GREEN BAY — The Packers made the move that everyone has been waiting for–GM Brian Gutekunst has signed a free-agent wide receiver, although I’m going to guess the addition is coming later than most would have liked.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Packers are signing receiver Mecole Hardman to a one-year deal. At this time, contract details have not been reported.
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Hardman is a former second-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2019 NFL draft out of Georgia. Hardman has spent the majority of his career in Kansas City, outside of the first half of the 2023 season, when he was with the New York Jets, before being traded back to the Chiefs that same year.
Over the past two seasons, Hardman has played a smaller role in the Chiefs’ offense, totaling 32 receptions on 43 targets at 8.4 yards per catch. He did miss some time this past season due to injury.
His best season came in 2021 when Hardman caught 67 passes for 814 yards with three scores. During his time with the Chiefs, Hardman has plenty of big-game experience, and includes catching the game-winning touchdown in the 2023 Super Bowl.
“I’ve played with Mecole for a long time. He’s always ready for the moment, and he’s someone that continues to practice hard and get better,” said Patrick Mahomes of Hardman. “And obviously, that receiver rotation, we were bouncing around a lot of guys all year long, and those guys just continue to work. Just like the last Super Bowl, you never know who it’s gonna be, but it’s about everybody being ready for the moment and he was he was ready for that moment in a couple big plays.”
Hardman, who can play both from the slot and the boundary, possessed 4.33 speed coming out of Georgia–an element this Packers’ offense needs with Christian Watson sidelined. However, even during his productive 2021 season, only 13 of Hardman’s targets came 20 yards downfield.
Instead, he got the ball frequently within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage or behind it on designed touches where his speed and YAC ability could take over, which includes 39 career carries. So, this addition may not solve the Packers’ need for a vertical presence in the offense.
This addition to the receiver room provides added depth and boosts the competition for snaps within it. However, this signing isn’t the cure-all when it comes to finding more consistency and explosive plays in the passing game. As I described recently, this is one of those additions that increases the competition, and the hope is that, in turn, it increases the urgency at the position and elevates the play of that unit.
Internal development at wide receiver is still going to have to be the catalyst when it comes to getting more steady play from this unit.
“You’d like to have somebody move into that space,” Gutekunst said of having a No. 1 receiver, “but, at the same time, I’d like multiple guys to be able to move into that space. What I’m looking for is guys that, when they’re called upon, can perform at a high level. I think we have a lot of guys that have done that.”
While Hardman had a relatively small role on offense for the Chiefs recently, his greatest impact came has a return man, where he was a second-team All-Pro in 2019.
More recently, during the 2024 season, Hardman had five kick return attempts and averaged 26.4 yards per return. He also had 20 punt return attempts, averaging 10.2 yards per return. For some context, Hardman ranked 37th in yards per kick return league-wide and 17th in yards per punt attempt out of 45 eligible return men.
“He’s a dynamic player,” Chiefs’ special teams coordinator Dave Toub said of Hardman in 2023. “He’s the fastest player. He’ll be the fastest player on our team now, as soon as he got here. So it’s that breakaway speed ability.”
At the NFL combine, Gutekunst said that he wanted multiple options at kick returner, which Hardman now provides. We don’t know what the future holds at the return position for Keisean Nixon, who after the season, said he wanted to focus solely on playing cornerback or even Jayden Reed, who had his ups and downs on punt duties.
Not surprisingly, given how the Packers operate and how Gutekunst goes about constructing the roster, this is a signing that gives them options. Hardman creates added competition at receiver and depth at the position while also providing the Packers with another option on the kick and punt return units.
This is also a signing that in no way should impact how the Packers go about addressing the receiver position in the NFL draft.
As we wonder what’s next at WR and how that unit can give the passing game stability, perhaps that’s not Plan A. That’s the hope, but maybe we see another shift on offense this season for the Packers to provide that boost.
GREEN BAY — Is there another shift coming to the Green Bay Packers’ offense this season? Given how free agency has played out, that could be telling us that’s the case.
We already saw a shift take place last season with the Packers’ greater reliance on the running game with Josh Jacobs in the backfield. And not only did we see the run game frequently be the catalyst for success on offense, but how the Packers ran the ball changed as well. Rather than being a heavy outside zone running team, which has been a staple of the offense under Matt LaFleur, we instead saw more shotgun runs and a gap scheme blocking because it fit Jacobs’ skill set well.
“I think coaching is, yeah, you have a philosophy of what you want to do and a foundation of what you want to do, but you’d better not be so stubborn that you just – this is what we’re going to do – if your pieces don’t necessarily match. I think that’s good coaching – putting your players in the best position possible,” LaFleur said after the season.
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The addition of Aaron Banks and the big money spent along the offensive line tells us that the Packers are going to continue leaning into the run game and on Jacobs. This, in turn, can help open up opportunities through the passing game by staying ahead of the sticks and in manageable down-and-distances, where the entire playbook is open to LaFleur, along with setting up play-action as well.
Banks has been at his best during his career as a run-blocker, and as steady as the Packers’ run game was last season with Jacobs, if there is an area of opportunity for that unit, it’s in generating more explosive running plays.
As the Packers search for more consistency in the passing game, the run game can continue to play a key role in fostering that needed element. However, there’s only so much a strong run game can provide and, ultimately, the pass-catchers are the ones who have to elevate the passing game.
As I detailed recently, addressing the receiver position via free agency or trade was never going to be a likely path for the Packers from a roster-building standpoint. Adding competition through the draft, which hopefully raises the level of urgency among the receiver room, and therefore the level of play, is how this unit is going to have to improve.
Now, of course, that is certainly not a foolproof plan when it comes to getting more consistent play in the passing game. Banking on internal development is what the Packers planned on taking place last season, but instead, we saw regression at the receiver position.
