The Green Bay Packers primarily build up their roster through the NFL Draft. GM Brian Gutekunst learned well from predecessors Ted Thompson and Ron Wolf who also primarily built their teams through the draft. It’s been successful for the Packers for more than three decades. But that doesn’t mean the Packers are never active in the free agent market. This offseason should be one of those years when the Pack is active in free agency during the offseason.

The Packers Past Use of Free Agency

The Packers tend to sign major free agents in bunches. Their last big splash on the open market came in 2019 when they added four big ticket free agents that all became starters for the team. Gutekunst signed edge rushers Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith, safety Adrian Amos, and offensive tackle Billy Turner that year. All four helped the Packers improve from 6-9-1 in 2018 to 13-3 in 2019.

Since then, the salary cap kept the Packers from being able to make big signings for the team. Aaron Rodgers’ huge and poorly structured extension hurt the team’s cap space. The dead cap hit for Rodgers came off the books after last season which will help the Packers this year.

In the past, the Packers have signed some key free agents dating back to Reggie White, the biggest prize of the NFL’s first true free agent class back in 1993. Other significant free agent additions include future Hall of Famers Charles Woodson and Julius Peppers.

What Packers GM Brian Gutekunst Had to Say About Free Agency This Offseason

In an interview with Larry McCarren on the Packers official site, Gutekunst indicated the Packers will be active.

“There are good players in this free agency class, and certainly we are going to be in the mix on some of those things,” Gutekunst explained.

Gute also added, “For me, it’s really about finding the best overall football players. There’s only so many difference makers in the National Football League, so if you have a chance to acquire a difference maker, regardless of position, you’re going to be in that market. To me, it’s more about what kind of quality players and people can you bring to our locker room to create the healthy competition we need for our team to move forward?”

Another Reason the Packers Should Be Active

In addition to the fact that Rodgers’ dead cap money is fully off the books, the Packers have other reasons to be active in free agency. For one, the salary cap itself has gone up by $30.6 million throughout the entire league. That gives every team including the Packers more money to work with.

“It’s very helpful when it goes up,” Gutekunst admitted. “It can’t go high enough. But, at the same time, it’s really about the decisions we make moving forward and how we structure some of those things. So, the news was good to hear, and I think that will help us with some flexibility and it may alter some decisions that we make and how we go about it, but overall, I don’t think it’s going to change our approach too much.”

Green Bay also got a cap adjustment of more than $5.5 million based on incentive bonuses that were not met last season.

The Packers Needs Heading into Free Agency

The Packers also have some glaring needs now that could encourage them to add a veteran via free agency. All three of the team’s top safeties are all scheduled to be unrestricted free agents later this month when the new league year starts. That leaves a big void at the position.

In addition, the status of running backs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon is unknown. The Packers have asked Jones to restructure his deal to reduce his cap hit for the coming season. Jones already took a pay cut last offseason. If a new agreement can not be reached, the Packers may release their top running back.

Dillon is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent and is not expected to return to Green Bay. If both runners do not stay with the team, there is a glaring hole and running back.

Finally, the Packers are switching to a different defense under Jeff Hafley that will feature four down linemen and either two or three linebackers. The team may look to add a linebacker who could fit into the new defense.

For all these reasons, this could be the most active free agency period the Packers have seen since 2019.

 

 

Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers

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