The Other Big Thing the Packers Need to Consider This Offseason
By GilMartin
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has been a busy man this week. As the NFL legal tampering period ended and the new league year began, Gutekunst has been quietly making moves to add players to address the team’s needs. None of these can be considered blockbuster signings, but that doesn’t mean the newly signed players can’t help the Packers win in 2026.
To get the Packers under the cap, Gutekunst parted ways with some players who have played vital roles on the team. Elgton Jenkins, Rashan Gary, Quay Walker, Romeo Doubs, Malik Willis, and Nate Hobbs are among the players who are now ex-Packers.
Meanwhile, Gutekunst has made moves to begin to address many of the team’s biggest areas of need. He traded for linebacker Zaire Franklin from Indianapolis to help fortify the linebacking unit which was thin after Walker’s departure.
He signed free agent cornerback Benjamin St-Juste to replace Hobbs. St-Juste has good size, tackles well and is better suited to playing the boundary than Hobbs was. He also has a track record of staying healthy.
Gutekunst added defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to replace Colby Wooden who was traded for Franklin. Hargrave should help give the Packers more pressure from the interior of the defensive line along with a healthy Devonte Wyatt.
Special teams were not ignored by Gutekunst. He brought back core special teams players Kristian Welch and Nick Niemann. Then, he signed free agent return specialist Skyy Moore. The hope is that Moore can improve the Packers field position next season and keep players like Matthew Golden and Savion Williams from having to return kicks or punts.
Gutekunst will likely add a few more moderately priced free agents this offseason. The team will also use their draft picks to fortify many of these positions of need as well.
Because of how the free agent process has played out this week, the Packers will likely get a good haul of compensatory draft picks in 2027. The departure of Quay Walker, Doubs, Willis and (when he signs) Rasheed Walker will likely add several valuable mid-round picks to the Packers that will be a big help for a team without a first round pick this year and next year.
But there is another set of important decisions that Gutekunst has to keep in the back of his mind this offseason while signing free agents and making other roster moves. The GM must determine which of the Packers potential 2027 free agents he wants to keep, at what price and how they fit in with the team’s future. He may also sign a free agent or draft a player with the idea of replacing a player he doesn’t wish to re-sign.
The list of players on expiring contracts in 2026 includes some very important contributors. At wide receiver alone, there are three key players on expiring deals. The team’s number one wideout, Christian Watson will be playing on a one-year extension he signed last year. When healthy, Watson demonstrated elite ability and his game matured in 2025. The Packers will likely want to keep their top wideout in Green and Gold beyond the coming campaign.
Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks will also be on expiring contracts this season. It would be difficult for the team to retain all three of them, so Gutekunst must determine who he wants to keep and who he wants to let explore the market. Again, these decisions don’t have to be made right away, but Gute has to keep them in mind when signing players and figuring out the available cap space going forward.
Starting tight end Tucker Kraft will also be in the final year of his rookie deal this season. Kraft is coming off a serious injury but was playing at a Pro Bowl level before he got hurt. His backup, Luke Musgrave, will also be in the final year of his rookie deal.
Devonte Wyatt will be playing this season on his fifth-year option barring a new deal so a decision must be reached on his future with the team. The Packers must also decide by May whether to pick up the fifth-year option of Lukas Van Ness.
Other potential UFAs next offseason include cornerback Keisean Nixon, linebacker Isaiah McDuffie and cornerback Carrington Valentine, all of whom have started for the Packers.
These are all things Gutekunst has to keep in the back of his mind as he continues to make moves to improve the Packers this offseason.
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Comments (48)
Savage57
March 12, 2026 at 07:13 am
The prescience required of a NFL GM would lead many a man to alcoholism. Given some of the decisions we see them make, who knows? Maybe they already are.
Do you have the ability to see the future like a fortune teller when choosing college players who'll become effective pros? Are you able to conjure up which players on the roster to keep and who to let depart? Can you divine which players are worthy free agents and the price tag they carry?
If so, we've got a job for you. But be advised: Although it comes with significant compensation, the risk is commensurate.
Cheezehead72
March 12, 2026 at 07:40 am
This is no different than many business people face everyday when hiring people. The only difference is that these are contracts, many business people hire "at will", and this is in the media and scrutinized. Managers in business have to make the same decisions and predictions a GM makes. Some might say a GMs job is easier because they have video and examination of players than managers have of candidates.