So this leads me back to where we started and what this year’s offensive shift could be for the Packers, which is seeing a lot more of Tucker Kraft in the passing game. Getting Kraft involved more is something that LaFleur already acknowledged needs to happen in 2025.
“100%,” said LaFleur on Tuesday when asked if Kraft can have a George Kittle or Travis Kelce-like impact in the Packers’ offense, “and I think that’s on us to make sure we find him and feature him because he is, I mean, when he gets the ball in his hands, you feel him. So, if there’s an area that we gotta do a better job on, I would say featuring the tight end.”
Kraft had 70 targets and 55 receptions this past season, so it’s not as if he was forgotten about in the passing game. He also led this Packers team in touchdowns as well. With that said, there were also nine games where he had three or fewer targets, and that’s a small role for such an impactful presence, especially one who LaFleur believes can have a Kittle or Kelce-like impact on this Packers team. Among all tight ends in 2024, Kraft ranked 17th in targets.
Featuring Kraft more within the offense isn’t only about giving him more targets, but that also includes moving him around the formation more to give the defense different looks and to help create mismatches pre-snap. It also means having him attack different levels of the field, rather than mostly being targeted around the line of scrimmage, along with being the first or second read for Jordan Love more often.
Two areas where the passing game has to improve this upcoming season are in generating more explosive plays and finding more consistency, which not only means fewer dropped passes but more refined route running and attention to detail. Both of which–big plays and consistency–are two elements Kraft has provided this offense.
“I talked about playing with violence and finishing and just being an (expletive)-hole out there,” said Kraft after the season. “I think you turn the film on, you’re gonna see ‘85’ all over the field, just doing that. I’m just gonna come back and bring it again in 2025. You guys are gonna see the same thing, same goals I want to set out. I want to be the best blocking tight end in the NFL while also being that guy. I want to be the guy in Year 3. I have goals and aspirations.”
Of note when it comes to getting Kraft more involved in the passing game, part of that equation is the Packers needing to have a reliable blocking presence at the tight end behind him on the depth chart to handle those responsibilities.
Naturally, this offseason, the focus has been on the receiver position and how the Packers get more out of that unit in 2025 after the passing game sputtered down the stretch last season. And without a doubt, improved play has to happen here. Unfortunately, that’s not a given either, particularly when relying on a so-so draft class at the receiver position to provide that competition and spark to help elevate the play of this group.
So when it comes to getting more out of the passing game this season, I don’t know that Plan A is the receivers taking a big step forward. Obviously, that’s the hope–but hope isn’t a plan either. I think, potentially, Plan A is a heavy dose of Jacobs and Kraft with the offense built around those two, and if the receivers make those needed strides, we will see this unit morph as the season progresses.
After the first wave of NFL free agency, the Packers added at CB and IOL. But what about the WR and DL positions? What's next here?
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The first wave of NFL free agency has passed, with the free agent market mostly picked apart at this point. The Packers would sign cornerback Nate Hobbs and guard Aaron Banks, but what about the wide receiver and defensive line positions?
Along with cornerback, from the outside perspective anyway, wide receiver and the defensive line were the two other biggest perceived needs that the Packers had. Although, by GM Brian Gutekunst’s actions, internally, the offensive line was on that list as well.
But here we sit, one week after the NFL’s legal tampering period opened and with many of the top available players now signed, the receiver and defensive line positions are still unaddressed for the Packers. So what’s next at those position groups?
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Right, wrong, or indifferent, the wide receiver market never truly shaped up as one that was conducive for Gutekunst to make a splash, given his roster-building philosophy.
As Gutekunst described after the season, when it comes to making a big trade, it’s not only draft capital that is being sent away, but the team is also losing out on young, ascending players who come with relatively inexpensive rookie deals. In return, the team is getting an established presence, but with that comes a hefty contract that now must fit into the long-term salary cap plans, which could require some maneuvering and potentially impact roster building down the road.
“You’d better be right,” said Gutekunst when asked about trading a high draft pick for a player. “When you trade a high pick for a veteran player, you’re trading a young, really good contract for a player who’s proven but is probably expensive.
“So you’re giving up a pick and salary-cap space. So I think you’ve got to weigh that. And if it’s the right player, if you feel like he can be a dynamic player who can change your football team, I think you’ve got to consider that, because there’s not many of those guys out there. But I think you have to also understand what you’re giving up.”
When it comes to the free agent market, while there is a lot of production out there at the receiver position, it’s also a lot of players who are nearing or beyond 30 years old. Which, again, right, wrong, or indifferent, doesn’t appear to be a path that Gutekunst wants to explore, particularly when it comes to handing out a decent-sized deal in order to land that player.
Realistically, no true WR1 was going to swoop in and lift the Packers’ wide receiver room for the reasons mentioned. Instead, it was always going to have to be competition that was the catalyst for improved play and fostered the urgency Gutekunst hoped to see, which in theory, could then elevate the play of that entire room.
Going down this path certainly doesn’t guarantee success, but it appears to be the best option that the Packers have at this time, given how Gutekunst wants to build out the roster, and so the draft was always the most likely avenue when it came to adding to the receiver position.
“You’d like to have somebody move into that space,” Gutekunst said of having a No. 1 receiver, “but, at the same time, I’d like multiple guys to be able to move into that space. What I’m looking for is guys that, when they’re called upon, can perform at a high level. I think we have a lot of guys that have done that.”
The same could be said for the defensive line unit. This is a position that the Packers have already invested fairly heavily into from a salary cap perspective. Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark are both top-four on the team in salary cap hits this season, not to mention a decision about Devonte Wyatt’s future has to be made soon as well.
That important factor, to some degree, probably had some impact on Gutekunst’s willingness to spend on the defensive line in free agency. This is also an incredibly deep defensive line draft class. So when it comes to adding to the roster at this position, if the choice is between a veteran with a hefty cap hit or a high-upside draft pick on a rookie deal, we all know what Gutekunst would prefer.
