Official 2026 Free Agency/Offseason/Non-Draft Thread

[pbmax]

Bobble has laid out in detail what he sees (and I think there is some general agreement judging by reply posts) about Gutekunst's shortcomings in player acquisition.

However,

Outside of the Ravens* game, I have never felt the Packers were outclassed by the opponents talent level. When opponents caused me to worry about talent disparity, the game plays out much more even than I expect. The defense is often the source of this belief. But sometimes, especially early in the season, it was the quick scoring offense.

So I am not ready to throw him out yet. He needs to repair the holes that developed with Clark's trade and Wyatt's injury to shore up the interior (seriously they do not have a starting caliber 0 tech). He needs a plan B and C because the FA signing of Hobbs** didn't cover them at CB. And they HAVE to figure out the Center and Left Tackle positions next year without the mis-steps that plagued them with the O line shuffle this year. But week in and week out, as the Defense surrenders too much field position and the offense whiffs in the red zone or just misfires for 2 quarters*** I don't think its a baseline talent problem with the team.

They just need to miss on fewer players next year.


* Ravens game was just brutal but even then was unit and scheme specific. They were outclassed inside and weak tacklers in the secondary were exposed. They had backups to backups in the D line, so I don't exactly expect a repeat, but that was the only time I thought they were sunk on a talent level. Even then technique and fits made it worse which isn't as much of an issue with starters. The Panthers game was similar with Dowdle, but their offense is so limited the gap seemed bridgeable.

** Hobbs had some encouraging words yesterday, might be mostly fan service, but his attitude seems right and he has not devolved into a head case. Frankly, I don't like the contract but I also wouldn't quit watching if he ends up coming back. I'm saying there is a chance. The only problem here is that the Packers need a CB or two who can play man.

*** In retrospect, the advice I would give the offense is to sit Jacobs for four weeks and let Brooks and Wilson handle it until Josh was healthy.

[bobblehead]

So I am not ready to throw him out yet. He needs to repair the holes that developed with Clark's trade and Wyatt's injury to shore up the interior (seriously they do not have a starting caliber 0 tech).

TJ Slayton would look good right about now....yet one more thing I criticized at the time. He should have been resigned before going outside the organization to spend on guys like Hobbs and Banks.

Edit: I cut out a lot, but you said you don't feel like its a lack of baseline talent (or close to that). We lack OLine talent and CB talent pretty bad. And Quay is below average at off ball LB. And even with Wyatt we lack interior talent on the DL. We had a ton of chances to draft to that and go BPA. We whiffed consistently. When we drafted Cooper (jury still out on how good he will be) there were a LOT of talented interior DL available. When we drafted a backup RB there was a super talented off ball Peyton Wilson available. When we drafted Morgan to play RG there was Graham Barton available who had more experience there and a more matching skill set. Gutes has failed so often in the draft and now he can't even sign decent FAs after watching their film for several years. I just hate the direction of this roster right now.

I also don't dislike Hobbs. We just signed a slot guy to play outside. It failed. And Bullard is better in the slot and cheaper.

[bobblehead]

So I'll try and be a bit positive quickly. Things I love. Love is a real QB (I just like willis better). Kraft is the next Kittle. Our WR room is super deep even if we lose Doubs. Jacobs is a beast but he needs better blocking.

Our EDGE room is incredible even if we cut Gary. Van Ness needs more snaps inside this week. We need to bring back Enagbare, but I like what Sorrel and Oliver flashed, time will tell. Our CBs lack one shutdown guy. We have some depth if we find that guy. Safety could use a little more depth, but you have to like the starters.

The team is only 3 players away from being top tier. The problem is we don't have a first next year and we have no money so I'm not sure where we get a shutdown CB not named APB or a TJ Slayton replacement. Off ball LB depth is hurting so we are going to need to draft a few instinctive guys in the 5th round, but that at least is achievable. The OL isn't going to get fixed unless Belton and Morgan both take big leaps. Then you might need to pay Jenkins to stay (reduced deal maybe?)....I keep forgetting John Williams. Can he be the answer somewhere? I loved his film.

[pbmax]

TJ Slayton would look good right about now....yet one more thing I criticized at the time. He should have been resigned before going outside the organization to spend on guys like Hobbs and Banks.

