Official 2026 Free Agency/Offseason/Non-Draft Thread

[Joemailman]

Packers 2026 Unrestricted Free Agents with 2025 cap hit

Rasheed Walker 3.4 million
Kingsley Enagbare 3.4 million
Romeo Doubs 3.6 million
Kristian Welch 458,000
Nick Niemann 848,000
Malik Willis 1.4 million
John Fitzpatrick 1.4 million
Quay Walker 4.4 million
Sean Rhyan 1.6 million

Restricted Free Agents

Malik Heath 1 million
Brenton Cox 1 million
Christopher Brooks 1 million
Josh Whyle 515,000
Emanuel Wilson 1 million
Darian Kinnard 1 million
Zayne Anderson 1 million

Exclusive Rights Free Agents

Kamal Hadden 840,000
Donovan Jennings 840,000
Lucas Havrisik 693,000
Bo Melton 1 million
Arron Mosby 515,000

[Patler]

Silverstein had an article mostly about the possibility of resigning Willis. He discussed with 3 NFC personnel guys who have had reasons to study the Packers. They concluded that Willis is not likely to be viewed as a challenger for a starting position, but as a high-quality, experienced backup. Others in that category get around $5-8 million for next year.

One of the three was willing to offer opinions on others:

Quay Walker - has played well and is likely to get $12-15 million/year. Interesting, because GB did not pick up his 5th year option for $14.7M.

Rasheed Walker - weak year for tackles, which is good for Walker. He will be overpaid (as are others). Mentioned some not real good ones, including one who may even lose his starting spot, getting around $17-20M/year.

Romeo Doubs - $11-14M.

Sean Ryan - really depends on how he finishes the year. If he plays OK at center, and is looked at as a low-end starter or reserve he could get $5-7 million. If he does not finish the year well, and is viewed as a backup only, maybe $3 million.

[Joemailman]

This is reportedly a weak year for Centers in the draft, which could increase the chances of Packers signing Rhyan if he plays reasonably well the rest of the season.

[bobblehead]

This is reportedly a weak year for Centers in the draft, which could increase the chances of Packers signing Rhyan if he plays reasonably well the rest of the season.

I read the same. I haven't looked at much college football this year, but its a bad year for the packers to need a center apparently. Looking at the list above and only focusing on UFA, Walker should have been extended in the summer. He is a starting LT who isn't a tire fire. They get paid. My best guess is that the only guy we bring back is Willis if at all possible. GB has a history of taking every other year off of free agency so they get their comp picks. We'll get several for these losses, but the talent loss to the team will add up.

Rasheed Walker 3.4 million
Kingsley Enagbare 3.4 million
Romeo Doubs 3.6 million
Malik Willis 1.4 million
Quay Walker 4.4 million
Sean Rhyan 1.6 million

We probably lose 5 of these 6. All are contributors if not stars and not just so easily replaced. Imagine what last season looks like if it were clifford instead of willis. Quay is a very average off ball LB but he is starting material. Doubs seems replaceable because of the depth at WR, yet no one has been able to supplant his starting role. Rhyan is a backup who isn't a tire fire. Enagbare might be better than Gary to be honest. Yea, this is going to hurt. It might not be so bad if we hadn't botched so many high picks over the years. Tell me how much better Brian Burns would look in Green Bay than Gary. Or Creed Humphry. Or Peyton Wilson. I could go on and on, but I've made my disdain for Gutes pretty clear. He is good at unearthing talent in the later rounds, but he thinks he's way too cute in the early parts of the draft.

[texaspackerbacker]

It's unclear whether bobblehead is saying we will or should lose those guys he mentions, or if those are the ones he would like to keep.

I sincerely hope neither Walker is signed by the Packers for anywhere near Patler's figures. Both of them are very mediocre at their positions. Enagbare is good but replaceable. I think they get him back for a little bit more than that $3.4 million cap hit number - multi-year, bigger money but lower hit. I'd really like to see them keep Doubs, and I don't think it will cost that $11-14 million figure - cap hit way less anyway. Rhyan actually hasn't been as bad at Center as he was at Guard, actually not worse in run blocking than Jenkins at Center. I think they keep him pretty cheap. Willis is a damn good backup, but if he gets too expensive, I think they let him go. Backup QBs - either young or old - are not that hard to find. I disagree with the idea that Clifford or somebody else would have for sure done a lot worse than Willis last year.

I also disagree that the Packers need to try too hard to find a Center. They are big on cross training. I think they go that route - despite the fact that Jenkins has kinda floundered at Center.

[pbmax]

They did not sign Walker because they were trying to get him extended while not committing to a fully guaranteed (tag like) number for the 5th year option. Whether they were avoiding the guarantee or trying to make the entire deal a little cheaper overall is hard to parse. Could have been both.

Nothing but guessing but here we go:

Quay Walker - I think they sign him but not getting it done over the summer makes this perhaps less likely than it once looked. There is a price they won't pay an ILB with Cooper and Hopper on the team. They paid Campbell, they'd like to pay Walker too.

Malik Willis - they would love to sign him but someone will take a risk on him and give him something closer to replacement starter money. The Commanders could have used him for instance. Falcons too.

Romeo Doubs - He is Love's favorite (though Reed seems to fill that role at times too) and his hands were (possibly past tense) good enough to trust him with 50/50 balls. He could be back but not at a premium salary. The better Watson plays, the less money he sees from the Packers. Lots of pressure on Golden and Reed next year. And I LOVE Watson but man is he feast or famine on his health.

