The offseason is officially here for all 32 NFL teams. Can Brian Gutekunst and the Green Bay Packers do enough over the next several months to push the roster forward and give Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love a chance to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2025?
Like every offseason, the Packers have big decisions to make. The team must determine who to extend, who is restructure, who to let go, who to re-sign and who to add to address roster needs, all while managing the salary cap and creating a competitive and deep roster that can compete now and into the future.
Here’s an in-depth check list for the Green Bay Packers entering the 2025 offseason:
Restructure or trade/release: CB Jaire Alexander
Alexander played in only seven games for the second straight season and has now missed at least 10 games in three of the last four seasons. He will carry a cap number of almost $25 million in 2025, including a base salary of over $16 million. The Packers could decide to restructure his deal — converting base salary to signing bonus to lessen his cap number and push money to the future — or move on, either through a trade or release. He is an aging, expensive player with an extensive injury history, making him difficult to trade. The Packers could save cap money with a release, either pre- or post-June 1, but they will take on dead money either way. If Alexander is gone, cornerback becomes a big need.
Big free agent decisions
C Josh Myers: He’s been a replacement level starter at center during his rookie contract, but the Packers love his toughness, intelligence and football character at center.
DL TJ Slaton: His value is almost all against the run. He’s tough to move and capable of disrupting from even or odd fronts in the run game but offers little as a pass-rusher.
K Brandon McManus: The veteran made all but one kick during the regular season, stabilizing the kicker spot for the Packers. The Packers want him back. He’ll turn 34 this summer.
LB Isaiah McDuffie: He started 25 games at linebacker over the last two seasons, but his limitations in coverage make him replacement level entering free agency.
CB Eric Stokes: While he stayed healthy in 2024, Stokes made few plays and wasn’t an impact player. By the end of the season, he wasn’t a preferred player at cornerback for Jeff Hafley. Expect a parting of ways here.
LB Eric Wilson: The veteran linebacker is a capable backup in the 4-3 and a core special teamer for Rich Bisaccia. He turns 31 in September but could return for a fourth season in Green Bay.
Other unrestricted free agents: RB A.J. Dillon, TE Tyler Davis, CB Corey Ballentine, LT Andre Dillard, CB Robert Rochell
Free agency
The Packers made huge additions in Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney last March. The new league year begins on March 12, but the legal tampering period starts on March 10. Will the Packers make another splash? Jacobs has been campaigning for help. While there might not be a Jacobs or McKinney level signing this year, Brian Gutekunst has plenty of cap space to go hunting for a few impactful veteran players in free agency.
Decide fifth-year options
The Packers must determine their path on linebacker Quay Walker and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt, two first-round picks from the 2022 draft who are up for fifth-year options this offseason. The option is a fully guaranteed year tacked onto the rookie contract, and it’s expensive in both cases — just over $16 million for Walker and roughly $13.1 million for Wyatt. It’s tough to argue that either player has earned fully guaranteed money over $10 million, so it’s possible short-term extensions will be discussed to make sure both players have some financial security past 2025. If neither option is picked up, Walker and Wyatt would go into 2025 on the final year of their respective deals.
Address needs
Wide receiver: Christian Watson will miss at least half of the 2025 season, Romeo Doubs was suspended and suffered two concussions in 2024 and Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks both had drop issues last season. Watson and Doubs are entering contract years. A veteran or a high pick might be required.
Cornerback: Jaire Alexander has an uncertain future and Eric Stokes is a free agent. The Packers like Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine outside, and Javon Bullard looks like he’ll be staying in the slot, but the Packers need a lot of competition here.
Edge rusher: Rashan Gary had a disappointing first season in the 4-3, Lukas Van Ness didn’t take a big second-year jump and Kingsley Enagbare played at a replacement level after Preston Smith was traded away. Improving the four-man pass-rush is a huge priority in 2025.
Interior defensive line: TJ Slaton is a free agent, Kenny Clark had a terrible season in 2024 and Devonte Wyatt would be entering a contract year if his fifth-year option isn’t picked up this summer. Potentially big future need.
Offensive line: Josh Myers will be a free agent, and Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker and Sean Rhyan are entering contract years in 2024. Jordan Morgan could slide in as a starter if Myers departs, but the Packers need to secure the long-term health of the offensive line.
2025 draft
The Packers are expecting to have eight picks in the 2024 draft, down from the 11 they went into last year’s draft with. Brian Gutekunst will have his original selection — including the 23rd overall pick in the first round — in the first six rounds, plus two seventh-round picks as a result from trading for Malik Willis, trading away Preston Smith and the compensatory pick projected from last year’s free agency results. Can Gutekunst create another instant impact draft class without the impressive draft capital he had in previous years? The young Packers need to keep adding young talent through the draft regardless of what happens with the veteran free agent market.