Edit: I cut out a lot, but you said you don't feel like its a lack of baseline talent (or close to that). We lack OLine talent and CB talent pretty bad. And Quay is below average at off ball LB. And even with Wyatt we lack interior talent on the DL. We had a ton of chances to draft to that and go BPA. We whiffed consistently. When we drafted Cooper (jury still out on how good he will be) there were a LOT of talented interior DL available. When we drafted a backup RB there was a super talented off ball Peyton Wilson available. When we drafted Morgan to play RG there was Graham Barton available who had more experience there and a more matching skill set. Gutes has failed so often in the draft and now he can't even sign decent FAs after watching their film for several years. I just hate the direction of this roster right now.

I also don't dislike Hobbs. We just signed a slot guy to play outside. It failed. And Bullard is better in the slot and cheaper.

Slayton or Jarran Reed. Seriously when it rains it pours. They went pass rush Aces at a time when the offenses were falling in love with running again.

[pbmax]

The team is only 3 players away from being top tier. The problem is we don't have a first next year and we have no money so I'm not sure where we get a shutdown CB not named APB or a TJ Slayton replacement. Off ball LB depth is hurting so we are going to need to draft a few instinctive guys in the 5th round, but that at least is achievable. The OL isn't going to get fixed unless Belton and Morgan both take big leaps. Then you might need to pay Jenkins to stay (reduced deal maybe?)....I keep forgetting John Williams. Can he be the answer somewhere? I loved his film.

Offensive line is 4/5 done I think for good or ill.

Morgan will be at LT. Belton will get RG unless they think Zach Tom's injuries are truly problematic. If Tom is on a prove your healthy plan then we likely get Belton with some RT snaps in camp. his contract might make that distinction irrelevant.

Monk got good reviews at center but given injury history I don't know if I trust him. I am not sure I trust Rhyan with the position either. Having center be covered by the two of them is the question of the offseason for the Packers.

Don't know what to think of Williams. Glover might be back next year on the outside but they need new backups at tackle. Rhyan would cover guard.

[bobblehead]

Offensive line is 4/5 done I think for good or ill.

Morgan will be at LT. Belton will get RG unless they think Zach Tom's injuries are truly problematic. If Tom is on a prove your healthy plan then we likely get Belton with some RT snaps in camp. his contract might make that distinction irrelevant.

Monk got good reviews at center but given injury history I don't know if I trust him. I am not sure I trust Rhyan with the position either. Having center be covered by the two of them is the question of the offseason for the Packers.

Don't know what to think of Williams. Glover might be back next year on the outside but they need new backups at tackle. Rhyan would cover guard.

I agree its 4/5 done, but I am only confident in 1/5. Belton needs to spend a ton of time in the weight room. Morgan needs to prove they didn't ruin him (I loved Morgan coming out, but I wanted him where we picked Cooper. Not sure he would have been there, but that draft was way deep at tackle). Banks has been good never great so far in his career and this was almost a lost season. Thats a lot that needs to break correctly for next years OL to be good.....and we still have a giant ?? at center.

[Joemailman]

Change is constant in the NFL. Some notable Packers will be gone. Some possibilities:

Romeo Doubs
Elgton Jenkins
Rashan Gary
Sean Rhyan
Rasheed Walker
Quay Walker
Keisean Nixon
Trevon Diggs

[pbmax]

Yesterday moved my board (imaginary) around. Much more in Doubs camp now than Walkers.

Walker has improved as a run defender and blitzer, but coverage is still an adventure for him. It was exposed multiple times yesterday.

[Deputy Nutz]

Offensive line is close to a rebuild. Morgan has been pretty awful at RT and Belton is a work in progress at guard which is disappointing for a second round pick, same even more pronounced for Morgan. Jenkins doesn't want to play center, so bringing him back will be an issue. Banks was a disappointment in free agency this year, maybe there is more in the tank in 2026 for him, but I saw a lack of effort or grit from him. Rhyan is a backup, maybe some other team will take him an use him similarly as the Packers have but he isn't worth starter money. They have been looking to replace Walker for the last three years. I think he is solid enough, good run blocker on the edge.

