Evaluating Packers roster entering 2025 offseason

The Green Bay Packers improved by two regular season wins and across numerous statistical categories in 2024 but still finished third in the NFC North, failed to beat one of the top NFC teams and bowed out of the postseason in the wildcard round, producing a disappointing end to a highly anticipated season loaded with expectations after last year’s surprise playoff run.

Instead of going into the offseason brimming with the optimism of unrealized potential, the Packers must now use disappointment as the fuel as Matt LaFleur’s team attempts to bridge the gap between good and great in 2025.

So, where are the Packers at in terms of personnel and the salary cap entering the offseason?

To help evaluate the roster, we went position-by-position, highlighting who is under contract, who is a free agent, early thoughts on each position and a unique salary cap perspective from Ken Ingalls, a CPA who studies the salary cap.

Here are Ken’s initial thoughts on the cap and the Packers’ offseason:

“The 2025 Packers salary cap is in the best overall shape since 2020. The previous four offseasons we have needed to discuss the massive cap costs the Packers needed to shed or restructure just to be cap compliant. Now the Packers are sitting with around $39 million of cap space on paper and $22.4 million of effective space to play with. That’s without veteran cuts or restructures – the Packers have an additional $74 million of flexibility through restructures alone. In short, the Packers can sign any and all players they want to.

The Packers have zero need to restructure contracts to make their basic roster moves this offseason. They can even make several meaningful additions without needing to mortgage their future – so if we see this happening it means they are preparing to make some real aggressive moves.

While in much better financial shape, the Packers are still paying off their cap credit card from their 2021 all-in run and running it back in 2022. There is over $25.6 million in past restructurings on the books for Rashan Gary, Jaire Alexander, and Kenny Clark. Also, the Packers are stuck with $17.9 million in dead cap this season for can-kicked amounts on De’Vondre Campbell and Preston Smith. In a few seasons these types of past debts will be fully paid off.

There isn’t nearly as much offseason contract drama as we have seen in past seasons. Rather the 2025 offseason decisions are focused on improving, a welcome change one the Packers are financially well set up to execute on. I expect the Green Bay Packers to be very active in 2025 free agency and veteran spending for three reasons:

1. Because they have no priority free agents – their 2021 draft class has no premium players to re-sign. Instead of needing to spend to keep their own guys they will spend elsewhere (see 2019 FAs with their 2015 stinker class).

2. Because they can – the Packers have excess cap space to burn for the first time since 2020. We are no longer needing conversations about what moves need to be made to simply get under the cap in March, rather they are $39 million in the black heading towards free agency.

3. Because they should – Packers have a financial competitive advantage to exploit coming off two years of being the youngest team in the NFL. Their roster is young, cheap, and talented – they have a two-year window where they can push for a championship before their young core becomes expensive or signs elsewhere.

On to the position-by-position reviews:

Quarterback

Under contract (3): Jordan Love, Malik Willis, Sean Clifford

Free agents: None

Early thoughts: Love battled through an injury-plagued season that began with a significant knee injury in Week 1, continued with a groin injury in Week 8 and concluded with an elbow/hand problem in the season finale. He must be healthy to meet expectations as a third-year starter in 2025. Fortunately, the Packers made a trade for Willis to end training camp, and the former Titan quarterback played a leading role in three different wins as a backup behind Love — giving Green Bay a solid No. 2 option entering next season. Clifford, a 2023 draft pick, will get an opportunity to stick as the No. 3 quarterback in 2025.

Ken’s cap perspective

After years of uncertainty, drama, and complex contract scenarios surrounding the position, the Packers’ quarterback room is now in a welcome state of stability. Jordan Love enters the 2025 season in Year 2 of his new mega contract and is here to stay for the foreseeable future. There is no net cap positive way to exit out of his contract until 2028, and even then, moving on would come with a team crippling $62.3 million dead cap. A reminder there is no such thing as a “team friendly” contract when you are a one of the top paid players in the league. Love’s contract dictates he will be here a long time or cause a ton of pain with an early exit. You can rest easily knowing you will get extended mileage investing in a No. 10 jersey.

