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[Green Bay Packers]

Packers past offseason success shows good things can be worth waiting for

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Making a big splash early can be fun, but the Packers have a good record of waiting for the right deal to come their way.

It sure doesn’t look like the Seattle Seahawks are in a hurry to trade D.K. Metcalf.

Beat-by-beat reporting on the situation reveals — so far at least — a slow-developing market for Seattle’s extra-large wide receiver, and with no cap crunch pushing the Seahawks to get a deal done so they can spend in next week’s free agent bonanza, this thing could drag on for a while. Heck, it may never resolve in a way that involves the Packers acquiring a star player in a trade rather than sending one out of town for once. Who knows? Maybe Metcalf is back in Seattle this year, or off to some other team willing to cough up the bounty of picks the Seahawks seem to want.

Whatever ends up happening, Packers fans should know better than most that patience is a virtue when it comes to offseason success. Just look to history, both recent and not-so-recent, to see what waiting can bring you.

In 2023, Aaron Rodgers announced on March 15 that he intended to play for the New York Jets that season, but Brian Gutekunst held on until April 26 before shipping him to New York, extracting a good deal from the Jets in the process.

Just two years prior, the Packers were still shopping for talent in mid-summer and found quite a free agent hit when De’Vondre Campbell signed on June 9. He was such a late addition that he was barely a factor early in training camp before ascending to the top linebacker job and playing at an All-Pro level that season. Sure, it didn’t work out for the Packers and Campbell (or the 49ers and Campbell, to be honest) after that one magical year, but he was still a signing worth waiting for.

Back in 2016, the Packers had a visit with free agent tight end Jared Cook on March 15, but didn’t come to terms with their eventually playoff hero until almost two weeks later. They finally inked a one-year deal on March 28. (Although maybe they should have taken a little while longer and hammered out a two-year contract, as the team initially wanted. Theoretically they could have then avoided the whole Martellus Bennett debacle.)

And finally, let’s go all the way back to 2006, when Charles Woodson signed so late in free agency that he was practically a footnote to two other big storylines on the front page of the Green Bay Press-Gazette the day the news broke. He signed April 26, 2006, and the sports page the next day featured a single column on the news, focusing instead on Brett Favre’s return to the Packers that season and the upcoming NFL Draft, where the Packers were rumored to be interested in taking future talkshow participant and moderately successful linebacker A.J. Hawk with the fifth overall pick.

The point is, good things can come to those who wait, and if the Packers think Metcalf can be the next big thing in Green Bay, they should be willing to wait out the Seahawks if that’s what it’s going to take.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...ss-shows-good-things-can-be-worth-waiting-for

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Open Thread: What do you expect from the Packers in free agency?

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Call your shot. Make a prediction

It’s time for some free agency predictions!

The Green Bay Packers need help at several positions, the most important being wide receiver, defensive end, defensive tackle and cornerback. While the free agent receiver and defensive tackle markets aren’t great, I fully expect the Packers to be “in the mix” for quality edge defenders, of which there are many, and top cornerbacks, like Byron Murphy, Paulson Adebo or D.J. Reed.

Ultimately, I think Green Bay addresses defensive tackle in the draft, considering how deep the position is this year. Receiver is tricky, considering that speed is going to be a premium trait that they look for in any player they add to that room in 2025.

My final prediction: The Packers sign a splash defensive end and cornerback this week. Anything beyond that is just icing on the cake.

Drop what you think the team is going to do in the comment section.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2025/3/9/24381428/green-bay-packers-2025-free-agency-predictions

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Seattle Seahawks trade wide receiver D.K. Metcalf to Pittsburgh Steelers

Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Packers didn’t pull the trigger on the two-time Pro Bowl receiver.

The D.K. Metcalf saga is over, and it’s not ending with the star wide receiver as a member of the Green Bay Packers.

The Seattle Seahawks have traded Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers, reportedly for a second-round pick. As a part of the deal, Metcalf has agreed to a new contract, reportedly worth $150 million over five seasons.

The Packers have been linked to Metcalf repeatedly over the past couple of weeks as the disgruntled receiver expressed his desire to get out of Seattle, and for a long time it looked like the Packers had the goods to get a deal done. Compensation reports varied, but most centered around the Seahawks getting a draft pick and a young wide receiver in return.

Given that the Packers wide receiver corps is nothing but young, they seemed like natural suitors. For whatever reason, though, they didn’t ultimately pull the trigger on the trade.

That squares with general manager Brian Gutekunst’s remarks earlier this offseason. Broadly speaking, Gutekunst said he prefers not to trade for older players because they often demand two kinds of compensation to get the deal done: the initial trade and then the expensive contract extension that follows. We know Gutekunst values his draft picks, but the economics of avoiding the mega-contract are worth remembering, too. Drafting a young player gives you a prospect under team control at an affordable price for at least four years.

Metcalf joins the Steelers as one of the most productive receivers in the NFL over the past few seasons. He’s compiled 6,324 receiving yards since the Seahawks selected him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, 12th most in the NFL in that span. His 48 receiving touchdowns since 2019 rank fifth in the NFL in that time.

His best season came in 2020, when he logged 83 catches for 1,303 yards and 10 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl that season and was named a second-team All-Pro.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...tsburgh-steelers-news-2025-free-agency-update

 

[Green Bay Packers]

NFL Free Agency: Day 1 signings, rumors and news tracker

Photo by Duane Prokop/Getty Images

We have all of Monday’s free agency news covered for you here at Acme Packing Company

Beyond our Green Bay Packers coverage, we’re going to use this article to drop in all of the league-wide news from the first day of the “legal tampering window” of free agency today. Officially, teams are allowed to speak to players’ representation, but not players directly, at noon Eastern on Monday. Unofficially, a lot of these talks started two weeks ago when the league gathered in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine. Expect things to move quickly.

Beyond just contracts that have been executed, we’ll bring you rumors that link players to teams and any trades or cuts that occur today. As of Monday morning, Over the Cap has six NFL teams over the salary cap — which they need to be under by the start of the new league year on Wednesday. Some teams will need to manipulate their cap space just to participate in free agency at all, so more talent could be hitting the market shortly.