“I think you’re always looking with pass rushers, you can never have enough,” Gutekunst said after the season. “And I thought there were times this year we did that we were able to rush with four. I think every team in the league, that’s how you’d prefer to do it. Drill rush with four and affect the quarterback. There was periods of time where we didn’t do that well enough. I think everybody understands that that affects your football team.”
An added wrinkle to this decision-making process when it comes to how to go about adding to this unit is that I don’t think adding a middle-tier veteran would accomplish what the Packers need, which is a significantly improved pass rush.
Green Bay already has a strong foundation along the defensive front, but what they need is more high-impact play–not depth. So, adding another rotational defender to the mix may not accomplish that ultimate goal. Improve play from those on the roster and/or a top-tier pass rusher added to this team, which perhaps the draft can offer, is going to be the ultimate remedy.
As Gutekunst said at the NFL Combine, if the Packers are going to accomplish their goals this season, then the pass rush has to be more consistent, and finding that elusive element–consistency–was mostly likely to always come via the draft and internally through improved play.
“I think the biggest thing and we talked a little about it earlier is just the fact we need to affect the quarterback with four,” Gutekunst said. “How we do that kind of remains to be seen. We had good moments last year, but it just needs to be more consistent. It needs to be able to control the game when we need to control the game and finish games off.”
Nate Hobbs spoke with us at Lambeau yesterday. Get to know the Packers newest CB, who is ready deliver whatever is needed on and off the field.
"I’m willing to do whatever the team needs me to do. I’m a dog, so I’m gonna step wherever I step."
GREEN BAY, Wis. — As new Green Bay Packers’ cornerback Nate Hobbs said on Friday when speaking with reporters, it’s only mid-March, there is plenty of time to figure out where he’s going to be lining up and what his role in Jeff Hafley’s defense will be.
But with that said, whatever the Packers need from Hobbs, he’s ready to step on the field and handle those responsibilities.
“Obviously, there’s no secret, I’m a versatile player,” Hobbs said on Friday at Lambeau Field. “I play inside, outside. I’ve played inside and outside in the past, but it’s March — I don’t know, what is it, March 14th, 13th? We’ll get to that. I’m willing to do whatever the team needs me to do. I’m a dog, so I’m gonna step wherever I step. If I step at nickel, if I step at corner. If they need me to play safety, god damnit, I’ll play safety.”
Over the last two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders, Hobbs has been the team’s primary nickel cornerback. However, he has experience on the boundary as well, playing over 700 career NFL snaps lined up outside, 500 of which came during the 2022 season. Going back to his days at Illinois, Hobbs spent most of his college career on the boundary, playing over 2,100 snaps there over four seasons.
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Although the Raiders tasked Hobbs with playing the nickel, he has the measurables that we often see GM Brian Gutekunst covet at the boundary cornerback position. Hobbs has size and length, listed at 6-1 – 195 pounds and is a good athlete, posting a Relative Athletic Score of 9.61 coming out of Illinois.
“Like I said, March 13th, 14th, whatever it is,” said Hobbs, “we’ll get to that. I’ll do whatever my team needs me to do. If I gotta play corner the whole year, that’s what I do. I’m a corner. If I gotta go inside, that’s what I’m gonna do, but I’m looking forward to whatever I gotta do.”
Hobbs is coming off of his best statistical season in the NFL in 2024. He would rank 10th out of 42 eligible slot cornerbacks in yards per snap allowed. He was also 16th in snaps per reception allowed, and Hobbs had the 11th best coverage EPA (expected points added) among all defensive backs who saw 40 or more targets.
Along with size and length at the cornerback position, Gutekunst would also mention at the NFL combine the importance of vision and awareness when playing cornerback in Jeff Hafley’s system. Those are two elements Hobbs displayed last season, as evidenced by the numbers above and the lack of production from opposing offenses.
However, if you ask Hobbs, while he’s continued to progress throughout his NFL career, there is still a lot more that is out there for him.
“I know by nature, I’m a very competitive person,” Hobbs said. “When I get out there, I’m a super competitor. I think kinda to make it to this level and to be an impact player, you have to be a super competitor, but when you are a super competitor and you’ve been bestowed with opportunity like this that I’ve had, that comes with responsibility.
“I think this is an opportunity for me to grow as a man, a leader, a player, father, a friend, just the man period. So I think I gotta take that next step into my manlihood and it’s being a true leader.”
That competitive nature that Hobbs possesses is something he vows to always hold on to and is rooted in the underdog mentality that he has. Hobbs had a late start to his football career, not playing until his junior year of high school. He was then underrecruited before landing at Illinois, and wasn’t even sure if he was going to get drafted when that time came.
Even with the success Hobbs had on the field last year and the new four-year, $48 million deal he’s signed with the Packers, he’s still an underdog in his mind, because there is still a lot more that’s out there for him to accomplish.
“I’m gonna be an underdog if I was getting paid $100 million because I don’t see any articles or anything out of me being the top corner,” Hobbs said. “In my heart of hearts, I’m an underdog, and I’m never going to forget that. And I could be the top corner, whatever the case is.
“Still an underdog, because I had to scratch and claw and fight to get here, and nothing was given to me, everything was tooken. I say, there’s two ways to get respect. You either earn it or you take it. I like taking it. I’m going to be an underdog till I die. That’s just me.”
In his short time in Green Bay, Hobbs has already met with coach Matt LaFleur and defensive coordinator Jeff Hafely. Hobbs’ conversation with Hafely, in particular, ended up going into great depth as the two spoke for three hours, with the two connecting and finding that they had a fair amount in common.
“Coach Matt, he’s amazing,” said Hobbs. “I can already tell he’s an amazing man and a motivated and a relentless coach. Players coach. I think both of those guys are players coaches. I think for you to go, in today’s league, for you to go far, I think you have to be a players coach, and that’s what they are.”