While the contract is massive, the Packers are in a 2-3-year window where they can try to exploit the relatively cheap years of his deal to surround him with top-tier talent. Jordan is averaging $55 million a season yet his salary cap hit in 2025 is a modest $29.7 million while “only” pocketing $13 million in cash this year. His contract is exceptionally backloaded on the salary cap with rolling guarantees and option bonuses stacking up to a $75.8M cap hit in 2028.

This means there is a current window where Jordan Love and his team full of young rookies are “cap cheap” and the Packers can, if they wish to, aggressively surround the young core with talented players to be true Super Bowl contenders in 2025.

Behind Love is Malik Willis who came to Green Bay on his rookie contract for a meager seventh-round pick. While I am sure the Packers could flip Willis for a better draft pick, I do not see the team willing to move on from their capable backup who was able to win games when Jordan Love when down several times last season. Sure, the Packers could try to sign a different backup QB but they would be hard pressed to find somebody as talented as Willis, who knows the system, and costs only $1.4 million on the salary cap. This likely sets up Willis to seek starting opportunities elsewhere in 2026 free agency, but that is a future Brian Gutekunst issue to worry about.

Sean Clifford is under contract after signing to the 53-man roster in the playoffs. He should be in the hunt to hold onto his QB3 practice squad role. The Packers probably bring in another camp arm or two at some point, but I don’t see this being a year to invest a draft pick into a backup quarterback.

Running back

Under contract (3): Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks

Free agents: Emanuel Wilson (exclusive rights), A.J. Dillon

Early thoughts: Jacobs produced Pro Bowl numbers as a workhorse No. 1 option, Wilson emerged as a legitimate No. 2 option and Brooks provided a versatile backup option, ensuring running back was — and should remain — a roster strength. The Packers will return Lloyd, a third-round pick, in 2025. His explosive playmaking ability could make him a weapon after a lost rookie season.

Ken’s cap perspective

Josh Jacobs returns after signing with the Packers in 2024 free agency. Jacobs has the seventh highest cap hit on the team at $11.3 million. His cap hit is more than doubling from last season and surely his production will not double, so the team will need to find ways to flex cap space productivity elsewhere. Jacobs has a $5.9 million roster bonus due in March the Packers could restructure for more cap savings but probably won’t be necessary unless they go bonkers in free agency.

MarShawn Lloyd returns for his sophomore season after unfortunate injury and health challenges sidelined his rookie campaign. Let’s hope his body can turn the page as Lloyd was an exciting third-round pick who should be the leader to compete for the backup RB spot behind Jacobs.

Chris Brooks is back on a minimum deal and should be in the mix with Lloyd and exclusive rights free agent Emanuel Wilson to round out the running back room. A.J. Dillon is an unrestricted free agent whose time in Green Bay is likely ending after a down 2023 season and missing the entire 2024 season on injured reserve. There certainly will be the traditional exciting undrafted free agent or two in camp to compete with these guys, and maybe one sneaks onto the roster early, but I would be shocked to see the Packers invest in free agency or the draft unless there is a massive steal to be had.

Wide receiver

Under contract (8): Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Malik Heath, Corneilus Johnson, Julian Hicks, Tulu Griffin

Free agents: Bo Melton (exclusive rights)

Early thoughts: There are real question marks at wide receiver after a disappointing 2024 season. The Packers may need to add a veteran to stabilize the position at the top and a rookie draft pick to ensure long-term health. Watson’s injury — which might cost him the better part of next season — robs the Packers passing game of a valuable deep threat and field-stretcher at receiver. Drops and overall development were issues for this young group.

Ken’s cap perspective

The Packers are entering Year 3 of basically the same wide receiver room, but I do not think it will end that way – more on that later. Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and Malik Heath are all under contract on their cheap rookie deals and Bo Melton should return as an exclusive rights free agent on a minimum deal. Doubs now owns the top cap spot at $3.5 million after earning a proven performance escalator and will receive a raise of about $2.2 million (depending on where the final 2025 league salary cap lands).

