’Darius Smith, Von Miller, Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen.
The type of free agent that has intrigued Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst are players entering their 5th season, the first year of their second contract. They’ve had a lot of success in going to that route of team building.
Since being promoted to GM in 2018, the biggest money he has spent on free agents from other teams have been players entering their 5th seasons. These players include: 2019 - Z’Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Adrian Amos; 2024 - Xavier McKinney; 2025 - Aaron Banks and Nate Hobbs.
According to Pro Football Focus’ Top Free Agents available list, https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-ranking-the-best-available-2025-nfl-free-ag..., the only players in the top 10 who are entering that 5th season are Offensive Lineman Teven Jenkins and Cornerback Asante Samuel, Jr. Both of these players were second round picks in 2021 (like Banks was for the 49ers). In the group from 11 to 20, the only 2021 draft pick is Edge Rusher Azeez Ojulari.
According to CBS Sports’ free agent list, Ojulari was the 48th best free agent going into free agency. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2025-nfl-free-agency-tracker-updates-...
Ojulari, another former 2nd round pick in 2021 (50th overall), fits Gutekunst’s criteria for college preference (University of Georgia) and had a RAS score of 8.18 while coming out of Athens, Georgia.
Azeez Ojulari is a DE prospect in the 2021 draft class. He scored a 8.18 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 249 out of 1362 DE from 1987 to 2021. https://t.co/bqdv96JOhC #RAS via @Mathbomb pic.twitter.com/LNSoUofCIy
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 12, 2021
With the New York Giants, Ojulari had 22 sacks in four seasons, starting 30 of 46 games as an Edge Rusher. With the need at the position, he would be a player who would be added to the rotation of Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare and Brenton Cox Jr.
Why isn't Azeez Ojulari a Packer yet? pic.twitter.com/FQyYwd9O12
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) March 12, 2025
At 6-foot-3, 240 pounds he’s a lot lighter than what the Packers have desired in their edge players in the last 10 years. In comparison, Enagbare had a RAS score of 6.26 coming out of South Carolina in 2022, but he’s listed at 6-foot-4 and 258 pounds. Enagbare has just 9.5 sacks in three seasons.
Kingsley Enagbare was drafted with pick 179 of round 5 in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 6.26 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 563 out of 1503 DE from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/h8lLvK3qHN #RAS #Packers pic.twitter.com/8YN3JlR2lB
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 30, 2022
If the Packers are to make a move at a position of need, Ojulari makes the most of the players available at the moment. However, he would not be a signing that means that edge rusher isn’t still a psotiom of need in April’s draft. Even with the signing of Hobbs, it’s likely that cornerback is still toward the top of the team’s wish list for the draft as well.
Packers fans gonna spend a month talking about a Davante Adams return and trading for Myles Garrett and then watch as the Packers sign Azeez Ojulari and draft a WR in the second round.
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) February 10, 2025
Cheeshead TV writer Felipe Aceti went further into what Ojulari could bring to the Packers pass rush earlier this week in his free agent preview. https://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/azeez-ojulari-is-an-intriguing-free-agent-...
Azeez Ojulari Is An Intriguing Free Agent Option For the Packers https://t.co/LXqFryuRw7 #Packers #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/UuAsms8HGs
— CheeseheadTV 🧀 (@cheeseheadtv) March 10, 2025
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Mitch McLaughlin is a Packers fan and shareholder residing in Sacramento, California. He will be writing Packers stories each week on Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter: @McLaughlinMitch
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