I will be a GM for year. Make that salary and retire.
dobber
March 12, 2026 at 08:00 am
My dad, who retired in the 90s and was a small-herd (70 head) dairy farmer, used to say that he was a gambler and played the lottery every day even though he never bought a ticket. He was always working for today and also about 3 years ahead. He had to monitor his herd, decide which animals to keep and which weren't producing, monitor the gene pool and decide what he was looking for in a bull (or AI) to sire future generations. Had to raise calves to his herd and decide when he could sell or cull or buy to supplement what he had.
Sounds familiar?
Guam
March 12, 2026 at 08:38 am
Your Dad probably went by the label "farmer", but he was an entrepreneur and small business CEO in every respect and faced the same issues Gute and every business executive does. You are always making important decisions with imperfect information. Gute probably does his job in more of a fishbowl than most business executives, but the issues remain the same.
T7Steve
March 12, 2026 at 07:41 am
"The prescience required of a NFL GM would lead many a man to alcoholism."
Here I thought a nice warm day was all I needed for a good enough reason.
stockholder
March 12, 2026 at 07:39 am
The other thing we need to consider-
The Corner stones are gone.
Sure Love and Parsons are there.
But this balloon will pop.
While Gute is avoiding high-priced free agents.
The maintaining of a young roster is changing.
Hoarding comp picks is for
The "draft-and-develop" philosophy.
Something Gute isn't known for.
Spending money is his fix.
A fix that is high risk, based on luck.
More than stability.
Cheezehead72
March 12, 2026 at 07:44 am
The cornerstones are not gone. We have the ones you mentioned and we have McKinney, Watson/Reed, Musgrave/Kraft, Jacobs, Tom, and Whalen. The position groups where we are missing a cornerstone is DL, LB, and CB. Now CB might be Nixon but we might want to look for a replacement.
bjkdad44
March 12, 2026 at 09:25 am
Need to replace “bonehead” Nixon!… IMHO
PeteK
March 12, 2026 at 01:53 pm
Not replace supplement with someone better.
stockholder
March 12, 2026 at 09:38 am
McKinney & Jacobs were a restructure or cut.
They heard the whispers.
Reed was being shopped.
Watson,Musgrave, Kraft, were all injured.
If they go down again their gone.
And will be gone when Love goes.
And the price is the deciding factor.
Tom has already missed to many important games.
Border line is the whole OL.
Whalen is not a cornerstone.
I would say that Williams, could be kept.
Wyatt, and van ess??? the needle hasn't moved.
CB- - Just take any comp.
dblbogey
March 12, 2026 at 03:48 pm
Found the alcoholic.
golfpacker61
March 12, 2026 at 08:31 pm
"While Gute is avoiding high-priced free agents,"
2026 is a year that we can't afford to spend big money on a "Free Agent Fix." I was surprised that we spent bigger $$$ on Rhyan and Hargrave. We had no choice on Rhyan, the center market is small every year, and the Lions signee was the only other decent, cheaper center we could have signed. There was virtually no mention of GB interest in him.
Hargrave fills a need, but I would bet GB was hoping some serviceable, cheaper player would fall thru the cracks. They saw an opportunity and took it, Calais Campbell would have been a good option too, if he wanted to play in GB. Either player is just a stop gap player until we find someone better.
The Banks and Hobbs signings last year really handcuffed us for 2026. Cheaper players is all we can afford. I had great hopes we could steal Charlie Kolar for a better TE than Musgrave. He was projected to get $2 million per year but got $8 million annually. That should scare us with a Kraft extension coming.
T7Steve
March 12, 2026 at 07:52 am
They have to figure a way to keep Kraft and Wyatt.
Musgrave will have to have a great contract season and become a more reliable blocker.
Nixon was basically converted from special teams/slot backup to outside corner. Has he reached his ceiling? There were times last season (in my opinion) where if they had anyone else, he should have been benched.
I don't think LVN is an automatic 5th year option unless he blossoms as an every down starting player before this season even begins.
dobber
March 12, 2026 at 08:02 am
I think the Hargrave signing is Gute bringing in a potential bridge and looking at the possibility of not being able to bring back Wyatt.
T7Steve
March 12, 2026 at 08:13 am
Wyatt may decide his own future if he can't stay healthy for a complete season.
dobber
March 12, 2026 at 09:14 am
Yup.