For now, during this quiet time during the NFL offseason, Hobbs is going to continue training and connecting with his new position coaches and teammates, along with continuing to build his relationship with LaFleur and Hafley.
One thing that Hobbs’ new teammates will come to learn about him is that both on and off the field, he cares deeply. Hobbs recalled a game last season against the Kansas City Chiefs, where he exited the game with a hand injury and was given the choice to either sit out the remainder of the game or get a cast on. At that exact moment, he heard the Chiefs’ crowd erupt in a roar, and at that point for Hobbs there wasn’t any decision to be made–he was going back out there because his teammates needed him.
“They going to learn once we get acquainted, and I know you and I care about you, I’m willing to do anything for you,” Hobbs said. “I’m willing to take the shirt off my back for you. I’m willing to pick you up when you down. I’m willing to–just outside of the field be a real friend. Be a real brother. I think that’s the most important thing outside of football. But on the football field they going to learn I’m bringing it everyday. I’m bringing it all out there. They not going to have to worry about me doing my job and I’m going to bring people with me.”
Myers goes to the Jets on a prove-it deal, and the Packers spend big signing Aaron Banks.
The OL play certainly wasn't bad last year, but big improvement is now the expectation, given each player's respective contract.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Now former Packers’ center Josh Myers is signing with the New York Jets on a one-year prove-it deal. Green Bay, meanwhile, signed guard Aaron Banks to a four-year contract worth $77 million. The question at hand right now is not only whether the Packers’ offensive line improved with these moves, but did it improve by roughly $74 million?
Myers is signing a one-year, $3.5 million contract to join the Jets. While using the total contract values between Myers and Banks isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison because Banks may not get all that money, for some added context, Banks is getting a $27 million signing bonus. He also has the opportunity to earn $9.5 million during each of the 2026 and 2027 seasons just as roster bonuses as well.
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Internally, the Packers have spoken incredibly highly of Myers and what he brought to this team. Matt LaFleur last season would say that Myers was the one “driving the ship up front” and called him a “heart and soul” type of player on the team. GM Brian Gutekunst also called Myers’ 2024 season the best of his career.
“I can’t say enough good things about Josh Myers, not only as a player but as a leader,” said Gutekunst after the season. “He really does embody kind of a Green Bay Packer and what we’re looking for and how they’re wired. Again, I thought he had a really good year, fought through some things. . . “I look back at that one, and I’m really glad we’ve had him for the last four years.”
However, the NFL market felt differently. A one-year, $3.5 million deal is one, as described above, where the player has to prove himself and showcase why he deserves a more lucrative and longer-term deal.
While Myers brings a lot of the intangible qualities to the table that teams desire, from leadership to rapport with Jordan Love to pre-snap communication, the results once the ball was snapped weren’t there consistently enough, and his recent contract reflects that.
This past season, one that Gutekunst thought was Myers’ best, out of 41 eligible centers, he ranked 36th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric. He also surrendered the third-most pressures. In run-blocking grade, Myers ranked 38th. Those metrics are just one evaluation tool and aren’t the be-all-end-all, but they do provide some context around Myers’ play compared to his counterparts.
Obviously, the Packers believe that by signing Banks to be the team’s left guard and presumably moving Elgton Jenkins to center, that the offensive line play is going to improve over if they had kept the status quo. But again, will it improve as significantly as the contract discrepancy between Myers and Banks illustrates it should?
Although Myers had his ups and downs, it’s not like the Packers’ offensive line play was bad last year. During the regular season, no quarterback was blitzed more often than Love, according to PFF’s metrics. However, in terms of how often he was pressured, Love ranked 23rd in that category. Overall, the Packers’ offensive line finished seventh in ESPN’s pass block win rate metric.
Then, in the run game, Josh Jacobs was one of the most productive backs in football, and the Packers’ offense leaned heavily on that element to lead them to victory in a number of games.
“I thought our offensive line, particularly in pass pro, played really, really well all year for the most part, with the exception of a couple games,” Gutekunst said. “But I think all those guys had really solid years and improved.”
However, having said that, there is very much room for growth. Banks has been at his best in the run game during his career, and while, as just mentioned, the Green Bay run game was productive last year, where they can improve is in generating explosive, chunk runs on the ground.
According to PFF’s metrics, Jacobs ranked 32nd in breakaway rate last season, which measures how often a player produces a run of 15-plus yards, and roughly 75% of his total rushing yards came after contact. For some context, Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley were in the 50-55% range.
The addition of Banks also bolsters the Packers’ depth and flexibility. Now, Jordan Morgan can continue to compete at right guard with Sean Rhyan or he could potentially see snaps at left tackle to push Rasheed Walker. Either way, one of Morgan, Ryhan, or Walker will be coming off the bench next season.
“Versatility is everything, right,” said Gutekunst. “And we really do have a versatile group. So we’re going to try to get the best five out there. We didn’t see him (Morgan) as much at tackle, which is obviously what he played in college, and what we vote he was drafted as, just because at the time, going into the season, and the opportunities were going to we’re going to lie inside.
“So I think this offseason, just depending on kind of how everything you know takes place, through free agency, the draft and those things will kind of probably go into it the exact same way. Wherever we think he’s going to best fit is where he’s going to see his snaps.”
Only time will ultimately answer the question posed at the start of this article. But these two moves signify that improvement along the offensive line was a must in Gutekunst’s eyes. More explosive runs are needed, and the depth of this group was exposed in the playoffs, but will the juice be worth the squeeze? Paying big at one position means going light elsewhere.
“Those big guys are hard to find, so that’s never something we’re not going to address,” said Gutekunst after the season. “Like we’ve been pretty consistent in our time here. We very much believe that, with the exception of quarterback, winning in the trenches is how we need to get it done.”