Watson tore his ACL in the 2024 regular season finale and almost certainly starts the 2025 season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. If his recovery takes the entire 2025 season and never returns to the active roster, then his contract would “toll” to the 2026 season – meaning instead of heading to free agency the Packers would have him under contract at the same cash cost as 2025 at $1.97 million. If Watson does return to the field in 2025 he probably won’t be close to 100% until 2026 when he likely heads to free agency without an early extension.

Doubs was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team for not showing up to work for two days in the middle of the season. Initial reports and teammate interviews initially tied his no-showing to being unhappy with his role, targets, and especially the lack of gameplan priority ahead of the Week 5 Rams game with Watson being ruled out. Of all the receivers, Doubs has been the most “go-to” guy in the room for Jordan Love leading the team in first down catches in each of the last two seasons, but overall production dipped last season. Doubs also has health concerns suffering two concussions in 2024 only seven weeks apart, the later coming in the playoff loss to the Eagles. Doubs is extension eligible in 2025, but his demeanor and health issues probably make him a low priority for Brian Gutekunst to address this offseason. Nothing would really surprise me here – maybe he gets extended early, maybe he walks in free agency, maybe he breaks out and becomes WR1 for this team, or maybe he gets traded elsewhere.

Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks both started strong in 2024 (Reed more than Wicks), but both regressed considerably in the back half of the season – By then both were making more headlines for the plays they were not making. These two have the tools to be breakout stars in 2025, but that was the same story in 2024. It’s too early to want to move on from either, but both need to show their developmental progress this season.

The overall tone of the position group is significantly worse this offseason as compared to the last with the same group of guys as nobody is separating themselves from the pack. I am sure Brian Gutekunst hoped the 2024 season would provide a breakout receiver or two to build the future roster around, but the entire room’s combined developmental path feels stagnant. Yes, the group is young, but all six guys took more steps backward than forward last year. We have heard predictable “coach speak” from podiums saying they don’t need a number one receiver, but that’s what you say when you have nobody in the building fitting the job description and are trying to make do without – we’ve certainly heard the same voices gush over the benefits provided by their alpha receivers of the past.

The Packers will need to prioritize adding wide receivers in this offseason. If the Packers were to pull off a rare trade, a primary receiver would make a ton of sense. Running the same group back three years in a row is the definition of insanity, especially watching how the passing offense fizzled out and struggled to end last season. The only two receivers under contract after this season are Reed and Wicks, so if nothing else the Packers need to start preparing for and hedging against their 2022 and 2023 draft picks leaving – they drafted six WRs during this time and maybe 2-3 stick around long term. It’s time to reinvest, and we should see meaningful pieces added.

Tight end

Under contract (5): Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, Ben Sims, Messiah Swinson, Johnny Lumpkin

Free agents: Tyler Davis, John FitzPatrick (restricted)

Early thoughts: This looks like one of the stronger positions on the roster after Kraft emerged as a breakout player in 2024. Musgrave provided almost no impact after suffering an ankle injury, and his role is up in the air considering Kraft’s emergence. Sims is a capable No. 3, although he was a healthy scratch for the playoff game. Expect FitzPatrick to return.

Ken’s cap perspective

Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave return at the top of the tight end depth chart on their cheap rookie contracts. Ben Sims is back as well in his final season and will be in camp with a good shot to make the roster. However, Sims was active every game in the regular season but was a healthy scratch in the playoffs so maybe there is something they don’t like. John FitzPatrick is a restricted free agent who won’t get tendered but has a chance to return and make the roster if he doesn’t find work elsewhere. Tyler Davis is heading into his second consecutive offseason as an unrestricted free agent while missing the prior season on injured reserve. In 2024, the Packers re-signed Davis, but I do not predict he will get the same treatment for 2025. Messiah Swinson and Johnny Lumpkin are returning from the practice squad who maybe stick if they can perform on special teams. The Packers may spend a luxury value pick if they see a guy they like late, or even add a veteran – especially if they want to re-add a redzone and pass blocking monster like Marcedes Lewis – but overall, this spot is solid for 2025.