Gary should be cut. Too much money not to be able to win one on one blocks in this league. I watch his pass rushing camps on instagram and fully recognize he is a workout warrior that can't take practice to the game field. I could write an entire article on my reason and disappointment over Rashan Gary over the past 2 seasons.

I think the Packers have the ability to be really good with their inside linebackers. I thought Quay had his best season in Green Bay, while i think Cooper regressed a little bit this season. Packers should really work to resign Walker and not offering him his 5th year will be interesting to see how it plays out. I used to think his coverage skills really sucked, but the Packers always play such heavy zone that they are read and react off of the QB and simply put most QBs are so good with their eyes in the NFL that they will be wrong more than right.

Packers didn't address corner in the draft and only addressed the defensive line in the 4th round, 6th round, and free agency. Total lack of run stoppers in the middle. To areas that really crushed the Packers defense this season.

Parsons is a damn good player, two first round picks was a lot, but so what? Gutey has a hard time drafting worth a damn in the first round.

Golden finally showed last night why he was a first round pick.

[pbmax]

Offensive line is close to a rebuild. Morgan has been pretty awful at RT and Belton is a work in progress at guard which is disappointing for a second round pick, same even more pronounced for Morgan. Jenkins doesn't want to play center, so bringing him back will be an issue. Banks was a disappointment in free agency this year, maybe there is more in the tank in 2026 for him, but I saw a lack of effort or grit from him. Rhyan is a backup, maybe some other team will take him an use him similarly as the Packers have but he isn't worth starter money. They have been looking to replace Walker for the last three years. I think he is solid enough, good run blocker on the edge.

Gary should be cut. Too much money not to be able to win one on one blocks in this league. I watch his pass rushing camps on instagram and fully recognize he is a workout warrior that can't take practice to the game field. I could write an entire article on my reason and disappointment over Rashan Gary over the past 2 seasons.

I think the Packers have the ability to be really good with their inside linebackers. I thought Quay had his best season in Green Bay, while i think Cooper regressed a little bit this season. Packers should really work to resign Walker and not offering him his 5th year will be interesting to see how it plays out. I used to think his coverage skills really sucked, but the Packers always play such heavy zone that they are read and react off of the QB and simply put most QBs are so good with their eyes in the NFL that they will be wrong more than right.

Packers didn't address corner in the draft and only addressed the defensive line in the 4th round, 6th round, and free agency. Total lack of run stoppers in the middle. To areas that really crushed the Packers defense this season.

Parsons is a damn good player, two first round picks was a lot, but so what? Gutey has a hard time drafting worth a damn in the first round.

Golden finally showed last night why he was a first round pick.

Jenkins isn't coming back with his salary. His play at center and the injury just make it harder to imagine paying it. I doubt he is going to want to redo a contract with the Packers so he will want to be on the market if he loses the contract. The Packers need to lose two big contracts to make next year work. This is likely the first.

That isn't a solution though. The might have to have a new center next year depending somewhat on Rhyan's health.

My bet is that Morgan is the left tackle next year and Walker is leaving.

Gary is almost certainly getting cut. Some are thinking he redoes his deal. No idea if it can be managed down to reasonable without throwing bad dollars into the end of the deal. Seems unlikely but no one authoritative has weighed in yet.

Cooper was having a whale of a game against the Bears in run support. I agree he didn't show up as much this year.

Also agree with Walker improvement when moving forward. But he is a huge liability in a zone, incorrectly reading the QB eyes and not getting to his drop depth. He gets looked off his primary coverage area too much. He also seemed to be loafing in trail coverage against the Bears. Twice I thought he was hurt. Unless the price went down, I don't think he is coming back.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Offensive line is close to a rebuild. Morgan has been pretty awful at RT and Belton is a work in progress at guard which is disappointing for a second round pick, same even more pronounced for Morgan. Jenkins doesn't want to play center, so bringing him back will be an issue. Banks was a disappointment in free agency this year, maybe there is more in the tank in 2026 for him, but I saw a lack of effort or grit from him. Rhyan is a backup, maybe some other team will take him an use him similarly as the Packers have but he isn't worth starter money. They have been looking to replace Walker for the last three years. I think he is solid enough, good run blocker on the edge.

