The Green Bay Packers have been active in free agency so far but have yet to make any signings that would be considered earth shattering. Like all NFL teams, the Packers are trying to address their biggest needs and thereby to improve the team. While GM Brian Gutekunst is likely not finished, he has at least been addressing an important area of need already this offseason. He still has more work to do in this and other areas in free agency, the draft, and possibly in trades.
The Packers Are Addressing An Important Area of Need: An Important Addition
The Packers announced the signing of return specialist and wide receiver, Skyy Moore. The signing was designed to boost the Packers struggling return game. Last season, the Packers ranked 21st in the NFL in kick returns and dead last, or 32nd on punt returns.
The Chiefs selected Moore in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The former Western Michigan star spent three seasons with the Chiefs before joining the San Francisco 49ers for the 2025 campaign.
Moore hasn’t made a big impact as a receiver. In four seasons, he caught a total of 48 passes for 581 yards and one touchdown. In the last two seasons, he’s caught just five passes total. However, he can step in and play receiver in a pinch.
As a return specialist, the 5’10”, 195-pound Pennsylvania native has been much more productive. He averaged 11.6 yards per punt return on 25 runbacks last year. As a kick returner, he averaged 27.5-yards on 33 kick returns. Both numbers would be better than what the Packers return specialists had last season.
Impact of the Moore Signing
The Moore signing will help the Packers in several ways. Obviously, it means we will not see Matthew Golden returning punts anymore. He struggled in that role as a rookie. Now, he can concentrate on being a receiver only. Romeo Doubs served as the team’s primary punt returner last season, but he will not be back in 2026 after signing a free agent deal with the New England Patriots.
Savion Williams did a decent job as a kick returner, but now he can also focus on being a wide receiver. He and Bo Melton can provide depth as kick returners while focusing on their primary positions.
Hopefully, the Packers will have more favorable field position over the course of the season which would certainly help Jordan Love and the Green Bay offense.
It also means that Keisean Nixon, who remains the team’s most talented and proven return specialist, will not be the primary kick returner in 2026. Last season, Nixon essentially told the team he didn’t want to return kicks anymore as he wanted to concentrate on playing cornerback. That appears likely to continue next season.
The Packers Are Addressing An Important Area of Need: Other Special Teams Moves
In addition to adding a return specialist, Gutekunst also re-signed two core special teams players. The Packers announced they were bringing back both Nick Niemann and Kristian Welch. The two are officially listed as linebackers, but they play almost exclusively on special teams.
Niemann signed a one-year deal and will carry a cap hit of a little more than $2.11 million according to spotrac.com. Meanwhile, Welch signed a new deal earlier this week according to his agent, but terms have yet to be disclosed.
Statistically, the Packers kick and punt return coverage units were improved a bit last season, although they still can be better. Bringing back these two core special teams players shows a commitment to special teams. That being said, the Packers need to do more to improve their overall special teams units. New special teams coordinator Cam Achord needs more talent to help improve the special teams which have cost the Packers at least three games last year and many other games in recent seasons.
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