Offensive line

Under contract (9): Elgton Jenkins, Rasheed Walker, Sean Rhyan, Zach Tom, Jordan Morgan, Jacob Monk, Donovan Jennings, Marquis Hayes, Trey Hill

Free agents: Josh Myers, Andre Dillard, Kadeem Telfort (exclusive rights)

Early thoughts: Change could be coming. Myers is an unrestricted free agent, possibly creating a hole at center. The Packers need to get better at the pivot, so Myers’ expiring contract could push the team to seek improvement. Jenkins, Rhyan and Tom could play center, and Morgan will be expected to start in Year 2. The Packers were solid up front in 2024 but must continue pushing to improve. Winning big games requires winning the line of scrimmage.

Ken’s cap perspective

Elgton Jenkins once again highlights the offensive linemen with a $17.6 million cap hit, sixth highest on the team. Behind him are three draft picks from 2022 who all earned proven performance escalators heading into their final seasons in Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, and Sean Rhyan – Rhyan had exactly enough snaps to get his raise (one fewer snap and he doesn’t get there!). All three will be in the $3.3-3.5 million range on the cap. The next man up is 2024 first-rounder Jordan Morgan. If I were to pencil in a starting line today it would be these five with Walker and Tom at tackle, Morgan at guard, and then a combination of Jenkins and Rhyan at guard and center.

While Tom is under contract with his PPE raise, I do not expect him to play football for only $3.3 million in 2025. Tom is a top tackle in the league who has massively outplayed his contract and is set for a major payday in the neighborhood of $25 million per season, if not more. I would be shocked if we did not hear about a contract extension before preseason games kickoff. Walker and Rhyan are also extension eligible but are not a priority until the Packers get Tom’s future services secured. I could see the team taking a wait and see approach with these two with perhaps both, one, or neither returning in 2026. A lot depends on how the Packers approach the 2025 offseason and where they see Jordan Morgan playing long term.

Josh Myers has been the Packers starting center for four years and heads towards free agency. I am sure the Packers will be in talks with Myers, but I believe he will pursue a significant contract the Packers simply won’t be interested in matching – see Jon Runyan 2024. Dillard is a free agent swing tackle who only returns if the Packers can’t find a better option, which would not be a great overall omen for the group.

Rounding out the roster are draft picks Jacob Monk and Travis Glover along with Donovan Jennings who received a relatively rich undrafted free agent deal last offseason. Kadeem Telfort should return as an exclusive rights free agent.

The Packers need to reinforce the depth across their entire line. There is no obvious answer at center – Monk was a safe bet at one point but eventually regressed into a weekly healthy scratch inactive. Travis Glover is a potential swing tackle candidate but looked lost when asked to play late last season. With only one starter from last season under contract past 2025 and questionable depth, I expect the Packers to prioritize OL in both the draft and free agency.

Defensive tackle

Under contract (8): Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, James Ester, Leonard Payne, Keith Randolph, Nesta Jade Silvera

Free agents: TJ Slaton

Early thoughts: A sneakily important need spot, considering Clark’s regression, Slaton’s expiring deal and Wyatt’s potential to enter 2025 in the final year of his deal. The Packers need more disruption from this position group next season.