Quarterbacks​

• Pittsburgh Steelers are interested in Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Aaron Rodgers
• The Steelers are reportedly in negotiations with Aaron Rodgers
• Jimmy Garappolo has re-signed on a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams to back up Matthew Stafford
• The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to sign Nick Mullens to a two-year, $6.5 million contract
• Former Minnesota Viking Sam Darnold is close to signing a three-year, $110.5 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks
• Justin Fields has signed a two-year, $40 million deal with $30 million guaranteed with the New York Jets
• The Philadelphia Eagles have traded Kenny Pickett to the Cleveland Browns for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick
• Josh Dobbs signed a two-year deal with the New England Patriots
• Zach Wilson will sign a one-year, $6 million deal with the Miami Dolphins

Running Backs​

• Pittsburgh Steelers RFA Jaylen Warren was offered a second-round tender by the team
• The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to a one-year contract with former San Francisco 49er Elijah Mitchell
• Samaje Perine re-signs with the Cincinnati Bengals on a two-year, $3.8 million deal
• The San Francisco 49ers extend Patrick Taylor Jr. another season
• Javonte Williams signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys
• The Los Angeles Chargers are hoping to land Najee Harris

Receivers​

• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have retained Chris Godwin on a three-year, $66 million contract
• Former Miami Dolphin Braxton Barrios has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the Houston Texans
• Dyami Brown, the Washington Commanders’ breakout postseason star, has signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars
• Josh Palmer has agreed to a three-year, $36 million deal with the Buffalo Bills
• Houston Texans sign receiver Justin Watson
• Report: The Los Angeles Rams are planning on releasing Cooper Kupp
• The New York Giants have re-signed Darius Slayton to a three-year, $36 million contract
• Michael Gallup will visit the Washington Commanders on Tuesday
• Former Buffalo Bill Mack Hollins has signed with the New England Patriots
• Ashton Dulin is re-signing with the Indianapolis Colts

Tight Ends​

• Former Jacksonville Jaguars Evan Engram is visiting the Denver Broncos today
• Johnny Mundt has signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars
• The San Francisco 49ers sign Luke Farrell to a three-year, $20.25 million deal
• The Jacksonville Jaguars have added a second tight end today in Hunter Long

Offensive Linemen​

• Report: C Josh Myers will not be re-signing with the Green Bay Packers
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers G Ben Bredeson re-signs on three-year, $22 million deal
• T Braden Smith reworks deal with Indianapolis Colts to keep him under contract for 2025
• Arizona Cardinals G Evan Brown re-signed on a two-year, $11.5 million contract
• Former San Francisco 49ers tackle Jaylon Moore has agreed to sign a two-year, $30 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs
• The Chicago Bears have agreed to a three-year contract with Drew Dalman that makes him the second-highest-paid center in the NFL
• Former Pittsburgh Steeler Dan Moore has signed an $82 million contract with the Tennessee Titans
• Morgan Moses has agreed to a deal with the New England Patriots for three years and $24 million
• The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to sign former Baltimore Ravens lineman Patrick Mekari
• Former San Francisco 49er Aaron Banks has signed with the Green Bay Packers
• The Washington Commanders have traded for Leremy Tunsil and a fourth-round pick to the Houston Texans for a second-, third- and fourth-round pick
• Swing tackle Chuma Edoga is signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars
• Center Robert Hainsey has agreed to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars
• Kelvin Beachum Jr. has re-signed with the Arizona Cardinals
• The Los Angeles Chargers have extended center Bradley Bozeman
• Ryan Kelly has signed with the Minnesota Vikings on a two-year deal

Defensive Linemen​

• Sheldon Rankins signs one-year deal with the Houston Texans
• Davon Godchaux was traded from the New England Patriots to the New Orleans Saints for a seventh-round pick
• The Atlanta Falcons have released Grady Jarrett
• Former first-round pick Jonathan Allen is visiting the Minnesota Vikings today
• B.J. Hill is returning to the Cincinnati Bengals on a three-year, $33 million contract
• Javon Kinlaw has agreed to a contract with the Washington Commanders, whose general manager Adam Peters was with the San Francisco 49ers when they drafted Kinlaw in the first round
• The Carolina Panthers are working to land Milton Williams, one of the top overall free agents in this crop
• Milton Williams has agreed to a contract that will pay him $26 million per year with the New England Patriots
• Poona Ford will be going to the Los Angeles Rams on a three-year, $30 million deal
• The Pittsburgh Steelers have released Larry Ogunjobi
• Dayo Odeyingbo has signed with the Chicago Bears
• Report: The Green Bay Packers are likely to lose T.J. Slaton
• The recently-released Grady Jarrett signed a three-year, $43.5 million deal with the Chicago Bears
• Sebastian Joseph Day is re-signing with the Tennessee Titans
• The New York Giants signed Roy Robertson-Harris to a two-year, $10 million deal
• Former Green Bay Packer T.J. Slaton has signed a two-year, $15.1 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals
• Khyiris Tonga is going from the Arizona Cardinals to the New England Patriots
• The Los Angeles Rams lost Bobby Brown III to the Carolina Panthers
• Dalvin Tomlinson will be released by the Cleveland Browns
• The Los Angeles Chargers have signed Teair Tart to a one-year deal
• Tershawn Warton has signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the Carolina Panthers — one of the biggest surprises of the day
• The Buffalo Bills have signed Michael Hoecht to a three-year, $24 million deal

Edge Rushers​

• Khalil Mack is returning to the Los Angeles Chargers on a one-year deal
• The Green Bay Packers, along with the Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers, are reportedly interested in the Indianapolis Colts’ Dayo Odeyingbo
• Haason Reddick has agreed to a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for one-year, $14 million
• Former first-round pick Derek Barnett has signed a one-year deal with the Houston Texans
• Dayo Odeyingbo will sign with the Chicago Bears
• Josh Sweat has agreed to a four-year, $76.4 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals
• Former Minnesota Viking Patrick Jones II agrees to two-year deal with Carolina Panthers
• Malcolm Koonce is returning to the Las Vegas Raiders on a one-year deal
• The Houston Texans have agreed to sign Darrell Taylor to a one-year contract

Linebackers​

• Robert Spillane, a former Las Vegas Raider, is signing with the New England Patriots
• Former Denver Bronco Cody Barton is going to sign with the Tennessee Titans
• The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed Malik Harrison to a two-year deal
• Oren Burks will sign a two-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals
• The Arizona Cardinals have signed former Cincinnati Bengal Akeem Davis-Gaither
• Dre Greenlaw has joined fellow former San Francisco 49er Talanoa Hufanga with the Denver Broncos

