The NFL offseason has begun for every one of the league’s 32 teams. How will Brian Gutekunst and the Green Bay Packers take advantage of the next few months to advance their roster, and can they do enough to help Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love become Super Bowl contenders?
A somewhat disappointing 2024 season with some positives
The Green Bay Packers finished their season with a defeat from the Philadelphia Eagles, who went on to win the Super Bowl. But the Eagles’ 12-point victory margin over the Packers does not fully represent the game. The tension began with injuries to multiple players who had to exit the game early. Still, statistics show the game was tightly contested. The Packers accumulated more total yards at 302 compared to the Eagles’ 290 yards, while both teams averaged similar yards per play at 5.0 for Green Bay and 5.1 for Philadelphia. This shows the Packers are perhaps not far off from where they want to be.
The Packers showed a major commitment when they granted Love a four-year contract worth $220 million. They based this decision on his potential to build upon his strong 2023 season, but he failed to meet these expectations. The 26-year-old quarterback threw for 3,389 yards and recorded 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He completed 63.1 per cent of his passes in his second full season as the main quarterback. He ranked fifth in QBR with a score of 69.4.
It would be premature to draw definitive conclusions about Love’s potential as a franchise quarterback, as the progression of a player’s development does not always follow a straight path. But there’s no doubt that Love’s improvement is necessary for the Packers to challenge for the title.
The Green Bay Packer odds to win the Super Bowl may appear slim but they have a chance with the NFC Championship. This season’s NFC North division competition remains wide open. The Packers will battle against teams including the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. The Lions remain the division favorites but the Packers are a potential surprise contender.
Packers announce 12 reserve/future signings
The Packers announced that they signed 12 practice squad players to reserve/future contracts after their season ended. The signed players include
- DL Deslin Alexandre
- S Omar Brown
- DL James Ester
- CB Kamal Hadden
- K Alex Hale
- G Marquis Hayes
- WR Julian Hicks
- G/T Donovan Jennings
- WR Cornelius Johnson
- CB Kalen King
- DL Jeremiah Martin
- TE Messiah Swinson
Players on contract cannot negotiate with other teams in the offseason since they remain bound by contract before the league year starts.
The team will make further offseason changes, such as signing free agents and selecting new draft picks, while also exploring trades to expand their 90-man roster before the 2025 season starts. The Packers must reduce their roster to 53 players during August before the start of the season. It is uncertain if any of these players will remain on the team past the final cuts.
Will we see big moves?
The Packers will likely not see Jaire Alexander return to the team. The cornerback who celebrated his 28th birthday on February 9 has participated in only 15 games out of a possible 37. He has suffered multiple injuries to his knee and shoulder in his last two seasons. The fans definitely miss their CB but it might be time to move on. There are some positives to this as Over the Cap reports that the team can free up $6.8 million in cap space if they trade Alexander before June 1. Alexander has a cap number just under $25 million, which makes him third on the team after quarterback Jordan Love and defensive end Rashan Gary.
The Packers have improved their cap situation in the past two or three years. The NFL team table show they are at 10th, with an excess of $50 million in cap space. They could further free up this space if they make reasonable transactions such as the release of Alexander.
Statements made by Gutekunst during press conferences should not be taken as absolute truths, since he incorrectly predicted Aaron Jones would return last year. But he has mentioned the team will see the addition of much-needed players. Josh Jacobs also publicly announced his plan to become a major force in the recruitment of new players to Green Bay. The team requires better pass players, and Jacobs plans to contact potential new members during the offseason.
Fifth-year options
OTC reports that Walker will receive a 2026 guaranteed salary of $16.06 million, while Wyatt will earn $13.098 million. Gutekunst still seems impressed with both players, despite the cost.
The Green Bay Packers have the important elements to become a consistent playoff team. The team has a good coach and an excellent offensive line. They also have a good defense that ranks in the top 12. But they must make suitable moves during NFL free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft. The team can become one of the best in 2025 if they secure a No. 1 receiver and No. 1 edge rusher. Jordan Love has not been at his best in his second full-time year as the Packers’ starter, which might lead them to a passive offseason approach once more. The Packers have a strong team but their success depends on how much Jordan can improve his performance.