Ken’s cap perspective

Kenny Clark would be headlining the Packers free agency class if not for his extension last offseason. He returns at a $20.4 million cap hit – fourth highest on the roster. While Clark was coming off a strong 2023 campaign, I was hesitant to sign up for an early third contract extension – a rare sight in Green Bay for non-quarterbacks. Clark was originally due $17 million in 2024, but the Packers gave him another $12 million raise at age 29. His 2024 performance did not live up to the $29 million investment, hell his original $17 million would have been an overpay. Clark put in the fewest percent of snaps in 2024 (63.0%) since his rookie season (32.4%) outside of 2020 when he missed three games. His impact plays in the backfield here were career lows with only one sack and four tackles for loss. There were two consecutive weeks when his name didn’t even show up on a detailed stat sheet. In summary – Clark got paid a lot more money to play less football and put up worse numbers, in a scheme where his body type and skill set should be a prototypical fit to thrive. Really hoping Kenny can turn it around in 2025, maybe the new defensive line coach can reinvigorate his performance. He is “only” making $10.5 million in cash and moving on in any way would be a net cap loss, so Kenny is here for 2025 unless the Packers unload him in a spicy trade.

Behind Clark are the Packers’ three draft picks of Devonte Wyatt, Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks. Wyatt is entering his fourth season as a former first-round pick, and the Packers need to decide on whether to exercise his estimated $13.1 million fully guaranteed fifth-year option for 2026. It’s a tough decision as Wyatt hasn’t emerged as an every-down force playing about 40% of snaps but notched 5.0 sacks in 2024 which was second on the team. Curious to see where the Packers go here. Brooks has been fine as a rotational player; I expect him to return but maybe gets booted down the depth chart or off the roster with new incoming talent. Wooden will need to show something in training camp to keep his roster spot.

T.J. Slaton is scheduled to be a free agent – maybe is even their “best” one. However, I only see the Packers trying to bring back Slaton in a situational role. This defensive front needs constant pocket pressure and Slaton is more of a run stuffer than a backfield presence. Maybe he will return but he can probably get more money by leaving Green Bay.

Defensive tackle needs an overall infusion of upgraded talent. Clark may be entering his final season in Green Bay, Slaton is heading to free agency, and who knows if the Packers decide to option Wyatt. Their top three options are all question marks to be here long term and the guys behind them have not proven to be strong two-way players against both the run and pass. The Packers should enter training camp with an infusion of talent – I’m secretly hoping they can snag Milton Williams from the Eagles!

Edge rusher

Under contract (6): Rashan Gary, Kingsley Enagbare, Lukas Van Ness, Brenton Cox Jr., Jeremiah Martin, Deslin Alexandre

Free agents: Arron Mosby (exclusive rights)

Early thoughts: The Packers must either improvement significantly internally or acquire outside help at edge rusher in 2025. The four-man pass-rush wasn’t good enough in too many big games in 2024. Gary didn’t impact games consistently and Van Ness didn’t take a big second-year jump, although Cox offered intriguing potential to end the season. Adding an impact edge rusher could help the Packers go from good to great in Year 2 of the Jeff Hafley era.

Ken’s cap perspective

Rashan Gary comes in only behind Jordan Love for salary cap at $25.77 million, more than double than last season. He is due a $8.7 million roster bonus in mid-March the Packers could restructure beforehand to create up to $11.7 million more cap space. I tend to believe they don’t touch his deal as the Packers may view 2026 as a potential exit year and ideally don’t shove more dead cap into the future.

Gary isn’t going anywhere in 2025, but the Packers surely want to see him perform closer to the level a top 10 paid edge rusher warrants. Gary notched 7.5 sacks in 2024 which lands tied for 36th best in the league. One reason his sacks may not be topping the charts is because he barely sees the playing field. There are 10 edge rushers making $21 million or more each year in the NFL who played football in 2024 – Rashan Gary is one of them. Over the past three seasons the average annual snap counts (injury adjusted) among his nine peers comes in at 78.9%. Gary is playing only 59.5% (injury adjusted) over this same period – by far the least and a staggering near 20% gap between him and the average of his top paid co-workers. His past two seasons averaged 54.8% of snaps while starting all 17 games each year. The Packers are paying Rashan Gary a lot of money to watch football from the sidelines. He likely needs to improve his playing time and ability to finish plays in the backfield this season to stick around in 2026.