Cornerbacks​

• The Carolina Panthers gave Jaycee Horn an extension that makes him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history
• Jourdan Lewis has signed a record-breaking slot cornerback contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars
• Former New Orleans Saint Paulson Adebo has agreed to a contract with the New York Giants
• The New England Patriots paid Carlton Davis $20 million per year
• Houston Texans sign former Denver Bronco Tremon Smith to a two-year, $7.5 million contract
• Detroit Lions are expected to sign D.J. Reed on a three-year, $48 million contract
• The Minnesota Vikings agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal with Isaiah Rodgers
• Released cornerback Darius Slay has signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Donte Jackson has agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Chargers on a two-year, $13 million deal
• Former Baltimore Raven Brandon Stephens has agreed to a three-year, $36 million contract with the New York Jets
• Las Vegas Raiders slot cornerback Nate Hobbs has signed with the Green Bay Packers
• Charvarius Ward is going to sign a three-year, $60 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts
• Michael Jackson is re-signing with the Carolina Panthers on a two-year deal

Safeties​

• Tre’von Moehrig has agreed to a three-year, $51 million contract with the Carolina Panthers
• The Jacksonville Jaguars signed former Houston Texan Eric Murray to a three-year, $22.5 million deal
• All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga has signed for three years and $45 million with the Denver Broncos
• Former Minnesota Vikings Camryn Bynum is landing with the Indianapolis Colts on a four-year, $60 million deal
• The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract with Jeremy Chinn

Specialists​

• Pro Bowl punter Tress Way re-signed by the Washington Commanders
• The Dallas Cowboys have kept long snapper Trent Sieg on a three-year, $4.45 million deal
• Punter JK Scott is extended for the Los Angeles Chargers

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...day-1-signings-rumors-and-news-tracker-update

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Packers free agency tracker: News, rumors, and information

Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

The Green Bay Packers will probably be in the market for a cornerback during free agency. We’re tracking all of the rumors here.

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst stated in his end-of-the-year press conference that the team wants to be aggressive this offseason. With $44.6 million available in cap space, there’s no reason why the team couldn’t make a splash in free agency in 2025. There are simply no excuses.

The biggest question that the Packers will have to answer this offseason is what they’re going to do at the cornerback position. Starter Jaire Alexander is due $17.5 million in 2025, despite playing less than half of the team’s games in three of the last four seasons. Releasing him, even before June 1st, would have Green Bay north of $6 million in immediate cap space, though, it would then open a hole on their depth chart at the position.

As far as the team’s outgoing free agents go, none are considered must-signs outside of kicker Brandon McManus, who finally gave the team the stability they’ve been searching for since Mason Crosby began his decline. Outside of McManus, only one full-time player — center Josh Myers — is set to have his contract expire this offseason.

Keep up to date with all of the free agency rumors and news this cycle in our stream, which will update as new information drops.

Packers 2025 Unrestricted Free Agents​

• RB AJ Dillon
• TE Tyler Davis
• T Andre Dillard
• C Josh Myers
• DT TJ Slaton (signed by Cincinnati Bengals)
• LB Isaiah McDuffie (re-signed)
• LB Eric Wilson
• CB Eric Stokes
• CB Corey Ballentine
• CB Robert Rochell
• K Brandon McManus (re-signed)

Packers 2025 Restricted Free Agents​

• TE John FitzPatrick

Packers 2025 Exclusive Rights Free Agents​

• RB Emanuel Wilson (tendered)
• WR Bo Melton (tendered)
• T Kadeem Telfort (tendered)
• DE Aaron Mosby (tendered)
• S Zayne Anderson (tendered)
• P Daniel Whelan (tendered)

Packers 2025 Free Agent Signings​

• G Aaron Banks
• CB Nate Hobbs

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...ckers-free-agency-news-rumors-and-information

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Who is left in Day 2 of NFL free agency?

Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

At this point, MVS makes a lot of sense for the Green Bay Packers

With the first wave of free agency behind us, one that sucked up most of the talent off of the board, it’s time to revisit how many difference-makers are really left out there on Day 2 of a weak class. Below are Pro Football Focus’ best available free agents, including their overall ranks in the remaining class, in the Green Bay Packers’ biggest positions of need: wide receiver, defensive tackle and defensive end. Following the signings of guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs yesterday, it’s doubtful the Packers take another swing on the offensive line or at cornerback.

Remaining Wide Receiver Free Agents​

• #1 Amari Cooper
• #2 Stefon Diggs
• #10 DeAndre Hopkins (signed with Ravens)
• #16 Keenan Allen
• #39 Diontae Johnson
• #50 Mike Williams
• #51 Tyler Lockett
• #56 Elijah Moore
• #59 Demarcus Robinson (signed with 49ers)
• #61 Mecole Hardman
• #64 Marquez Valdes-Scantling
• #67 Brandin Cooks
• #68 Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (signed with Dolphins)
• #71 Noah Brown
• #78 Tyler Boyd
• #90 JuJu Smith-Schuster
• #92 Nelson Agholor
• #95 Van Jefferson
• #96 Olamide Zaccheaus

There’s some argument that the Packers could still take a look at the players ranked in the top 10 here, Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs and DeAndre Hopkins, but it seems more likely that Green Bay would rather let their young players continue to develop with on-the-field reps than divert those to veterans who will almost certainly command a decent amount of targets. Honestly, the receiver who makes the most sense for the Packers here is former Packer Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who has the frame that Matt LaFleur demands in his run-first scheme and also has the speed to replace what the team is missing from the loss of Christian Watson, who is expected to be out until at least Week 12 of the 2025 season with an ACL tear.

Remaining Defensive Tackle Free Agents​

• #12 Javon Hargrave (planning on signing with Vikings)
• #14 Levi Onwuzurike
• #23 Calais Campbell
• #48 Maliek Collins
• #68 Ta’Quon Graham
• #75 Kevin Givens
• #79 Roy Lopez
• #91 Greg Gaines

Considering how deep the defensive tackle class is in the upcoming draft, it seems unlikely that the Packers would sign an interior player here. Honestly, I’d bet that Green Bay would take a swing on a defensive tackle in the first rounds in April over paying one of Javon Hargrave or Levi Onwuzurike, the only real needle movers left on the market.

Remaining Defensive End Free Agents​

• #18 Von Miller
• #19 Za’Darius Smith
• #20 Joey Bosa
• #22 Azeez Ojulari
• #25 DeMarcus Lawrence
• #28 Dante Fowler Jr.
• #35 Matthew Judon
• #36 Dennis Gardeck
• #45 Preston Smith
• #47 Joshua Uche
• #55 Charles Omenihu
• #57 Brandon Graham
• #63 Carl Lawson
• #77 Emanuel Ogbah
• #83 Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
• #84 Deatrich Wise Jr.
• #86 K’Lavon Chaisson
• #88 Anthony Nelson (signed with Buccaneers)

Update: The San Francisco 49ers have released Leonard Floyd

Update to the update: The Atlanta Falcons have signed Leonard Floyd

The Packers are desperate for pressure, especially at the defensive end position. Aside from Rashan Gary, Green Bay is below average across the board in terms of pressure production at the position. If they don’t add someone, either by free agency or trade, there’s no promise that a player better than Kingsley Enagbare or Lukas Van Ness will be available to them with the 23rd overall pick, as edge rushers fly off the board on Day 1 of the draft.