Gary should be cut. Too much money not to be able to win one on one blocks in this league. I watch his pass rushing camps on instagram and fully recognize he is a workout warrior that can't take practice to the game field. I could write an entire article on my reason and disappointment over Rashan Gary over the past 2 seasons.

I think the Packers have the ability to be really good with their inside linebackers. I thought Quay had his best season in Green Bay, while i think Cooper regressed a little bit this season. Packers should really work to resign Walker and not offering him his 5th year will be interesting to see how it plays out. I used to think his coverage skills really sucked, but the Packers always play such heavy zone that they are read and react off of the QB and simply put most QBs are so good with their eyes in the NFL that they will be wrong more than right.

Packers didn't address corner in the draft and only addressed the defensive line in the 4th round, 6th round, and free agency. Total lack of run stoppers in the middle. To areas that really crushed the Packers defense this season.

Parsons is a damn good player, two first round picks was a lot, but so what? Gutey has a hard time drafting worth a damn in the first round.

Golden finally showed last night why he was a first round pick.

S’up, Nutz. Still listening to Coldplay and showing “Chad Powers” to your players?

Excellent post. I should note that, in your absence, I warned uncool Pack fans shortly after J-Alex’s unjust release that the milksops playing corner for the Packers were gonna end up fucking up the season. Uncool Pack fans made fun of me. Who’s laughing now?

[Joemailman]

[texaspackerbacker]

If Alexander was good enough to stay, he'd be contributing for some other team. I have to ask, why didn't they play Trevon Diggs against the Bears after he seemed to play real well the previous week?

Regarding the Nutz and pbmax posts above, there are some good points and some I don't agree with. I definitely do not think Quay Walker had all that great a season. He just doesn't seem to be instinctive - a must at the position he plays. He is a liability in coverage, and many of the tackles he does make are way downfield. He seems out of position way more often than not.

Cooper did kinda regress. I tend to blame Hafley's style of D for that. I'm not saying Hafley was worse as a DC than what came before, just that his style didn't seem to make maximum use of Cooper. When Parsons went down, I woulda like to have seen Cooper or Quay change position completely to be the nearest facsimile we had to Parsons - hyper-athletic. Quay in particular would be good that way, maybe even when Parsons comes back, as he can just use that athleticism rather than read and react - which he hasn't been very good at. Cooper, paired with McDuffie or Hopper or some new guy would be a lot better at ILB/playing instinctively. As much as I'd like to see this radical position change, I don't expect it to happen.

I have to reluctantly and sadly agree about pulling the plug on Gary. He's "warning track power" - almost getting there but not quite personified.

Belton is the only O Lineman other than Tom that I have a high opinion of. I have always said, O Line strength is way less of a factor in winning than the skilled positions - where the Packers are strong. I also agree with the obvious - Banks has been a colossal waste of money. Thus, I'd like to see some upgrade, but I don't consider that as important as some other things - Corner for sure, strength in the D Line also, given the difference when Wyatt got hurt. For the first half against the Bears, our D Line somehow showed a little bit of strength, but in the second half, they reverted to near pathetically weak. Hafley shoulda been able to better compensate for the apparently weak personnel there.

[ThunderDan]

Was just playing around at OverTheCap.com

If we cut Jenkins and Diggs we save $34,000,000 in cap space. Diggs will be cut, I am sure they try to sign him to new prove it deal for 2026. Diggs cost us $15,000,000 against the cap in 2026 and nothing to cut him. Acquiring Diggs puts us $10,000,000 over the cap for 2026.

If we cut Gary, Nixon and McManus, all players I can easily say aren't worth the cost right now, we save another $18,000,000.

That would get us to $42,000,000 in cap room which is probably enough to sign the guys we want back and maybe 1 other above average FA signing.

[call_me_ishmael]

I recall in the off-season folks talking about how 56 was going to be the best blitzer in the NFL. What happened to that?

I think it's safe to the say the Packers have a lot of holes and maybe we over-estimated the roster in the off-season.

I tend to agree that every spot on the OL is up for grabs except for wherever Zach Tom wants to play. I do think they'll give Morgan every chance at LT - maybe he will develop into a good player there.

I think it goes without saying that the player acquisition in the off-season will be heavy on the OL, DL, and CB positions. I think they're in decent shape everywhere else.