From Wednesday:
Competition, not a big addition, is going to have to the catalyst for improved play from the Packers WR room in 2025 ⬇️https://t.co/kV69wuO73D
GREEN BAY, Wis. — A catalyst behind improved play from the Packers’ wide receiver position in 2025 is going to have to be competition.
With Davante Adams in LA, DK Metcalf now in Pittsburgh, and Tee Higgins seemingly staying in Cincinnati, when it comes to adding a true No. 1 wide receiver target to the Packers’ offense, those options are now off the table. And even looking ahead to this year’s draft, I’m not sure that top-flight player exists in this year’s class–or at least not where the Packers are picking.
So how are the Packers going to get improved play out of the receiver position this season, other than just hoping and banking on internal development happening on its own?
Competition. The same element that helped foster the rapid growth we saw throughout the roster during the second half of the 2023 season.
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After the 2024 season, GM Brian Gutekunst mentioned that it’s time the Packers started competing for championships and a key factor in accomplishing that is a greater sense of urgency throughout the roster. When Gutekunst said that, he was referring to the entire team, but it does also seem to particularly apply to the receiver position–a group with plenty of talent, but also a unit that failed to take a step forward last season.
“We’ve got a bunch of good guys in that locker room, we’ve got a bunch of talented guys in that locker room, and I think it’s time we started competing for championships,” Gutekunst said after the season. “I think they’re ready. Like I said, I think they are wired right. I think that group is the kind of guys that can do that. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to go do it.
“We fell short in some areas this year, like they always are every year, a little frustrating. But at the same time, I didn’t think the blinked. So I’m excited about the group, but the sense of urgency, not getting complacent, some of these guys have now proven themselves to be NFL football players and have attained that, but what’s out there for us as a team that we’re willing to commit to and sacrifice for. If I’m looking at one thing, that would be it.”
A disjointed passing game was too much to overcome down the stretch last season, and while no one player or position group is at fault–it’s on everyone–dropped passes and a lack of detailed route running were a part of the problem, and those were issues that the Packers had to navigate for much of the season.
In the Packers’ playoff loss to Philadelphia specifically, Matt LaFleur noted that two of the interceptions thrown by Jordan Love were on plays where the receivers weren’t positioned correctly. On the interception by Darius Slay, the receiver needed to do a better job of stacking the defender to help create a more open throwing window. On the interception over the middle by linebacker Zach Baun, the receiver was supposed to break in at 20 yards from the line of scrimmage but instead did so at 15 yards, throwing off the entire play design.
Adding more talent to the wide receiver room, even if it isn’t a true No. 1 target, can help elevate that sense of urgency. Whether it be a veteran signing, an early-round draft pick, or both, all of a sudden, playing time is in jeopardy and even roster spots for some players, which can very quickly change the complexion of the room and the day-to-day processes as players fight to establish themselves within the receiver hierarchy.
“I think we’re certainly looking for these guys that we have currently to take a step into that role where they are more consistent on the down-down basis,” Gutekunst said after the season. “Certainly, if there’s somebody outside of our building, whether it’s the draft, free agency, that makes some sense for us, we’ll certainly look to do that, but we’re also looking for these guys to continue to grow and hopefully grow into that space.”
What’s left of the free-agent market at receiver are several productive but veteran players, including Amari Cooper, Tyler Lockett, and Keenan Allen, to name a few. Some early-round options at wide receiver in the draft include Tetairoa McMillan and Matthew Golden–both of whom could be gone before the Packers are on the clock–along with Emeka Egbuka, Jaydin Higgins, and Elic Ayomanor.
This adding competition plan to raise the level of play of the receiver room is far from a fool-proof plan. The sure thing would have been finding a way to add one of those top three receiver options mentioned at the start of all this. However, outside of keeping the status quo, this is the Packers’ best option at this time when it comes to elevating the receiver room.
Gutekunst acknowledged that having a top target would be beneficial. However, he believes there are a few players already on the roster who are capable of filling that role. But after this group of receivers failed to take a step forward in 2024, it would appear that some outside help is going to be needed to facilitate someone potentially moving into that coveted role.
“You’d like to have somebody move into that space,” Gutekunst said of having a No. 1 receiver, “but, at the same time, I’d like multiple guys to be able to move into that space. What I’m looking for is guys that, when they’re called upon, can perform at a high level. I think we have a lot of guys that have done that.”
The Packers are at a cornerback crossroads and hope Nate Hobbs’ versatility and play-style can bring needed stability to the position.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Hobbs about joining the Packers via Josina Anderson. “It has not sunk in yet. I’m still dumbfounded by the opportunity, and I am ready to get to work. Being with the #Raiders in that division and facing those quarterbacks, I feel like I’m ready for anything (in the NFC North) and I am going in with a lot of confidence. It prepared me for this.”
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Hobbs was a fifth-round selection by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2021 NFL draft. Over the last two years, in particular, Hobbs has primarily lined up in the slot, although he does have starting boundary cornerback experience, which includes playing 500 snaps there during the 2022 season.
In the run game, an important element to playing the nickel position, Hobbs has routinely graded out as one of PFF’s better cornerbacks in that respect. In coverage this past season, Hobbs had his best season statistically, allowing a completion rate of just 67% from the slot at 9.0 yards per catch with an interception and three pass breakups.
Out of 42 eligible slot defenders last season, Hobbs ranked 10th in yards per snap allowed. He also had the 11th best coverage EPA (expected points added) among all defensive backs who saw 40 or more targets in 2024.
“A slot corner with the ability to play outside,” wrote ESPN’s Matt Bowen. “Hobbs has the quickness and tackling ability needed to play inside the numbers. In four seasons, he has 3 interceptions, 13 pass breakups and 14 tackles for loss. He can be an upgrade for a team in search of a nickel defender in sub packages.”