With that being said, there are not many proven pass-rushers who are coming off of productive 2024 seasons left. Von Miller sounds nice in theory, but are the Packers willing to pay all that money for a designated pass-rusher who hasn’t started a game since 2022? Za’Darius Smith and Green Bay clearly have history, but can they get over it? If not, a flier on Joshua Uche as a thrifty designated pass-rusher might be their best plan of action.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...oard-targets-update-tracker-green-bay-packers

 

[Green Bay Packers]

NFL awards the Green Bay Packers a compensatory draft pick

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The Packers will have eight selections in April

On Tuesday, the day before the new league year, the NFL officially announced who would be receiving compensatory picks for the upcoming NFL draft. If you’re unfamiliar with the compensatory draft pick process, the league awards third- through seventh-round draft choices with a formula that includes, among other things, the salaries of players that clubs lost in free agency the year prior.

The Green Bay Packers received a compensatory seventh-round pick from the league, which was to be expected. The signings of running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney last season canceled out the loss of guard Jon Runyan Jr. and safety Darnell Savage Jr. in free agency last year. The pick the Packers are getting is for the loss of tackle Yosuah Nijman, who signed with the Carolina Panthers on a deal that averaged $4 million per season.

For what it’s worth, the New York Giants were awarded a fourth-round pick for losing Xavier McKinney. The Las Vegas Raiders’ would-be selection for Josh Jacobs was canceled out by the signing of quarterback Gardner Minshew.

If you’re wondering how the Packers are shaking out in the 2026 compensatory calculation, they’re net negative. The loss of defensive tackle T.J. Slaton has been overshadowed in the formula by the additions of guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs. So don’t get your hopes up that Green Bay will get an extra pick in 2026, unless some more of their unrestricted free agents end up signing significant contracts elsewhere.

Full List of Green Bay Packers 2025 Draft Picks​

• 1st round, #23
• 2nd round, #54
• 3rd round, #87
• 4th round, #124
• 5th round, #159
• 6th round, #198
• 7th round, #237 (Pittsburgh, Preston Smith trade)
• 7th round, #250 (compensatory)

As a reminder, the Packers don’t own their original seventh-round pick, as it was traded away to the Tennessee Titans for backup quarterback Malik Willis. Green Bay then received a seventh-round pick via the trade deadline move that sent edge defender Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers own their original draft picks from the first through sixth rounds.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...aft-2025-picks-selections-update-compensatory

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Packers didn’t tender their only restricted free agent

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

John FitzPatrick hits unrestricted free agency

In October, the Green Bay Packers signed tight end John FitzPatrick off of the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad. With three years of NFL service under his belt, because he spent his rookie on the Falcons’ injured reserve, he was the Packers’ lone restricted free agent during the 2025 offseason.

According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the Packers have chosen not to tender FitzPatrick, which means that he will be an unrestricted free agent moving forward. This isn’t surprising, considering that RFA tenders range from $3.3 million to $7.5 million this offseason.

As Demovsky noted, this doesn’t mean that FitzPatrick won’t return to the team, just that he won’t return on a tender price. In the past, Green Bay allowed tight end Tyler Davis, another player who they plucked off of a practice squad, to hit unrestricted free agent after not tending the player — only to bring him back on a cheaper deal near the league minimum. The same is probably likely for FitzPatrick’s situation.

Coming out of Georgia, FitzPatrick was best known for his highly-rated blocking ability. Despite having played 18 games at the NFL level, he’s only brought in two receptions. Still, he played 73 offensive snaps for the Packers in 2024 and added 50 special teams reps to his plate. Toward the end of the year, he started to slowly steal more reps away from the previous number three tight end Ben Sims, who remains under contract for Green Bay.

Don’t be shocked if the 6’7” FitzPatrick comes back and pushes Sims for the special teams-heavy third tight end spot on the team.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...zpatrick-restricted-free-agent-2025-tight-end

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Packers Film Room: Nate Hobbs will bring physicality to CB unit

Candice Ward-Imagn Images

Digging into the film on the Packers newest cornerback.

With a handful of team needs and some money to burn, the Green Bay Packers went shopping on the first day of free agency. They came away with Aaron Banks on the offensive line and Nate Hobbs at cornerback. Today, we’re taking a look at Nate Hobbs. Justis Mosqueda already did a great job of breaking down the contract, so we’re just looking at the player himself.

I went through a bunch of his 2024 film and if we want to boil Hobbs down into one word it’s this: physical. He believes that force is a virtue, and that’s exactly how he plays.

I see you, Nate Hobbs. pic.twitter.com/leo1U2wESI

— Dusty (@DustyEvely) March 13, 2025​

He is a thumping, downhill player who loves contact. Basically, he’s the exact type of player Jeff Hafley wants on this defense. Someone who isn’t afraid to play up at the line and gets hands on the guy across from him.

You will certainly see missed tackles pop up for Hobbs, and that’s something that can potentially be cleaned up. However, it could also just the be the cost of doing business. He closes hard and fast with a mind to drive through a man. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn’t.

3rd down and fighting to get to the sticks. Hope you don't run across Nate Hobbs, sir. pic.twitter.com/MTjVTUzITL

— Dusty (@DustyEvely) March 13, 2025​

He also shows relentless pursuit when he’s in coverage, always fighting. I love this clip of Hobbs navigating traffic, sticking with Xavier Worthy and fighting until the ball is out.

Nate Hobbs believes that the condition of man is a condition of war of himself against the man catching the ball. pic.twitter.com/aHIt95Iqdm

— Dusty (@DustyEvely) March 13, 2025​

I can’t mention relentless pursuit without showing this clip, navigating his way through traffic to stick with his man and ultimately pick up the tackle.

Dude is just relentless. pic.twitter.com/oHak5qvApK

— Dusty (@DustyEvely) March 13, 2025​

Like I said: physical.

If it is true that the flesh endures the storms of the present, then the flesh of running backs must hate to see the storm of Nate Hobbs on a run-blitz.

A couple clips of Nate Hobbs run-blitzing. An absolute maniac. pic.twitter.com/7Iwt2cgT2z

— Dusty (@DustyEvely) March 13, 2025​

While not without his flaws in coverage (we’ll get to those shortly), he also shows good recognition, drive and speed to break up passes in front of him.

