Re-sign, let go and prediction: Packers LB Isaiah McDuffie

Paul Bretl | 2/13/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — In the coming weeks, I will take a closer look at the Packers pending free agents in my ‘Re-sign or Let Go and Prediction’ series.

For each free agent I will make a case as to why the Packers should re-sign them and I’ll also discuss why the Packers would let them walk and play elsewhere. Then at the end, I’ll make my prediction.

This will be my third offseason doing this series and through the first two, I’ve gotten 24 of the 27 predictions correct.

To kick things off, let’s start with linebacker Isaiah McDuffie.

Why the Packers will re-sign Isaiah McDuffie

McDuffie was a key figure in the Packers’ defense last season. His 728 snaps were the second-most at linebacker behind only Quay Walker. And while by the end of the season, Edgerrin Cooper was starting to see more playing time than him, McDuffie was still cemented in the lineup as the Packers third linebacker when lined up in their 4-3 base defense.

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Where McDuffie is at his best is against the run and at the line of scrimmage. He can shed blocks, fill gaps, and has the speed to flow sideline-to-sideline on boundary runs. McDuffie has also been a very reliable tackler throughout his career.

Beyond the defensive contributions, he’s been a regular special teams contributor for the Packers as well. This past season, McDuffie played 146 special teams snaps and did so across five different phases. In 2023, when he saw fewer snaps on defense, McDuffie played 222 special teams snaps.

“I think he’s one of the toughest guys on our team,” said Jeff Hafley last season. “Another guy who gives everything he has every play. He studies it. If you ever want to turn on one clip and look for a guy running to the ball, turn on any clip he’s in and you’ll find him when the whistles blown trying to take the ball away.”

If McDuffie is the third or fourth linebacker on a depth chart, which became the case in the second half of the 2024 season, you have pretty strong unit. He’s a special teams contributor, can step in and play significant snaps on defense when needed, and has a defined role in Jeff Hafley’s system as the strong-side linebacker when in base.

In addition to what we see on Sundays, throughout the week, McDuffie is the same player and person each week when it comes to his preparation and is always going to be flying around on the practice field. Having a player like McDuffie will raise the floor of the linebacker position group.

“He’s a guy you can count on and I would echo what Jeff says,” said former Packers linebackers coach Anthony Campanile, “he is what’s right with football. It’s still about being tough, doing your job, and he’s going to come every day coming to practice 1,000 miles an hour. You can’t wear that guy out. He’s a very prideful person, he really is a prideful person. He’s a guy like away from football you like to hang around because he’s a guy you can trust and he’s going to do his job and do the right thing all the time. It’s important to him, it’s super important to him.”

Why the Packers won’t re-sign Isaiah McDuffie

When relied on heavily on defense last season, we saw opposing quarterbacks hone in on McDuffie in coverage over the middle of the field. According to Pro Football Focus, McDuffie allowed a completion rate of 85% last season at 10.5 yards per catch. Despite being targeted 64 times, he had only three pass breakups and no interceptions. The quarterbacks’ passer rating when targeting McDuffie was also a whopping 129.6.

This includes a two-week stretch against Miami and Detroit–two offenses that attack the middle of the field heavily–where McDuffie was targeted 23 times in total and allowed 20 receptions for 209 yards and two scores. In a throwing league, if you’re the Packers, the opportunity to improve coverage-wise at the linebacker position beyond Walker and Cooper could be on their radar.

But going beyond the on-field play, because as highlighted above, I do believe there is value that McDuffie brings as the third or fourth linebacker option. The Packers did just use a third-round pick on Ty’Ron Hopper, who saw significant special teams snaps as a rookie, but was the fifth linebacker on the depth chart defensively.

So, knowing that Walker and Cooper will be the nickel linebackers and that Hopper is entering his second NFL season, are the Packers willing to hand out a new three or four-year deal, utilizing a chunk of cap space on the third linebacker and potentially prolonging Hopper’s learning curve, who like any young player needs reps right now.

I also believe that if the Packers are open to bringing McDuffie back, he could get a bigger contract elsewhere than what Green Bay would be willing to sign him to as their third or fourth option.

Prediction: McDuffie signs elsewhere

I expect McDuffie to sign with a new team this offseason. The main reasons behind that are the ones just discussed. Again, on the field, I think there is certainly value and more pros to having McDuffie on the team than not.

However, as we all know, there are other other factors. Hopper needs the opportunity to grow, and I don’t know how well that happens with McDuffie on the team. I do think McDuffie can earn more elsewhere, and given his place on this team as the third or fourth linebacker, that’s not a spot if you’re Green Bay that you’re going to put additional salary cap resources to, particularly with a second-year third-round selection already on the roster.

“Hop’s honestly, he’s had a bunch of progress,” said Campanile late in the season. “I think he understands it a little bit more than he did earlier on. I know he does. You see him in practice showing up, flying around a little bit, and then on special teams he’s made some plays.

“He’s got a few snaps in there on defense, played a little bit at the end of the Seattle game. But he’s a physical guy. I think he’s getting better every day, I really do. I’m excited about him. I’m excited where his progress is right now, and I think he’s in a good spot. I do. I think he’s progressed.”

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