Although Hobbs has been a nickel defender the past two seasons, Ryan Wood reported that the Packers will play Hobbs on the boundary. In addition to his past experience, he has a good size, listed at 6-1, and he’s a terrific athlete, posting an elite Relative Athletic Score of 9.61 during the pre-draft process.
Given the current state of the Packers’ cornerback room, which features a bevy of unknowns, Hobbs playing outside would make the most sense. However, I will guess that his versatility will be utilized within Jeff Hafley’s scheme, and where Hobbs lines up will be dictated by who the opponent is.
“I do think with what Jeff’s trying to do,” said Brian Gutekunst of the cornerback position at the NFL combine, “there’s a lot more vision and awareness and instincts out there than maybe we’ve played with in the past.
Whether it be through free agency or, perhaps more likely now, the draft, the Packers are not done adding to the cornerback position. But the addition of Hobbs does give them some needed stability on the boundary, with Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine as the two other options.
“I thought when we moved Keisean to the outside and he consistently played there, I thought he played really, really well,” Gutekunst said after the season. “Not only in coverage but as a tackler as well and run game. And I think when CV went out there, I think when both those guys were playing on the outside consistently, we just got more stable.”
The Packers have reportedly signed free agent guard Aaron Banks, which provides the team with flexibility when building out the starting five and a boost in the run game.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers’ first free agency splash came along the offensive line, with the team reportedly signing guard Aaron Banks to a four-year deal worth $77 million, according to Ian Rapoport.
Banks was a second-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFL draft out of Notre Dame. Over his career, he’s appeared in 53 games and made 43 starts, all of which have come in the last three seasons.
By PFF’s metrics, Banks is at his best in the run game, which, even with Josh Jacobs’ success last season, is an area where the Packers can improve, specifically when it comes to generating explosive gains on the ground. In pass protection last season, Banks gave up only one sack and four quarterback hits over 471 pass-blocking snaps. He would rank 37th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric out of 80 eligible guards.
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“At 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds,” ESPN’s Matt Bowen wrote, “the 2021 second-round pick is built for a gap run scheme, and he has the strength to anchor against interior bull rushers.”
As we discussed earlier in the offseason, the recipe for the Packers adding to the offensive line always existed this offseason- although perhaps we didn’t think it would come in the form of a big free-agent signing. But the reason the need existed was, in part, because the depth of this group was exposed against Philadelphia in the playoffs, and in this season specifically, the Packers will have to overcome losing starting center Josh Myers.
“Those big guys are hard to find, so that’s never something we’re not going to address,” said Brian Gutekunst after the season. “Like we’ve been pretty consistent in our time here. We very much believe that, with the exception of quarterback, winning in the trenches is how we need to get it done.”
Banks has spent his entire career playing left guard, and with the payday he received in Green Bay, that’s where he’s going to stay. Yet, even so, the addition gives the Packers added flexibility along the offensive line.
Now, finding a center outside the organization doesn’t have to be a priority, and hoping that Jacob Monk takes a step forward isn’t a risk the Packers have to take. Instead, they can move Elgton Jenkins over to the center spot, where he played in college and has almost 400 snaps at with the Packers in his career.
With an added interior presence, the Packers now have the option to have second-year lineman Jordan Morgan either compete with Sean Rhyan at right guard again or perhaps compete with Rasheed Walker at left tackle. While Morgan spent all last season at guard before ending up on injured reserve, he was a left tackle in college.
“Versatility is everything, right,” said Gutekunst. “And we really do have a versatile group. So we’re going to try to get the best five out there. We didn’t see him (Morgan) as much at tackle, which is obviously what he played in college, and what we vote he was drafted as, just because at the time, going into the season, and the opportunities were going to we’re going to lie inside.
“So I think this offseason, just depending on kind of how everything you know takes place, through free agency, the draft and those things will kind of probably go into it the exact same way. Wherever we think he’s going to best fit is where he’s going to see his snaps.”
Offensive line play often flies under the radar, but consistently finding success on offense starts in the trenches–just look at the Eagles. Giving the quarterback time to go through his reads and to operate within the timing and the rhythm of the play is a must, not to mention that a strong running game keeps an offense out of predictable passing situations.
The 2025 Packers now have more options when it comes to building out that unit. The play of the offensive line last season wasn’t poor by any means, but as mentioned, there are areas of improvement, not to mention that a starter had to be replaced.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The NFL’s free agency window is on the cusp of opening up. So what do you need to know about this year’s NFL free agency period and how it pertains to the Packers?
The legal tampering period begins on Monday, March 10th, when teams can begin negotiating with outside free agents. Deals can be agreed to at that time but won’t become official until the free agency period and new league year officially begins on March 12th at 12:00 PM CT.
During his season-ending press conference, GM Brian Gutekunst mentioned that the time to compete for championships has arrived, and part of that equation for the Packers is ramping up the sense of urgency throughout the team. And with that, one of the big questions this offseason is, how does that need for urgency and the need to compete for titles manifest within the front office?
“I think I view every offseason that we have to attack it aggressively,” said Gutekunst after the season. “The opportunities that present themselves, whether that be free agency or trade, are different every year. Every year there’s not going to be a Josh Jacobs or an Xavier McKinney out there to go get.
“So we’ll see kinda what transpires through the free agency class – who gets re-signed, who doesn’t, if there’s salary cap casualties, if there’s trade opportunities, all those. But I think we always operate under the aggressive mindset, but we have a process that we go through and we’ll see what’s available. If it’s right for us, then we’re going to attack it. If they’re not there, it’s not there.”
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So, before the potential chaos ensues, let’s walk through everything you need to know.
How much salary cap space do the Packers have?
The Packers are projected to have $42.78 million in available salary cap space at the moment, according to Over the Cap. In terms of spending power, this ranks as the 18th most in the NFL.
When it comes to spending, that $42.78 million amount is not what the Packers have to spend. There are additional salary cap expenses coming down the road that aren’t yet accounted for. Some of this includes signing the incoming draft class, which by OTC’s projections, will cost roughly $3.1 million in additional cap space.