While Hafley likes his press man coverage, we also saw a fair bit of spot-drop zone out of the defense this past year. That’s something we’ve seen from him at other stops (and we’ve also just seen a rise of it around the league in general), so it’s something we’ll be seeing in 2025 as well. Hobbs has shown good recognition while playing spot-drop zone, as well. He’s perceptive and extremely active.

Now for a bit of the negative. He can be a little stiff in coverage. We saw good recovery above, but if he is beat on the first step, it can take him a beat to recover.

That little “jab-step-outside-release-inside” move gets him on multiple occasions.

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From a film perspective, there are very few negatives. Hobbs is a physical corner who is comfortable playing in the press-man world, but can also thrive in the spot-drop, read-and-react world. He lives for contact, so you’ll find him enthusiastically driving to take away the edge on boundary runs/bubble screens. He’s a good blitzer and can create havoc in the backfield when blitzed against the run. He has a nose for the running back in those situations.

For the negatives, he’s a little stiff in coverage and can be an inconsistent tackler. He’ll give you some absolute hammer tackles, then follow with the occasional whiff. Most of his missed tackles seem to be due to getting a little too low at times and getting knocked back. You don’t really see any head-down whiffs.

The biggest knock on Hobbs is his health. In 2022, he missed 8 games due to a broken wrist. Broken bones can be fluky on a football field so that doesn’t really concern me, but the 8 games he missed between 2023-2024 due to an ankle injury feels like cause for concern (and potentially the reason he didn’t get a bigger contract). I have not been able to find specifics on the nature of the injury so I don’t know how likely it is that they crop up again, but ankle injuries can be tricky beasts that keep causing problems. It’s certainly something to keep an eye on.

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Overall, I’m excited about this signing. He fits into what Hafley wants to do on defense, and adds a little more physicality to a secondary that sorely needs it. I’m excited to see what he can do in Green Bay.

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Albums listened to: Boygenius - The Rest; Lady Gaga - Mayhem; Catherine Wheel - Chrome; Slowdive - Pygmalion; U2 - Joshua Tree

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...nate-hobbs-free-agency-physicality-cb-raiders

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Packers training staff honored with prestigious award

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

As end-of-season awards continue to be handed out, the Packers training staff is honored at the highest level.

The Ed Block NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year for the 2024 season is a title officially held by YOUR Green Bay Packers training staff. Last weekend in Baltimore, the Packers staff was officially honored for their service to the profession of athletic training. This is the team’s first time winning the award since 2011. Named after the Baltimore Colts’ head athletic trainer for over 20 years, the award is voted on annually by members of the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society.

The Packers athletic training staff is spearheaded by VP of player health and performance Bryan Engel, as well as director of sports medicine Nate Weir, who is also the head athletic trainer. Also on the staff are Kurt Fielding, Erin Roberge, Brandon Kukal, Andrew DePietropaolo, and Ali Ghaisarnia.

Notable injuries this training staff worked through this past season include:

• Jordan Love’s MCL sprain and groin strain
• Romeo Doubs’ multiple concussions, including one sustained while wearing a Guardian Cap
• Jaire Alexander’s PCL tear
• Christian Watson’s ankle, knee bruise, and ACL tear
• Marshawn Lloyd’s hip, hamstring, and ankle injuries
• Jordan Morgan’s shoulder injury
• Devonte Wyatt’s concussion and ankle injury
• AJ Dillon’s neck injury

Alas, there are more injuries, but I only have so many hours left in the day. I fully expect everyone to act very normal about this award being given to the Packers' training department, who clearly had a very busy 2024 season. Discuss!

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...ckers-news-training-staff-ed-block-award-2024

 

[Green Bay Packers]

2025 Free Agency: Vikings sign Eric Wilson

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

The former Viking is a Viking again

Former Green Bay Packers linebacker Eric Wilson, who was originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings, is returning to the team that gave him a chance in the NFL. The Vikings announced that they signed the linebacker on Friday.

Over the last three seasons, Wilson played 47 games for the Packers, recording 12 starts for the team in 2024 due to injuries at the unit. Before 2024, though, Wilson played a mostly special teams role for the team. Of the 714 defensive snaps he took in Green Bay, 558 of them came last year. He also registered 826 special teams reps over three seasons with the Packers.

Going forward, Quay Walker is the undisputed middle linebacker in Green Bay’s 4-3 front while Edgerrin Cooper, a rookie breakout in 2024, and Isaiah McDuffie, who re-signed on a two-year deal this offseason, will play as outside linebackers in base looks. The Packers play about two-thirds of their snaps in nickel packages, where Walker will likely be paired with Cooper.

It seems unlikely that the Vikings are planning on playing Wilson as a starter. Instead, he joins Minnesota as special teams depth who has knowledge of a divisional rival’s scheme.

The Packers will probably need to add some depth to their own linebacker unit at some point, as the only true backup on their squad at the moment is 2024 third-round pick Ty’Ron Hopper, who Green Bay struggled to get on the field defensive even in garbage time last year.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...e-agency-update-eric-wilson-minnesota-vikings

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Milwaukee Brewers to hold football jersey giveaway ahead of 2025 NFL Draft

Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images

No strangers to crossover promotions, the Brewers are looking to capitalize on the Draft taking place in Green Bay this April.

Wisconsin sports teams are largely intertwined, even if each individual team’s fan base does not entirely correlate with the other. However, given a massive overlap on the Venn diagrams of the fan bases, it should come as no surprise that the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, and other pro teams in the area tend to cross-promote one another.

That is the case leading into the 2025 NFL Draft, which will be held in Green Bay from April 24 to 26. On Friday, the Brewers revealed a promotion for their home game the Saturday prior to the draft which finds them giving out football-themed Brewers jerseys to the first 25,000 fans in attendance.

Here is the announcement of the giveaway, with outfielder Sal Frelick modeling the jersey:

In honor of the NFL Draft coming to Wisconsin, we're giving this Brewers football jersey to the first 25K fans on April 19!

→ https://t.co/1itevYjvIA pic.twitter.com/FilT3E2tJm

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) March 14, 2025​

The Brewers, in particular, go heavy on the crossover appeal. They frequently have Packers and Bucks players throw out the first pitch at home games. They also often cross-promote with the Milwaukee Admirals, the city’s AHL hockey team, due in part to Brewers majority owner Mark Attanasio’s involvement in the Admirals’ ownership group.

As far as football jersey designs go, this one isn’t bad at all. It could do with a traditional football-style V-neck instead of the wide crew neck shown in the images, but the use of the Brewers’ wordmark on the chest and the team’s current number font gives it a nice, clean look. The alternating-color sleeve stripes and shoulder numbers give it a solid, cohesive design as well, though the use of the primary team logo over the stripes evokes a bit of the Packers’ 1980s-era jerseys — which could be a good or a bad thing, depending on one’s personal taste. A look at the back would be nice, however, to see if there is a nameplate with “Frelick” there or if they elected to remove a nameplate entirely.