He might also finally put in a complete season and price his way out of GB.
Bitternotsour
March 12, 2026 at 09:42 am
Regardless, there are plans and contingencies already in place. As predicted prior to the offseason, the Packers will field a full roster, be in compliance with the cap provisions, and begin the season with an optimistic fan base and a top-tier quarterback.
Strap in.
stockholder
March 12, 2026 at 09:47 am
Judge Gute on his years as GM.
No super bowl - Just contingencies
jannesbjornson
March 12, 2026 at 04:53 pm
There is no good reason this guy still has a job @ Packertown,LLC.
PeteK
March 12, 2026 at 01:57 pm
Maybe not as there is plenty of dead money coming off the bks next year.
LambeauPlain
March 12, 2026 at 08:14 am
Truly do not know what to expect of the 2026 Packers. Backing in to the playoffs and then moonwalking off the stage with another late game collapse vs the bares has greatly "curbed my enthusiasm" going into the offseason.
More "IF'S" than usual. Will see what the draft brings and how the FA's fill in the 53 man depth. Gannon has a big job ahead installing another new scheme. He has great/good players at all 3 levels. And plenty of holes to plug at all 3 levels.
The OL is littered with question marks. Will see if LaFleur can finally exceed expectations with mostly the same OL sans Walker, but hello Morgan. The production of Love, Jacobs, Watson, Reed, Kraft, and now "veteran" Golden will again depend on the big boys.
My greatest enthusiasm curb was the enshrining the status quo. Again doing all the same things while expecting different results.
I do enjoy being pleasantly surprised.
PeteK
March 12, 2026 at 02:09 pm
We just signed 3 solid/good veteran players that I believe are better than the players they replaced. However, I am installing a very lg horse shoe over my TV.
Guam
March 12, 2026 at 08:27 am
I have to admit that I have been down on Gute for the last 12 months. I did not care for the Banks or Hobbs signings and have not liked the development of several high draft choices (although LaFleur and his staff share a chunk of that blame). It is still early, but I have been impressed with Gute's moves so far this year. Despite losing a number of starters to free agency and cap cuts, Gute has plugged every significant hole (at least on paper) without resorting to excessive cap shenanigans and without damaging the expected 2027 comp picks. He has truly threaded the needle this offseason.
I am becoming optimistic about the upcoming season. Thank you Gute!
Cheezehead72
March 12, 2026 at 08:39 am
Pete Dougherty mentioned in a answer to a question about the 2022 draft class that the Packers have signed 4 to a second contract where the league average is 1.5 to 1.6. Gute has been riding a rollercoaster.
Guam
March 12, 2026 at 08:48 am
And Gute's first draft class was almost a complete bust except he got the Packer starting quarterback for the next decade. Ask the Bears how hard that is to do! Gute truly has been riding a rollercoaster. And we fans have had the seat right behind him on that ride.
Edit: It was actually Gute's third draft class when he picked Love - Dobber correctly identified my screwup. Mea culpa.
Bitternotsour
March 12, 2026 at 09:05 am
While I will always prefer the weird, folky, stand-offish peculiarity of Ted Thompson, Gutekunst (despite having his hands tied by not being director of football operations) has steered the ship ably. There are no sure things in football, but he nailed the most important aspect by finding a quarterback. He also seems like a totally decent person.
He doesn't walk on water, but he does a fine job.
dobber
March 12, 2026 at 09:17 am
Wasn't Gute's first official (we don't really know who called the shots for TTs last couple years) draft 2018? That's Jaire, and Jenkins the next year.
Whatever the case, it feels like he didn't have a coherent draft strategy those first couple drafts...that all seemed to be coinciding with the window he built behind ARod by buying that first class of FAs. Since 2022, he's done a nice job of picking guys who have ascended into being contributors. Many have said that if you get X many starters out of a draft class, you're a good drafter--but sometimes guys ascend due to GMs being in love with their picks or maybe attrition and poor roster management--so that's a poor measure.
The 2022 draft on has produced guys who seem to be players. Only 2 of Gute's 11 2022 picks are out of the league (past the average career length), and only Ford seems to be knocking around as a journeyman. Plenty of second contracts. The '23 draft isn't so good (it's hard to match '22 in terms of general drafting). Where Gute has struggled has been converting high picks into blue chips. If his hit rate were better there, we'd be talking differently about this team, now.