Opposite Gary is Kingsley Enagabare, who is entering his fourth season on a proven performance escalator raise up to $3.3 million. Lukas Van Ness is entering his third on his fully guaranteed first-round pick contract. Van Ness has been slow to develop – many thought he would get more opportunities after the Packers traded away Preston Smith midway through last season, however he has yet to start a football game since his high school days. Brenton Cox is back in the final year of his undrafted free agent contract. Arron Mosby will be back on a minimum exclusive rights free agent.

The Packers pass rushers were bad. The defensive line coach was fired after the season. The group absolutely needs to improve. The front office has invested four first-round picks, including the second and third richest contracts on the roster, into their defensive line and their best return on investment in 2024 was Wyatt who is far from a lock to earn his fifth-year option. I still believe the Packers still believe in their investments up front and will bank on a new voice leading the room being a catalyst towards improvement. In tandem, this defense needs a strong edger rusher opposite/to sub-in for Rashan Gary and the Packers will prioritize finding candidates this offseason. A key free agent and/or trade is absolutely on the table to add immediate impact, as well as draft picks to upgrade their depth.

Linebacker

Under contract (3): Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, Ty’Ron Hopper

Free agents: Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Wilson

Early thoughts: McDuffie and Wilson played a lot of football for the Packers over the last two seasons, but the future is clearly the combination of Walker and Cooper — and there’s optimism that Hopper can become part of the starting unit in Year 2. The Packers just need more numbers at linebacker. Wilson is a valuable piece for the third phase and could return for a fourth season.

Ken’s cap perspective

The ghost of De’Vondre Campbell will have the highest salary cap hit at linebacker in 2025 for the Packers at $7.97 million despite not playing for the team since 2023 – these post June 1 cuts generate not so fun dead cap hits down the line.

Quay Walker is the other former first rounder heading into his final rookie contract year facing down a decision from the Packers on his fifth-year option. I’d avoid the option as it’s a $16.06 million guaranteed investment for 2026. If he disappoints the Packers aren’t stuck – see Darnell Savage in 2023. If he puts together a solid season the Packers can later try to extend his deal – see Jordan Love in 2023. Let’s see what the Packers do.

Next to Quay is Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper entering their sophomore seasons on their cheap rookie contracts. Cooper was a superstar in 45% of snaps while Hopper saw the field less than 2% of the time, mostly in garbage time. Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson both head towards unrestricted free agency being 50%+ play-time contributors. I can see one, not both, returning to training camp but the Packers should be looking for upgrades. Their linebackers were absolute liabilities in pass coverage over the middle – running back the same group is ill-advised.

The Packers just spent second- and third-round draft picks at linebacker, yet it remains a sneaky need entering 2025 as they only have three players on their roster today. Quay and Cooper will start – they need to identify their third starter (maybe it’s Hopper) and add at minimum another two players to compete for roster spots with even more bodies needed for training camp depth.

Cornerback

Under contract (7): Jaire Alexander, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Kamal Hadden, Kalen King, Kaleb Haynes, Isaiah Dunn

Free agents: Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine, Robert Rochell

Early thoughts: Alexander’s future in Green Bay headlines the position group. Signs point to his exit, but the Packers have options. The team likes Nixon and Valentine as perimeter corners, and safety Javon Bullard emerged as a slot option. Still, the Packers need an infusion of talent and competition at cornerback. A quick rebuild could be required if Alexander is out.

Ken’s cap perspective

Cornerback was a big need heading into last season, but the Packers ran back the same group with not-so-impressive results. Safe to say the Packers won’t run it back a third time, and their decisions start at the top. Jaire Alexander has the third highest cap hit on the roster at $25 million – I can say for certain he will absolutely not count on the Packers roster at $25 million when the 2025 season kicks off. A history of playing in only 50% of games over the past four seasons while needing serval more early exists make his $17.5 million cash due this season a huge risk for the Packers.