Sean Rhyan - Patler's paraphrase of Silverstein's source is likely accurate. He's got a tryout at center. He won't get top shelf starting center money and he could be a bargain if a capable starter and cover you at backup Guard too.

Rasheed Walker - he is going to leave and get paid I'd think. Morgan is moving to left tackle. Not to mention Belton being around.

Kingsley Enagbare - Nope

In this scenario, Packers need a Guard prospect, WR depth and cornerbacks. If no Walker, put ILB down too.

[Patler]

Here's some interesting facts:

On average, NFL teams sign about 1.5 players to 2nd contracts from each draft class.

Ron Wolf had 10 drafts from which 20 players signed second-contracts in GB.

Ted Thompson had 13 drafts from which 21 players signed second contracts in GB.

Gutekunst has had four drafts reach the end of their rookie contracts and 5 players signed second contracts with GB. However, two from the 2022 draft class (being discussed in this thread) have already signed second contracts, Zach Tom and Christian Watson (Watson just for 1 year), and Devontae Wyatt will be on the 5th year extension. The 2022 draft class could easily end up with 3 signing legit 2nd contracts, maybe even more but that would be unusual and require difficult cap manipulations.

[Patler]

My guess is this; when all is said and done, from the 2022 draft class GB will sign Tom (already done), Christian Watson (an extension to his one-year 2nd contract), Wyatt and Quay Walker to 2nd contracts. The rest will sign elsewhere; GB will be very inactive in free agent signings this offseason; and the Packers will get decent compensatory picks for Rasheed Walker and Romeo Doubs and another one, maybe two, lower compensatory picks for the others in the 2027 draft

[pbmax]

Here's some interesting facts:

On average, NFL teams sign about 1.5 players to 2nd contracts from each draft class.

Ron Wolf had 10 drafts from which 20 players signed second-contracts in GB.

Ted Thompson had 13 drafts from which 21 players signed second contracts in GB.

Gutekunst has had four drafts reach the end of their rookie contracts and 5 players signed second contracts with GB. However, two from the 2022 draft class (being discussed in this thread) have already signed second contracts, Zach Tom and Christian Watson (Watson just for 1 year), and Devontae Wyatt will be on the 5th year extension. The 2022 draft class could easily end up with 3 signing legit 2nd contracts, maybe even more but that would be unusual and require difficult cap manipulations.

How many total picks has Gute had in those four?

[pbmax]

How many total picks has Gute had in those four?

Ted stepped back in the 2018 offseason and Gute was hired in Jan of 2018. If that is his first draft, then:

2018 - 11 picks
2019 - 8 picks
2020 - 9 picks
2021 - 9 picks

Total 37 picks

[texaspackerbacker]

I like the little bit I've seen of Hopper more than the lot I've seen of Quay Walker. I disagree with the "nope" on Enagbare unless somebody way overpays for him. He has been good at rushing the QB, and he's shown pretty good ability against the run this year too.

I've never liked Rasheed Walker. Assuming he does get any kind of a decent offer from some other team, let him go. I like Belton better than Morgan, but maybe both should be starting tackles. Jenkins, Tom, and Rhyan have all played Center. Using those three and Banks if he shapes up a little bit at the three interior O Line positions would be good. Get rid of Monk and probably draft the usual couple of mid-round O Linemen, preferably road grader types.

Try to keep Willis, but don't try too hard. As I said earlier, decent backup QBs - both old and young - aren't that hard to find.

[pbmax]

I like the little bit I've seen of Hopper more than the lot I've seen of Quay Walker. I disagree with the "nope" on Enagbare unless somebody way overpays for him. He has been good at rushing the QB, and he's shown pretty good ability against the run this year too.

I've never liked Rasheed Walker. Assuming he does get any kind of a decent offer from some other team, let him go. I like Belton better than Morgan, but maybe both should be starting tackles. Jenkins, Tom, and Rhyan have all played Center. Using those three and Banks if he shapes up a little bit at the three interior O Line positions would be good. Get rid of Monk and probably draft the usual couple of mid-round O Linemen, preferably road grader types.

Try to keep Willis, but don't try too hard. As I said earlier, decent backup QBs - both old and young - aren't that hard to find.

Jenkins won't be coming back. His deal is too backloaded and cap expensive starting next year. Highly doubt he agrees with Packers to a new deal before a release.

[Joemailman]

Packers would save 10 million on the cap by cutting/trading Gary before June 1. 19 million after June 1.

They would save 20 million by cutting/trading Jenkins any time.

[ThunderDan]

Packers are $10,000,000 under the cap for 2026 and only have 41 players under contract.

Jenkins is gone. So that gets us to $30,000,000 in cap space needing to sign our free agents and draft class.

The Packers will only be able to sign mid-tier deals. No one else is getting a top of the position contract.

Also in 2026, right now we are finally down to only $17,000,000 in dead cap fron the Clark trade. We have $50,000,000 in dead cap space this year and I think will the ARod issues we have been close to $100,000,000 in dead cap before.

[texaspackerbacker]

Of course, the cap will go up. And there are always ways to deal with those cap issues - restructuring, etc.

They ought to be able to do better than Jenkins as he played this year. Jenkins of last season, they would and should find a way. It kinda depends on which they think is the real him.

They ought to be able to find somebody as good as Gary for the same money, but I have a hunch they will resign him on a cap-friendly deal.