Bitternotsour
March 12, 2026 at 09:39 am
The talent is there to win the Super Bowl whether people see it or not. Sometimes the dice come up snake-eyes. Doubs inexplicably muffing that onside kick, key injuries at inopportune junctions, yada yada yada. The team gets to the playoffs. Whether you get a break here or there makes all the difference, see that bizarre two point conversion in the Seattle game (for example)...
Since'61
March 12, 2026 at 09:49 am
Good post Dobber. IIRC correctly Gute's first draft pick was Jaire Alexander in 2018. In 2019 he selected Rashan Gary and in 2020 his first pick was Jordan Love. I think that Jenkins was a second round pick in 2019.
As we know the first 2 out of those 3 selections are gone. And IMO it's not a given that Love is the "man" for the next decade of Packers QB. 2026 is a crucial year for Love to show improvement towards evolving into an elite NFL QB. Thanks, Since '61
Guam
March 12, 2026 at 10:22 am
Love has been in the league for six years now, three as a starter, and he is likely approaching the level of who he will be. And I am not sure that will ever be elite. I think he is a very good QB who will be the Packer starting QB for most of the next decade, but elite may be more than he can reach.
And that evaluation doesn't bother me in the least. Aaron Rodgers was elite and won one Super Bowl. Brett Favre was elite and won one Super Bowl. Sam Darnold is not elite and won one Super Bowl. Jalen Hurts is not elite and won one Super Bowl, etc. etc.. There are many paths to a championship and I believe Love is good enough to win one or more, but he needs help from a strong team, just like Hurts and Darnold very recently and many others in the past.
Hopefully Gute and company can get us there.
Swisch
March 12, 2026 at 10:46 am
A lot of the story to be written about Jordan Love will go beyond his passing to his determination and leadership.
That's what made the difference for Bart Starr and the Packers of the Lombardi Era.
Along with LaFleur and the other coaches, it's up to Love to help get the most out of his teammates.
It seems Gute is well on his way to providing the pieces to make the team capable of winning a Super Bowl in the next couple of years -- but it's intangibles that will take them over the top.
I'm rooting for Love to have the tenacity to go along with his considerable talent. I'm hoping and praying for him to have the humility that goes into true heroism.
The beauty of the Lombardi years was the mystique that comes with individuals cooperating to create something greater than their individual parts.
Bitternotsour
March 12, 2026 at 07:02 pm
Guam, I'm an idiot and I've confused you with Oppy. Regrets.
Guam
March 13, 2026 at 07:17 am
Sorry Bitter but I don't understand. I have never said that or anything close to that about Willis. What few comments I have made about Willis were positive. Do you have me confused with another poster?
GregC
March 13, 2026 at 09:16 am
Oppy was the one who was down on Malik Willis. He said Willis was not good enough at going through his progressions.
Bitternotsour
March 15, 2026 at 12:33 pm
My bad. My very bad. I'll delete.
Guam
March 12, 2026 at 10:00 am
Good catch Dobber - my memory cramped at the wrong time. Love was in 2020, Gute's third draft. Comment still applies - lousy draft except for Love.
dobber
March 12, 2026 at 09:56 am
2022 was an outstanding draft class.
harleycops
March 12, 2026 at 09:58 am
Guam expressed my sentiments and those of PackerNation very well. Past years, the initial days of FAs were explosive with big-name players (as this year was also), but there were mostly crickets from the Packers F.O. This year, there hasn't been loud crickets, but just soft ones as Guter has plugged some holes up with trades and leftovers from other teams. Put this all together, and I hope a new D.C. plus other old/new coaches will pull this team together to result in the early success we had in the '25 season. There's still more FA time plus the draft. When/if we get 4 middle round comp picks, plus the 8 regular picks in '27 we have now, that's already a dozen to fill up this team big time. In summary, the next 2 years of the regular season & off season will be very interesting to follow. GPG!
Note this quote from YardBarker Packer article on 3/11: "The Green Bay Packers are positioned perfectly to capitalize on these lingering opportunities as asking prices naturally drop. By avoiding the temptation to overspend early, they retain the flexibility to make smart additions as the offseason progresses. Patience is a distinct virtue in the NFL, and Green Bay is demonstrating exactly how to use it to build a highly competitive roster."
golfpacker61
March 13, 2026 at 03:30 pm
Good post Harley. I believe any players we sign now do not count against comp picks either. We don't have a first round pick in 2027 but if we have 4 extra picks in the 3rd, 4th, & 5th rounds, GB can do some serious damage drafting some really solid players. 2026 is for finding players that can help immediately, but the 2027 draft will really reload the Packers with some seriously good talent that could strengthen many position groups.
