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After the signings of Aaron Banks and Nate Hobbs, the Green Bay Packers' free agency spending is most likely over, at least in terms of additions of genuine consequence.
The move to bring in Banks in particular surprised plenty in the Packers community, but based on general manager Brian Gutekunst's historical approach to free agency, perhaps a marquee addition on the offensive line should not have been a shock.
There is a clear strategy when it comes to Gutekunst's free agency transactions, at least when he has had money to spend. For every single big-money free agent he has signed since 2019, a thread can be connected to either a failed premium draft pick from years prior, a once-productive veteran being ushered out, or in some cases, both.
On the first day of free agency in 2019, Gutekunst went on a spending spree, bringing in Preston and Za'Darius Smith, as well as Adrian Amos and Billy Turner.
The Smiths were brought in to replace the departing Clay Matthews and Nick Perry, while Amos and Turner were likely signed to make up for disappointing second-round picks from 2017 and 2016, Josh Jones and Jason Spriggs.
In 2020, the Packers acquired Rick Wagner and Christian Kirksey, while Bryan Bulaga and Blake Martinez left the team.
Green Bay was not able to spend much in free agency over the next three years, due to the shrinking salary cap caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and a shift in focus to retaining their own and keeping a championship contender intact.
But when the constraints loosened in 2024, Gutekunst opened the checkbook again, splashing out on Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney.
Jacobs was brought in not only to take over from Aaron Jones, but also to make up for the selection of A.J. Dillon in the second round in 2020, which did not pan out. McKinney was the answer to Darnell Savage not turning into the kind of player they hoped.
In 2025, the Packers said goodbye to their first-and-second-round picks from 2021 in cornerback Eric Stokes and Josh Myers, and responded by inking Hobbs and Banks to long-term deals. While most fans were eyeing a new pass rusher or defensive lineman, the signs were there that Green Bay would be in the market for an upgrade on the offensive line.
It is not exactly an innovative approach, more a logical one. Free agency is not about going shopping for things you want, it is essentially a punishment for previous mistakes, such as draft picks not working out.
In an ideal world, teams would not be able to spend in free agency because they would have a team full of players they drafted and want to pay. The teams with the most cap space are usually the ones who have very few good players.
If the likes of Stokes, Myers and Savage had become quality players, the Packers would not have needed to splash out on a Hobbs, Banks or McKinney. Instead, they had to act, and this information can be used to help predict what Green Bay will do in future free agency periods.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Packers have three former premium draft picks set to hit free agency in Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt and Christian Watson.
As first-round picks, Walker and Wyatt could have their fifth-year options picked up, keeping them in Green Bay until 2027, but it seems unlikely the Packers will want to commit a fully guaranteed total of more than $28.6 million to the pair at this stage.
Given none of them have really taken off as NFL players, there is a chance the Packers could let all three players walk in a year, and therefore be looking at the free agent market once again to replace three starters.
There is some bad news in that regard though, as the pool of eligible free agents for 2026 already looks rather thin at defensive tackle and wide receiver. Here is the entire list of defensive tackles set to be unrestricted free agents in a year, who in 2024 played enough snaps to qualify for PFFs positional rankings:
Wyatt was solid in his first season in Jeff Harley's defense, and the Packers really need him to take another jump in 2025, especially as it may be Kenny Clark's final year in Green Bay. It feels a fairly safe bet they are going to select a defensive tackle on the first two days of the upcoming draft.
The best options in terms of wide receivers who can play on the perimeter are currently slated to be Alec Pierce, Dyami Brown and Jalen Tolbert, not an especially exciting trio. Green Bay will be hoping Watson can return from his knee injury quickly, in order to give them enough of a sample size to base their decision on whether to keep him.
Given the fairly bleak outlook at defensive tackle in free agency, it would not be a surprise to see Wyatt sign a short-term extension this offseason which pays him less than his fifth-year option, much like Jordan Love did ahead of his first year as the starter. Watson may also be open to a short-term deal to give him some security as he recovers from injury.
There looks to be a few more options to replace Walker, at least for now. The likes of Leo Chenal and Devin Lloyd, or on the lower end, Damone Clark and Micah McFadden are set to be free agents in 2026, although time will tell if their respective teams let them leave.
The 2025 season sets up a very important year for Green Bay's premium picks from the 2022 class. If the Packers end up having to move on from Walker, Wyatt and Watson, next year's free agency class may not provide them with the remedies they need.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers free agency 2026 preview: 3 key starters who could be replaced
Continue reading...