If you want to get your hands on one of these, be sure that you are one of the first 25,000 fans in the door at American Family Field on Saturday, April 19th. Then make your way up to Green Bay a few days later for the 2025 NFL Draft!

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...tball-jersey-giveaway-ahead-of-2025-nfl-draft

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Packers lose Dante Fowler Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The edge rusher is returning to Dallas, where he played in 2022 and 2023

When we asked fans yesterday what the Green Bay Packers’ biggest remaining need on the roster was, the leader in the clubhouse was defensive end — which earned 42 percent of the overall vote. Friday both confirmed that the Packers are still looking for an answer there and will need to keep searching.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Packers were “monitoring” pass-rusher Dante Fowler Jr.’s market before the former third-overall pick re-signed with the Dallas Cowboys, who he played with in 2022 and 2023. Flower spent 2024 with the Washington Commanders, whose head coach Dan Quinn was previously Flower’s defensive coordinator in Dallas.

So Green Bay is still in the defensive end market, despite being a projected $27 million over the salary cap in 2026, but weren’t willing to pay the one-year, $8 million asking price that Fowler signed for, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Who is left on the market? Not many players. The only free-agent edge defenders left who have both a better pressure rate and a higher snap count than Lukas Van Ness over the past couple of seasons are Za’Darius Smith, Von Miller and Preston Smith. Both of the Smiths were let go by the Packers, so that bridge is probably burned. Miller, meanwhile, hasn’t started a game in two seasons and is a 35-year-old (36 at the end of the month) designated pass-rusher.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...owler-free-agency-signing-dallas-cowboys-2025

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Aaron Rodgers wants to be a Minnesota Viking

Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Rodgers is hoping to receive and offer from Minnesota in free agency

According to The Athletic’s Mike Silver, a Bay Area sportswriter who has been close to Aaron Rodgers throughout his NFL career, the former Green Bay Packers quarterback hopes to be a Minnesota Viking by the end of the offseason. The Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants are prepared to make Rodgers their next starting quarterback, but the 41-year-old appears to be waiting on clarity on where the Vikings stand before he makes a decision on where he’ll play in 2025.

Per Silver, Rodgers “is hoping to sign with the Vikings” and Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell holds the keys to whether or not he’ll receive that offer. Apparently, Rodgers is expecting to sign a contract in the ballpark of Sam Darnold, who left the Vikings this offseason, in the $33.5 million range.

Ultimately, O’Connell is going to have to decide whether he wants to roll the dice with Rodgers, an aging former four-time NFL MVP, or J.J. McCarthy, who the Vikings drafted 10th overall last offseason before he suffered a preseason knee injury that ended his rookie campaign early and required several surgeries. According to Over the Cap’s most recent calculations, Minnesota has $29.9 million in cap space available this offseason — not including rookie contracts or further free agency signings.

Silver also noted that if the Vikings don’t extend a deal toward Rodgers, there’s a chance that Rodgers simply retires instead of opting to play for the Steelers or Giants.

Rodgers sure wouldn’t be distancing himself from Brett Favre if he goes through and plays in purple. Favre, who was the starting quarterback when Rodgers was drafted, also played one real season with the New York Jets in between his Packers and Vikings stints. Maybe Jordan Love will finally buck this trend in 2040.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...ency-2025-pittsburgh-steelers-new-york-giants

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Former Packers CB Corey Ballentine signs with Colts

Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images

Green Bay is losing another depth piece and special teams player.

Just a few short hours after news broke that the Green Bay Packers will be losing one key special teams player in free agency, another has signed elsewhere. Hot on the heels of the news of linebacker Eric Wilson signing with the Minnesota Vikings, cornerback Corey Ballentine is reportedly agreeing to a deal to join the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts formally announced Ballentine’s signing.

After being a sixth-round draft pick by the New York Giants in 2019 and bouncing around to four different teams during the 2021 and early 2022 seasons, Ballentine signed to the Packers’ practice squad midway through 2022 and has been a member of the roster ever since. He quickly earned a promotion to the active roster and played in 8 games that season, playing significant special teams snaps but only getting a few defensive reps during that campaign.

However, Ballentine played a key depth role in the cornerback group the next two seasons, particularly in 2023. That year saw him start six games and play nearly 500 defensive snaps as the Packers dealt with injuries to both starting outside cornerbacks, Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes. He recorded one interception and seven pass breakups while starting crucial games in the teams’ midseason resurgence, including in wins over the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs.

However, Ballentine played sparingly again in 2024, despite Alexander’s ongoing injury issues. He only tallied 76 defensive snaps, exceeding five snaps in just two games — one batch coming in a spot start early in the year against the Minnesota Vikings and the other in the second half of a blowout win over the New Orleans Saints. A slightly-built corner, it appeared that he was not a great fit for Jeff Hafley’s defense and although he continued to contribute heavily on special teams (playing more than 50% of snaps), the Packers seemingly made little effort to re-sign him.

Ballentine will turn 29 next month and should have a chance to resume his depth and special teams role in Indianapolis.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...-packers-cb-corey-ballentine-signs-with-colts

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Open Thread: Is there anyone left that you want in free agency?

Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images

Za’Darius Smith is one of the few difference-makers left in free agency at the Packers’ positions of need

Nearly a week after the NFL’s legal tampering window began, the best way to describe the current free agency landscape is “slim pickings.” There’s not much talent available, particularly in the three biggest needs that the Green Bay Packers have moving forward: receiver, defensive end and defensive tackle.

Let’s run through the top free agents available at those positions, according to Pro Football Focus’ most recent “best available” rankings:

Wide Receivers​

• #1 Amari Cooper
• #2 Stefon Diggs
• #11 Keenan Allen
• #27 Diontae Johnson
• #35 Tyler Lockett
• #38 Elijah Moore
• #41 Mecole Hardman
• #44 Brandin Cooks
• #48 Tyler Boyd
• #50 Nelson Agholor
• #70 Robert Woods
• #72 DeAndre Carter

Aside from Stefon Diggs, none of these receivers do a good job of separating from coverage, per ESPN’s “open” metric which measures this ability with player tracking data. There’s been little news on the Diggs front, though, the receiver tore his ACL in October, which means it would be unlikely that he’d be able to be fully cleared by the start of the 2025 season. Maybe the 31-year-old will wait until he’s cleared before he signs somewhere.