There are zero guarantees, bonus triggers, or deadlines in Jaire’s contract so the Packers have lots of time to figure out their best path forward – whether it be a trade, a release, or a pay-cut and restructure to reduce financial risk. Jaire has $18.12 million of dead cap baked into his remaining contract – this is all made up of past cash already paid but not yet accounted for on the Packers salary cap from signing and restructure bonuses. This amount eventually all needs to hit the Packers cap (since they paid it) and cannot be avoided or moved in any circumstance. A trade or cut occurring before June 2nd would net $6.88 million of cap savings on the Packers 2025 books. If done post June 1st this would increase to $17.12 million saved in 2025 with $10.24 million hitting as dead cap in 2026. If the Packers seek a trade, I would not expect a large haul in return. Sure, Jaire can be a great player when healthy, but his “when healthy” formula is working against him as is his unpredictable behavior leading to a 2023 team suspension. Before potential trade talks the Packers will approach Jaire to rework his contract with a significant pay-cut and at-risk incentives to reduce the Packers financial risk and up-front salary cap hit. How Jaire responds to this request is anybody’s guess – he could tell the Packer to go to hell, he could agree to stick around and prove them wrong, he could demand an immediate trade or release – stay tuned. If I had to bet, I think the Packers are preparing to not have Jaire around in 2025, it’s just a matter of how they exit his contract.

Keisean Nixon is back on a $6.84 million cap hit earning only $4.68 million in cash. Nixon absolutely had his ups and downs in 2024, but at that cheap deal he sticks around. He spoke about being the team’s CB1 recently – not sure what reality this is coming from. Valentine will be back on his rookie deal. Kamal Hadden and Kalen King are back from the practice squad, both having been elevated last season.

Eric Stokes, Corey Balentine, and Robert Rochell all head to unrestricted free agency. While none were particularly impressive, I cannot rule any of them out from returning on near minimum type deals simply because there are a ton of bodies to replace in one position group – especially if Jaire Alexander is on his way out. Maybe the Packers completely overhaul the position like they did with safety last year, but with so many position needs on this team and a more reasonable number of draft picks, it won’t be as easy to spend multiple picks in multiple positions like we have seen in recent years. I see the Packers using free agency to find some immediate help and supplement their depth with the draft.

Safety

Under contract (5): Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Kitan Oladapo, Omar Brown

Free agents: Zayne Anderson (restricted)

Early thoughts: This might be the most settled position on the roster, especially if Anderson is eventually retained. McKinney is the star, Williams proved to be a reliable rookie, Bullard can play multiple roles and Oladapo impressed in the season finale.

Ken’s cap perspective

The group is locked and loaded. Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, and Kitan Oladapo all enter their second of four years under contract. McKinney’s cap hit more than doubles to $17.85 million and is fifth highest on the roster and the three others are on their cheap rookie deals. Omar Brown is also back after being elevated three times at the end of the season to cover for an injured Williams.

Only Zayne Anderson is set to leave the group as a restricted free agent and would be shocked if the Packers picked up his tender to return. I can see him returning as the special teams safety the coaching staff seems to prioritize, or maybe the Packers use the roster spot on a promising young player instead. I don’t expect to see much movement here overall.

Special teams

Under contract (2): LS Matt Orzech, K Alex Hale

Free agents: K Brandon McManus, P Daniel Whelan (exclusive rights)

Early thoughts: The Packers want McManus back for 2025 and are likely to retain their three specialists from the end of 2024. Still, don’t be surprised if competition for Orzech at long snapper arrives at some point this offseason.

Ken’s cap perspective

The Packers have two specialists under contract and neither should be comfortable with their roster spots. Matt Orzech is in the final year of his contract for $1.17 million. The Packers brought in competition last year and will likely do so again. Alex Hale is the lone kicker and likely re-lands on their exempt international player list. Daniel Whelan is an exclusive rights free agent and will return on a minimum contract – maybe the Packers try to work out a multi-year return since this is the last season of exclusive rights.

Brandon McManus is an unrestricted free agent and is the most likely free agent to return. He would cost several million to bring back, though it would not be a surprise if the Packers seek stability in a younger kicker as McManus is turning 34 and won’t be around long term.