Green Bay Packers 2024 NFL offseason primer: Franchise has found itself another QB worth building around
Green Bay Packers' 2023 season: 9-8, lost in divisional round
Overview: Midway through the season, the jury remained out on third-year quarterback Jordan Love. A 6-2 finished capped by a coming out party against the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs put any lingering concerns to rest. Love is the quarterback of the present and future in Green Bay, and general manager Brian Gutekunst is ready to talk long-term extension.
Love's surrounded by an impressive cadre of young receiving talent, leaving the Packers to look elsewhere this offseason to fill needs. Green Bay is quickly maneuvering to address those needs on the offensive line and in the defensive backfield. But the future looks bright.
Key free agents
RB A.J. Dillon
RG Jon Runyan Jr.
CB/return specialist Keisean Nixon (re-signing)
FS Darnell Savage
SS Jonathan Owens
Who's in/out: Safety Darnell Savage is already gone to the Jaguars in free agency after the Packers declined to offer him an extension. But the team quickly added a replacement by striking a deal with free agent safety Xavier McKinney. After the Packers added star running back Josh Jacobs and cut ties with Aaron Jones, they may choose to keep Dillon as a complementary back. Guard Jon Runyan has already reached a deal with the Giants after he lost reps to second-year pro Sean Rhyan last season with Green Bay.
Key free agent needs
Safety
Offensive line
Linebacker
Cornerback
Why the holes? Savage is gone but McKinney is in, which addresses one half of the team's question at safety. With Owens also slated for free agency, the Packers could be replacing both starting safeties from last season. Likely movement at left tackle (again, see below) alongside Runyan's departure makes protecting Jordan Love another top priority, though the free-agent market is scarce.
Do they have the money?
They have more than they thought, given the NFL's record rise in this year's cap. The Packers have $10.9 million in cap space, per Spotrac. But the Packers may still end up with some tough decisions to make with some of their highly paid players.
Notable cuts
RB Aaron Jones
OT David Bakhtiari
Why they might be gone: After Green Bay reached a somewhat surprising deal with RB Josh Jacobs, that cleared the path for cutting Jones. The team replaces one top-end RB with another. Jones' release frees up $5.2 million in cap space. Bakhtiari, a five-time All-Pro, announced his release from the Packers just before free agency began. He hasn't been the same or even available since tearing his ACL in 2020. He's played in just 13 games the last three seasons, and his release clears up $21 million in cap space.
2023 NFLPA report card
Draft picks
1st round: No. 25
2nd round: No. 41 (from Jets)
2nd round: No. 58
3rd round: No. 88
3rd round: No. 91 (from Bills)
4th round: No. 125
5th round: No. 168 (compensatory)
6th round: No. 201
6th round: No. 219 (compensatory)
7th round: No. 245
7th round: No. 255 (compensatory)
Good draft fit
Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton
Why him? With Bakhtiari gone and free agent options at the position slim, left tackle becomes a top priority in the draft. Protecting Love is paramount, and Guyton has the size and athleticism to anchor the most important position on the line for years to come.
What can move the fantasy football needle this offseason?
Green Bay has apparently found another generational solution at quarterback, a horrifying development for fans of every other NFC North team. The Packers also brilliantly rebuilt their receiving corps over the past two drafts and now may have the deepest group of pass-catchers in the league. — Andy Behrens