Defensive Ends​

• #13 Von Miller
• #14 Za’Darius Smith
• #15 Azeez Ojulari
• #23 Matthew Judon
• #24 Dennis Gardeck
• #32 Preston Smith
• #37 Charles Omenihu
• #39 Brandon Graham
• #42 Carl Lawson
• #47 Emmanuel Ogbah
• #57 Tyus Bowser
• #62 Brent Urban
• #66 Lorenzo Carter
• #69 Dawuane Smoot
• #78 DeMarcus Walker

As we mentioned when Dante Fowler Jr. signed with the Dallas Cowboys, the Packers' opportunities to improve as a pass-rushing unit passed them. With Fowler off of the board, there are only three players still available who have played as many snaps as former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness over the last two years who have also posted a better pressure rate over that period: Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Von Miller. The bridge is probably burned with the Smith brothers, two former Packers, and Miller hasn’t started a game over the last two seasons as he’s transitioned into being a true designated pass-rusher.

Defensive Tackles​

• #16 Calais Campbell
• #60 John Cominsky
• #63 Foley Fatukasi
• #67 Johnathan Hankins

There’s no way around this one. The defensive tackle board has been almost completely wiped out. Considering how deep the defensive tackle draft is expected to be, it’s probably better for Green Bay to start looking there to address the position.

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So is there anyone out there you actually want the Packers to sign at this point? Drop that name down in the comment section. Personally, I understand if Green Bay wants to punt the rest of free agency, unless they want to take some dice rolls on Diggs, Miller...or even try to fix their relationship with Za’Darius Smith.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...update-von-miller-stefon-diggs-zadarius-smith

 

[Green Bay Packers]

ESPN: Packers still plan on trading Jaire Alexander

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

No, Green Bay isn’t expecting the cornerback to suit up for them again

ESPN beat reporter Rob Demovsky wrote an article on Monday that detailed the Green Bay Packers’ free-agent signing of Nate Hobbs, which included a note that the team is treating him as an outside cornerback to pair opposite of Keisean Nixon. Later on in the article, though, Demovsky touched on the latest in the Jaire Alexander saga:

While Alexander remains on the roster, the Packers are still trying to trade him, according to team sources and a source close to the player. They could wait indefinitely but most likely would prefer to get something done before next month’s draft. One source said the team has not approached Alexander about taking a pay cut and that even if it did, he would not be willing to do so. Without a trading partner, the Packers would likely release him, but there is no urgency to do so because he has no guaranteed money left on his deal until the start of the regular season, when he’s due $17.5 million.

Many expected Alexander to be cut outright as a cap casualty near the start of the new league year. Instead, the Packers are squatting on Alexander’s contract as an asset, which they have the right to do, but if you’re reading between the lines here the news isn’t great.

If someone wanted to trade for Alexander at the cost of $17.5 million in cash for 2025, they probably would have already done so. The fact that Alexander isn’t willing to take any pay cut, even after being on the market for weeks, means that he’s simply done playing for the Packers. If he’s cut, he almost certainly would sign for less cash this season, especially considering how much cap space league-wide has already been depleted through the first wave or two of free agency. He just doesn’t want to be in Green Bay anymore.

So...where do the Packers go from here? I guess their plan is that they hope a team gets desperate post-draft. Could a team planning on addressing the cornerback position misjudge the draft and end up having a hole at the position in May? Sure! Could a contending team lose a veteran early in the summer with a significant injury and need to make a trade? Sure!

Green Bay’s sort of painted themselves into a corner where they’re simply hoping a suitor that is not interested in an Alexander trade right now ends up developing down the stretch. Such is life when you have the rights to a two-time All-Pro cornerback whose contract you don’t want to pay out and he refuses to take a pay cut for you.

What will get really interesting is if Alexander shows up to the Packers’ voluntary workout program, which generally kicks off a couple of weeks before the draft. Alexander has $700,000 in offseason workout bonuses, so he might want to bank that money before entering a depleted summer market as a free agent.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...nder-trade-update-contract-report-espn-rumors

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Three years after trading Davante Adams, the Packers are still looking for answers

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Brian Gutekunst took a big swing three years ago, but he’s still looking for a home run.

Three years ago today, the Green Bay Packers traded Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders.

It was as inevitable as it was disappointing. There’s an alternate universe not too different from our own where Adams was a key part of the transition from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love, shepherding Love into a new phase of his career while putting the finishing touches on his quest to become the Packers’ all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Go look at the career leaderboards sometimes — Adams really was that close.

But due to a rift that opened between Adams and the Packers prior to the 2021 season, that alternate future never became a reality. Instead, it was Adams and Aaron Jones joking about giving Russ Ball (and not Brian Gutekunst, curiously) a call to get a deal done during training camp, only for no deal to ever materialize, save for the one that made Adams a Raider.

Today, Adams is on his third team post-Packers, having joined the Jets and now the Rams after leaving Green Bay, while the Packers struggle to replace him, either with an individual or in the aggregate. And to be fair, it may have been the right call to move on from Adams, but the real problem is that Gutekunst has yet to find a suitable solution at wide receiver after Adams left.

And by that same token, Gutekunst really hasn’t replaced any of the Thompson-era stars yet — at least, not with the same success his predecessor did when taking over as the Packers’ general manager.

You could largely define Gutekunst’s tenure as general manager as one of decline in Green Bay. Since he became the Packers’ GM, he’s spent most of a decade transitioning away from the Thompson-era stars that made the Packers great for most of the 2010s — while failing to replace them with comparable stars. Gutekunst’s tenure has been mostly defined by who the Packers have traded or cut — Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, and David Bakhtiari, to name a few — rather than who he’s cultivated.

And again, to be fair to Gutekunst, some of those moves were the right call. Rodgers’ time in Green Bay had run its course. Bakhtiari’s body was done. The Adams move was salvaging a broken relationship — albeit one that the Packers’ general manager had played a part in breaking.

But Gutekunst is now heading into his eighth season on the job. By the same point, Thompson had drafted Aaron Rodgers, Nick Collins, Clay Matthews, B.J. Raji, every single one of the pass catchers from that iconic Sports Illustrated cover, T.J. Lang, Josh Sitton, and Bryan Bulaga. He had hired Mike McCarthy. He had won a Super Bowl.

And he’d made plenty of tough calls of his own. In his first year and a half as general manager, Thompson moved on from Pro Bowl guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle, cut All-Pro safety Darren Sharper, and traded wide receiver Javon Walker. And he bounced back from all of those moves, too — the second-round pick he got for Walker is the easiest one-to-one example, since he immediately turned that pick into Greg Jennings.

Thompson started his tenure at a much lower point than Gutekunst, so perhaps it was easier to hit early home runs. But the fact is, he did it — and he hit at a much higher rate in the same window than Gutekunst has.