The move to bring in Banks in particular surprised plenty in the Packers community, but based on general manager Brian Gutekunst's historical approach to free agency, perhaps a marquee addition on the offensive line should not have been a shock.
There is a clear strategy when it comes to Gutekunst's free agency transactions, at least when he has had money to spend. For every single big-money free agent he has signed since 2019, a thread can be connected to either a failed premium draft pick from years prior, a once-productive veteran being ushered out, or in some cases, both.
On the first day of free agency in 2019, Gutekunst went on a spending spree, bringing in Preston and Za'Darius Smith, as well as Adrian Amos and Billy Turner.
The Smiths were brought in to replace the departing Clay Matthews and Nick Perry, while Amos and Turner were likely signed to make up for disappointing second-round picks from 2017 and 2016, Josh Jones and Jason Spriggs.
In 2020, the Packers acquired Rick Wagner and Christian Kirksey, while Bryan Bulaga and Blake Martinez left the team.
Green Bay was not able to spend much in free agency over the next three years, due to the shrinking salary cap caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and a shift in focus to retaining their own and keeping a championship contender intact.
But when the constraints loosened in 2024, Gutekunst opened the checkbook again, splashing out on Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney.
Jacobs was brought in not only to take over from Aaron Jones, but also to make up for the selection of A.J. Dillon in the second round in 2020, which did not pan out. McKinney was the answer to Darnell Savage not turning into the kind of player they hoped.
In 2025, the Packers said goodbye to their first-and-second-round picks from 2021 in cornerback Eric Stokes and Josh Myers, and responded by inking Hobbs and Banks to long-term deals. While most fans were eyeing a new pass rusher or defensive lineman, the signs were there that Green Bay would be in the market for an upgrade on the offensive line.
It is not exactly an innovative approach, more a logical one. Free agency is not about going shopping for things you want, it is essentially a punishment for previous mistakes, such as draft picks not working out.
In an ideal world, teams would not be able to spend in free agency because they would have a team full of players they drafted and want to pay. The teams with the most cap space are usually the ones who have very few good players.
If the likes of Stokes, Myers and Savage had become quality players, the Packers would not have needed to splash out on a Hobbs, Banks or McKinney. Instead, they had to act, and this information can be used to help predict what Green Bay will do in future free agency periods.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Packers have three former premium draft picks set to hit free agency in Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt and Christian Watson.
As first-round picks, Walker and Wyatt could have their fifth-year options picked up, keeping them in Green Bay until 2027, but it seems unlikely the Packers will want to commit a fully guaranteed total of more than $28.6 million to the pair at this stage.
Given none of them have really taken off as NFL players, there is a chance the Packers could let all three players walk in a year, and therefore be looking at the free agent market once again to replace three starters.
There is some bad news in that regard though, as the pool of eligible free agents for 2026 already looks rather thin at defensive tackle and wide receiver. Here is the entire list of defensive tackles set to be unrestricted free agents in a year, who in 2024 played enough snaps to qualify for PFFs positional rankings:
- Otito Ogbonnia
- Travis Jones
- Tommy Togiai
- Chris Williams
Wyatt was solid in his first season in Jeff Harley's defense, and the Packers really need him to take another jump in 2025, especially as it may be Kenny Clark's final year in Green Bay. It feels a fairly safe bet they are going to select a defensive tackle on the first two days of the upcoming draft.
The best options in terms of wide receivers who can play on the perimeter are currently slated to be Alec Pierce, Dyami Brown and Jalen Tolbert, not an especially exciting trio. Green Bay will be hoping Watson can return from his knee injury quickly, in order to give them enough of a sample size to base their decision on whether to keep him.
Given the fairly bleak outlook at defensive tackle in free agency, it would not be a surprise to see Wyatt sign a short-term extension this offseason which pays him less than his fifth-year option, much like Jordan Love did ahead of his first year as the starter. Watson may also be open to a short-term deal to give him some security as he recovers from injury.
There looks to be a few more options to replace Walker, at least for now. The likes of Leo Chenal and Devin Lloyd, or on the lower end, Damone Clark and Micah McFadden are set to be free agents in 2026, although time will tell if their respective teams let them leave.
The 2025 season sets up a very important year for Green Bay's premium picks from the 2022 class. If the Packers end up having to move on from Walker, Wyatt and Watson, next year's free agency class may not provide them with the remedies they need.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers free agency 2026 preview: 3 key starters who could be replaced
Continue reading...