As it stands right now, depending on Rasheed Walkers landing spot and $$$, GB could have 3 third round picks and 4 fourth round picks in the 2027 draft, that's right in the sweet spot for very talented players.
2-4 more cheaper FAs to fortify weaker position groups would make ua a very strong team this year.
HarryHodag
March 12, 2026 at 10:05 am
A lot to consider for sure. But with Willis gone to Miami, who is the back up quarterback in 2026? Interesting call to be made there. Is Desmond Ridder good enough? Love has been hurt over the seasons and a promising season could go up in smoke with a poor back up. The back up QB call could also affect 2027.
T7Steve
March 12, 2026 at 10:27 am
Backup QB is important but in reality, if you don't have your #1 in the NFL you aren't moving very much further. See the Broncos this post season and the 9ers when it happened to them. You have to be very lucky to get there like the Eagles did and the only other one I can think of is maybe back to the Ravens.
A great backup like Willis is a luxury that you can't hang onto in the NFL it might be better to fortify the O-line to protect #1 and have a great running game to play off of.
The days of Joe Montana backed up by Steve Young or Favre and Rogers are long in the past. Wonder if the Rodgers backed up by Love can be repeated in Green Bay this time around. At least not till 28 comes around with a #1 draft choice.
Joster11
March 12, 2026 at 12:42 pm
"To get the Packers under the cap, Gutekunst parted ways with some players who have played vital roles on the team. Elgton Jenkins, Rashan Gary, Quay Walker, Romeo Doubs, Malik Willis, and Nate Hobbs are among the players who are now ex-Packers."
What vital role did Nate Hobbs play?
Alberta_Packer
March 12, 2026 at 01:58 pm
The biggest move / surprise this off-season for me has been the enlightenment of Gutekunst and his subsequent actions. Especially within a corporate environment of status quo management. I did not see Gutekunst being the outlier - an agent for change. His proactivity has certainly made for a more interesting off-season and a potentially better team.
WD
March 12, 2026 at 03:11 pm
The most difficult off season task will be trying to replace Malik with a backup QB. If they go best available a QB could fit the bill.
To say Malik will be missed is an understatement.
Bitternotsour
March 12, 2026 at 06:59 pm
He likely replaced him with a third-round comp pick. Winning.
Starrbrite
March 12, 2026 at 10:20 pm
I think they will keep Ridder.
vin0770
March 13, 2026 at 03:49 pm
I won’t miss Nixon
golfpacker61
March 13, 2026 at 03:55 pm
Desmond Ridder has something most of these backup QB types don't have, that's over 20 games of NFL QB starting experience. I liked Ridder in the draft and I like him now in GB. He has been on some real $hitty NFL teams and I don't care how much talent you have, playing for the Jets, Raiders, Browns, and Falcons will not make you a successful player, especially at QB. Being with GB will be very good for him. The practice squad QB who we got from the Eagles had a great senior college season too.
This draft is super important to get right. I think we can get a starting caliber CB anywhere from #52 all the way to #75. A trade back could really help us by picking up 2 extra picks this year. In that area we can still get Will Lee, David Igbinosun, Malik Muhammed, and other who could help immediately. If we don't grab a CB with our first pick we blow any real chance for immediate CB help. I do like Daylen Everette, Devin Moore, Andre Fuller, Domani Jackson in later rounds. And late sleepers Dante Balfour & Josh Moten.
Cheap Free Agents I would like to see GB take a swing at are:
Devin White-LB-Raiders, he had a big comeback year with 173 tackles $2 million projected
Antonio Gibson-RB-Patriots-really complete RB that can rush, receive, and block well-$1.1 million
Zach Ertz or Donald Parham-TEs
A J Epenesa-Edge-Bills-an upgrade on Enagbare for 1/2 the price
Another veteran CB-preferably young, has starting experience and viable stats, multiple option under $2 million
I would take another shot on Trevon Diggs on a 1 year prove it deal @ $3 million with incentives.