With seven picks in the upcoming NFL Draft (conveniently held in Green Bay) the Packers are poised to infuse their roster with more young talent as they seek to reclaim the NFL North next season.
But the biggest offseason moves may come before the late Spring spectacle at Lambeau.
Blessed with $64.4 million in salary cap space, the Packers can play the market. They’ve shown a willingness to be aggressive, as seen with the early signing of Josh Jacobs last year. This offseason, they might look to do the same, perhaps targeting positions where they can find immediate starters or impactful depth.
The strategy isn’t just about who to sign but also who to let go. The team can afford to let some older players walk without tanking the team’s competitiveness, focusing instead on draft picks and strategic signings.
Packers’ needs:
Cornerback
EDGE Rusher
Wide Receiver
Kicker
Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs) enjoy the luxury of signing with any team they choose, offering them the most leverage. Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) have a bit of a conditional freedom; their original team can match any offer they receive from another team, giving teams a chance to retain talent while potentially receiving draft pick compensation if they choose not to match.
Unrestricted Free Agents
S Zayne Anderson
CB Corey Ballentine
TE Tyler Davis
OT Andre Dillard
RB AJ Dillon
LB Isaiah McDuffie
C Josh Myers
DT Tedarrell Slaton
CB Eric Stokes
LB Eric Wilson
On the other hand, Exclusive-Rights Free Agents (ERFAs) are tied to their current team if offered a contract, with no room for negotiation elsewhere. When it comes to compensation, teams lose UFAs without any draft picks unless they’ve used a tag, while an RFA moving teams results in draft pick compensation for the original team if they don’t match an offer. ERFAs, by contrast, don’t offer any compensation since they’re exclusive if a contract is extended. Experience determines these categories, with UFAs being the veterans of the league and ERFAs are coming off their first contracts.
Restricted/Exclusive-Rights Free Agents
OT Caleb Jones
WR Bo Melton
DE Arron Mosby
OT Kadeem Tiefort
P Daniel Whelan
RB Emmanuel Wilson
There are some Free Agent decisions that are more significant than others.
Center Josh Myers has been a rock in the offensive line, playing every snap he could and providing a solid base for Jordan Love. Yet, with his contract up, the Packers must weigh whether Myers’ consistency is enough, or if they should explore an upgrade in free agency, especially with a market ripe with starting-caliber centers.
Linebacker Isaiah McDuffie has been a tackling machine, leading the charge with 97 tackles. His performance suggests he’s worth re-signing, but some wonder if he’s reached his ceiling, which might influence the length and terms of any new deal.
Then there’s cornerback Eric Stokes, whose career has been marred by injuries and underperformance since his first-round selection. With the Packers declining his fifth-year option, they’re at a crossroads: invest in his potential recovery, or look elsewhere to bolster a secondary that’s been hit hard by injuries, particularly with Jaire Alexander’s PCL injury and mercurial attitude. We would also not be surprised to see Alexander and the Packers part ways before the draft.
The Packers’ 2025 offseason stared too soon, of course. However the work on the 2025 team started long before the final whistle blew in Philadelphia. The Green Bay Packers’ front office, led by General Manager Brian Gutekunst and President/CEO Mark Murphy, has built a reputation for strategic foresight and a knack for developing young talent. Gutekunst, in particular, has shown prowess in the draft, securing players like quarterback Jordan Love and linebacker Rashan Gary, who had become cornerstones of the team.
However last season’s free agent acquisitions (Jacobs and Safety Xavier McKinney) quickly emerged as not only star performers but team leaders.
Gutekunst and his team, including Director of Football Operations Russ Ball, must address key positions like cornerback and defensive end, where depth is thin due to injuries and expiring contracts. Meanwhile, Christian Watson’s ACL surgery and Romeo Doubs’ concussion history further amplify the Wide Receiver questions. The draft will be crucial, but with cap space emerging in the wake of aaron Rodgers’ departure, look for more big moves before they are on the clock in April.
The new top dog of the Green Bay Packers, Ed Policy, will formally assume the role of Chairman, President, and CEO in July 2025 when Mark Murphy officially retires. So, this will be Murphy’s final off season, and could prove to be among his most pivotal.
We’ll be watching and will keep you updated.
1.13.25
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