Green Bay will also have to construct their practice squad, leave cap space for any in-season spending, and account for the contracts of the 52nd and 53rd players on the roster (the offseason cap figure only takes into account the top 51 contracts), among other items.
Ken Ingalls, who independently tracks the Packers’ cap situation, projects that those additional costs will account for another $13.15 million in cap space. That, plus the cost of the draft class and the Packers’ spending ability, is more so in the $26-ish million range.
The Packers do have the means to create more salary cap space if Brian Gutekunst feels the ned to so. One avenue could come from trading or releasing Jaire Alexander, which would free up an additional $6.8 million in cap space for this offseason.
Green Bay could also look to kick some salary cap charges down the road through contract restructures–something they did a lot of during the 2021 and 2022 offseasons. The benefit in the now is that it creates more cap room in the present, but those cap charges have to come due and hit the books at some point, so the downside is that a player’s cap hit in future years is increased.
For the right player, Gutekunst is obviously willing to maneuver the salary cap as needed, but he very much likes where the team is positioned now cap-wise compared to recent years, where they felt the effects of those previous cap moves.
“Certainly we’d love to be in that situation every year where you have a lot of flexibility to do what you need to do,” Gutekunst said. “I think depending on the opportunities that are out there and your football team or where you’re at can dictate some of that. Again, I think whenever there are players like X or Josh that are out there, which isn’t very often, I think even if you don’t have great flexibility, you have to really consider adding those kind of players because there’s just not that many of ’em.
“So again, I feel really good where we’re at right now, would love to stay in that kind of flexibility year to year. We’ll certainly try to do that, but at the same time if we kinda have to do some different things because we have an opportunity to acquire a player that can impact our team like these two guys did, we’ll do it.”
Free agency moves already made
K Brandon McManus re-signed: McManus and the Packers agreed to a three-year deal worth $15.3 million. This move gives the Packers much-needed stability at the kicker position, something that had been lacking. For more on this move, click here.
LB Isaiah McDuffie re-signed: The Packers signed McDuffie to a two-year deal worth up to $9.5 million. The move gives the Packers reliable depth at linebacker and also retains a valuable special teams contributor. For more on the signing, click here.
Packers re-sign most of their exclusive rights free agent class: According to SI’s Bill Huber, the Packers re-signed each of their ERFAs. None of this comes as a surprise. An ERFA is a player with two or fewer accrued NFL seasons. By tendering them a contract, that player cannot negotiate with other teams, and the contract they receive is a league minimum deal based on their tenure.
Given the low salary commitment required by the team, coupled with the fact that these were important depth players on the Packers roster last season, like I said, none of this comes as a surprise.
RB Emanuel Wilson P Daniel Whelan S Zayne Anderson OL Kadeem Telfort
Bo Melton and Arron Mosby are also ERFAs, and it hasn’t been reported that they have been tendered at this time, but that’s likely to come for the reasons mentioned.
Who are the Packers’ unrestricted free agents?
Excluding McManus and McDuffie, who have been re-signed, below are the other members of the Packers’ unrestricted free agent class.
Each offseason, I go through my prediction series for each of the Packers’ free agents. I explore why the Packers would re-sign each player, why they would let them go, and then make a prediction.
Below are what those predictions are, but for the detailed analysis on the why behind my decision, follow the links.
A lot of factors in play when it comes to making a trade happen
DK Metcalf, Trey Hendrickson, and maybe Myles Garrett are all players available via trade this offseason. From a pure football perspective, adding any one of those players to this Packers team makes all the sense in the world. But as we all know, there are a lot more factors in play than just that element.
As Gutekunst described after the Packers’ season, it’s not only a draft pick or two that you’re sending away, but the team also loses out on an inexpensive four-year rookie deal and a young, ascending player heading towards their prime. Along with that, the team is also going to be acquiring a contract that often needs to be reworked and then comes with a hefty cap hit that now has to be figured into the team’s long-term plans.
“You’d better be right,” said Gutekunst when asked about trading a high draft pick for a player. “When you trade a high pick for a veteran player, you’re trading a young, really good contract for a player who’s proven but is probably expensive. So you’re giving up a pick and salary-cap space.”
Of course, on the flip side, the team is getting a proven and established player who should make not only an immediate impact but a high impact as well.
After the season, Gutekunst mentioned that the time to compete for championships is now and that greater urgency is needed throughout the roster. The question is, however, is that sense of urgency rolling through the front office as well and does it manifest itself in the Packers going off-script when it comes to building out their roster?
For the right player, Gutekunst will consider making such a trade, but those other aforementioned factors very much are a part of he equation and carry weight in the decision-making process.
“So I think you’ve got to weigh that,” Gutekunst added. “And if it’s the right player, if you feel like he can be a dynamic player who can change your football team, I think you’ve got to consider that, because there’s not many of those guys out there. But I think you have to also understand what you’re giving up.”
Positions of need and top free agents available
Cornerback: The Packers are at a cornerback crossroads. It’s been reported that the team is open to trading Jaire Alexander, which would leave them with Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Kamal Hadden, Kalen King, Kaleb Hayes, and Isaiah Dunn under contract. Beyond Nixon and Valentine, Dunn’s 116 defensive snaps over four seasons is the most among the rest of that room.
Improved depth to elevate the competition and to raise the floor of this position group is needed, but so is an addition or two who can push Nixon and Valentine for playing time. This cornerback room last season, even without Alexander for the second half, did well at eliminating big plays. However, the Packers ranked 31st in pass deflections, while Nixon allowed a completion rate of 66% and Valentine 82%.
“You know me. I’d love all those guys to be 6-3 1/2 and 220. I’d love that,” Gutekunst said. “I do think with what Jeff’s trying to do, there’s a lot more vision and awareness and instincts out there than maybe we’ve played with in the past.