Gutekunst, as we all know, has had no problems making the hard calls. But he hasn’t had the same success as Thompson in the crucial follow-up to those tough decisions, and the Packers have struggled accordingly. He’s had his successes, but they’ve come with caveats, too. Jaire Alexander was a solid first pick, but injuries have destroyed his career and he looks like he’s on his way out of town. Elgton Jenkins has rejuvenated his career after his 2021 ACL injury, but the Packers have now shifted him to center, a position that perhaps least maximizes his best attributes. Rashan Gary has had bright moments, but he seems to have peaked as a solid number-two pass rusher.

The Packers have been in the bottom half of the NFC North in two of the last three seasons and had obvious weaknesses coming into this offseason. So far, Gutekunst has yet to address any of them. The Packers’ pass rush still looks just as weak as it did at the end of last season, and it’s hard to imagine any pass rusher available where the Packers will be picking making a big enough impact to turn that unit around. Their wide receivers still look perilously thin — we’re an injury to one player away from a corps featuring Malik Heath in a prominent role.

There’s a lot of offseason yet to go, and they could have another home-run draft — right now, it looks like they’ll need one. But the main reason they’ll need one is because their general manager’s bold plans have yet to yield comparably compelling solutions.

The Packers are at a vulnerable point in their team development. Next year’s cap picture is murky, and many of the young players Gutekunst has put in place are already close to free agency or in need of an extension. This should be the point where the Packers are among the rising contenders in the NFC, if not the NFL. Instead, they’re facing an offseason of uncertainty, potentially one of their own making.

The Packers didn’t just stumble into this position. They were led here. Now, three years after the trade that sent Davante Adams to the Raiders, the gap that remains between the Packers and the NFC’s elite remains one of their own making, and a symbol of their post-Rodgers decline.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...ams-the-packers-are-still-looking-for-answers

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Mel Kiper drops post-free agency mock draft

Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Kiper has the Packers taking a receiver in the first round

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., the man who essentially invented draft coverage, just dropped his first post-free agency mock draft and he had the Green Bay Packers doing the unthinkable: actually taking a first-round wide receiver. Kiper has Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka, who mostly played in the slot for the Buckeyes, coming to Green Bay.

With that being said, Egbuka is sort of in the Justin Jefferson situation, where he clearly has the ability to play outside receiver but played in the slot because of another freak pass-catcher on his team. In Jefferson’s case, it was Ja’Marr Chase — now the highest-paid non-quarerback in NFL history. For Egbuka, it’s Jeremiah Smith — a 19-year-old who probably would be a top-five pick in this draft had the 6’3”, 220-pound true freshman been eligible to declare.

Here’s what Kiper had to say about sending Egbuka to Green Bay:

Egbuka’s game is really refined. He is a great route runner. He has good hands. He reads the defense well. And while Green Bay doesn’t have much history of drafting wide receivers on Day 1 (Javon Walker was the last one in 2002), this seems like a good year to break the streak. Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs all have injury concerns, and I’m not sure any of them are true WR1s when healthy. Egbuka had 1,011 receiving yards last season, and he could make an immediate impact on this offense.

I’m also watching the Jaire Alexander situation. If he gets traded or cut, Green Bay could look at the cornerback class.

I’m not sure that I agree with Kiper’s last paragraph. It seems like Alexander and the Packers are headed for a divorce, one way or another, at this point. The signing of Nate Hobbs to pair with Keisean Nixon at outside cornerback is probably Green Bay’s post-Alexander plan at the position.

Mel Kiper Full Mock Draft​

1. Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
2. Browns: Abdul Carter, ED, Penn State
3. Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
4. Patriots; Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
5. Jaguars: Mason Graham, iDL, Michigan
6. Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
7. Jets: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
8. Panthers: Jalon Walker, ED, Georgia
9. Saints: Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi
10. Bears: Mykel Williams, ED, Georgia
11. 49ers: Armand Membou, OL, Missouri
12. Cowboys: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
13. Dolphins: Will Campbell, OL, LSU
14. Colts: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
15. Falcons: Mike Green, ED, Marshall
16. Cardinals: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
17. Bengals: Shemar Stewart, ED, Texas A&M
18. Seahawks: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
19. Buccaneers: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
20. Broncos: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
21. Steelers: Derrick Harmon, iDL, Oregon
22. Chargers: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
23. Packers: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
24. Vikings: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
25. Texans: Josh Simmons, OL, Ohio State
26. Rams: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
27. Ravens: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
28. Lions: James Pearce Jr., ED, Tennessee
29. Commanders: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
30. Bills: Kenneth Grant, iDL, Michigan
31. Chiefs: Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
32. Eagles: Walter Nolen, iDL, Mississippi

Based on the consensus draft board, there weren’t too many surprises from Kiper in this mock. Only three players ranked as top 32 players on the consensus board failed to go in Kiper’s first round: Alabama guard Tyler Booker, Missouri receiver Luther Burden and Boston College edge defender Donovan Ezeiruaku.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...st-free-agency-green-bay-packers-emeka-egbuka

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Packers sign former All-Pro Mecole Hardman

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Hardman was a second-team All-pro and Pro Bowler in 2019 as a kickoff returner

Well, the Green Bay Packers finally made a move at wide receiver. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the team has signed former Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets receiver Mecole Hardman. At the moment, the contract details for the former second-round pick have yet to be disclosed.

Green Bay needs speed at the receiver position after their field-stretcher Christian Watson went down with an ACL tear. Hardman certainly brings that element to the Packers’ offense. As a draft prospect in 2019, Hardman ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at 5’10” and 187 pounds.

As a rookie, Hardman was named a Pro Bowler, second-team All-Pro and PFWA All-Rookie Team selection for his return ability. That year, he returned 27 kickoffs for 704 yards and a touchdown. He’s also taken 89 punt returns in his NFL career. Unfortunately for Hardman, though, his all-purpose yardage peaked as a rookie with 1,426 in 2019. In the next two years, he finished just under 1,000 all-purpose yards and hasn’t cracked 500 yards since 2021.

At the moment, it should be assumed that Hardman signed a fairly low-cost deal that will allow him to compete for a returner role and push Bo Melton for his roster spot. For reference, Hardman signed a one-year, $1.25 million deal with the Chiefs last June. Hardman went down with a knee injury in December of last year and was put on injured reserve, which he didn’t return from by the time Kansas City played in the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles.

With cornerback Keisean Nixon, a former two-time All-Pro, stating that he’s done being a kickoff returner, there’s potential for Hardman to stick on the 53-man roster in 2025.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...-returner-contract-details-kansas-city-chiefs