“So, again, it’s still very important to me that we’re big out there and have some length. But I will say both those guys played very, very well for us. I’m excited about what they’re going to do continuing in this scheme.”
DJ Reed – New York Jets Charvarius Ward – San Francisco 49ers Byron Murphy – Minnesota Vikings Carlton Davis- Detroit Lions Asante Samuel Jr. – LA Chargers Paulson Adebo – New Orleans Saints
Defensive line: As Gutekunst said at the NFL combine, if the Packers are going to accomplish the goals that they have in 2025, the pass rush has to improve and be more consistent. Jeff Hafley dialed up as many pressures as he could through blitzes and simulated pressures, but when it came to the Packers winning up front, the defensive line ranked 26th in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate metric.
That lack of a steady pass rush, particularly against the top teams like Minnesota, Detroit, and Philadelphia, left the second and third levels of the Packers’ defense exposed, resulting in some big and efficient days for those opposing quarterbacks.
“I think the biggest thing and we talked a little about it earlier is just the fact we need to affect the quarterback with four,” Gutekunst said. “How we do that kind of remains to be seen. We had good moments last year, but it just needs to be more consistent. It needs to be able to control the game when we need to control the game and finish games off.”
This year’s draft class along the defensive front is extremely deep, which could impact how the Packers address this need in free agency. Specifically, perhaps we don’t see Gutekunst spending a ton of free-agent dollars along the defensive line, knowing there is impactful talent on rookie deals to be had throughout the draft.
DE Khalil Mack – LA Chargers DE Josh Sweat – Philadelphia Eagles DE Haason Reddick – New York Jets IDL Milton Williams – Philadelphia Eagles DE Malcolm Koonce – Las Vegas Raiders DE Baron Browning – Arizona Cardinals IDL Levi Onwuzurike – Detroit Lions DE Dayo Odeyingbo – Indianapolis Colts DE Chase Young – New Orleans Saints DE Azeez Ojulari – New York Giants IDL BJ Hill – Cincinnati Bengals
Offensive line: At the bare minimum, bolstering the depth here should be on Gutekunst’s radar. While the Eagles’ defensive line exposed many starting offensive line units, and as Gutekunst said, he doesn’t want to overreact to one performance, the Packers’ inexperienced depth up front was taken advantage of in the playoffs.
Internally, I’m sure the hope is that Jacob Monk, Kadeem Telfort, and Travis Glover all make strides in 2025, but banking on that comes with risks as well. Particularly at the offensive tackle spot, we’ve seen the Gutekunst bring in veteran free agents over the years, including Rick Wagner, Jared Veldheer, Daniel Kelly, and Andre Dillard.
“Those big guys are hard to find, so that’s never something we’re not going to address,” said Gutekunst. “Like we’ve been pretty consistent in our time here. We very much believe that, with the exception of quarterback, winning in the trenches is how we need to get it done.
“And so, we’ve got some decisions to make as we move forward on the offensive line, and as we go through that, there could be some shuffling around.”
Perhaps Gutekunst could explore options at center with Josh Myers a free agent, but given that there are options on the roster to fill that role in Monk, Elgton Jenkins, and Sean Rhyan, coupled with the Packers turning to the draft to find long-term starting options along the offensive line, I don’t know that we see Gutekunst take a swing at that position in free agency.
So for that reason, outside of Dalman, the free agents below are expected to come with more modest price tags.
C Drew Dalman – Atlanta Falcons G Kevin Zeitler – Detroit Lions G Dalton Risner – Minnesota Vikings OT Tyron Smith – New York Jets OT Morgan Moses – New York Jets G Brandon Scherff – Jacksonville Jaguars OT Jedrick Wills – Cleveland Browns C Ryan Kelly – Indianapolis Colts C Coleman Shelton – Chicago Bears G Laken Tomlinson – Seattle Seahawks
Wide receiver: This is a bit of a difficult needle for Gutekunst to thread. What the Packers really need is a true No. 1 target, something he’s acknowledged but also mentioned that he believes there are players in Green Bay’s current receiver room who can turn into that player. The problem is, when looking at outside additions, is that it’s not easy finding that level of player on the market. As of now, I’d say the only free agent who fits that mold is Davante Adams.
So, in a Packers receiver room that has depth and a lot of good contributors, does adding another No. 2 or No. 3 wideout move the needle for this unit? I’m not so sure. I think in that instance, you’re still holding out hope that someone emerges above the rest.
Now, having said that, with competition being a cornerstone element for this Packers team over the years, perhaps in an effort to ramp up urgency–something this Packers team needs more of, as Gutekunst put it–he brings in outside additions to help push and elevate the play of the receivers already on Green Bay’s roster.
“You’d like to have somebody move into that space,” Gutekunst said of having a No. 1 receiver, “but, at the same time, I’d like multiple guys to be able to move into that space. What I’m looking for is guys that, when they’re called upon, can perform at a high level. I think we have a lot of guys that have done that.”
Davante Adams – New York Jets Chris Godwin – Tampa Bay Bucs Amari Cooper – Buffalo Bills Stefon Diggs – Houston Texans DeAndre Hopkins – Kansas City Chiefs Darius Slayton – New York Giants Keenan Allen – Chicago Bears Mike Williams – Pittsburgh Steelers Joshua Palmer – LA Chargers Marquez Valdes-Scantling – Buffalo Bills
GREEN BAY, Wis. — With free agency on the horizon, I have been taking 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.
Up next, let’s take a closer look at whether or not offensive tackle Andre Dillard will return for the 2025 season. If you missed our other previews, you can find them below:
Retaining Dillard provides the Packers with experienced depth at the offensive tackle position, which is an element where there is certainly value, especially given the current construction of the roster.
Dillard is a former first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft by Philadelphia. He was signed by the Packers last offseason, prior to the draft, to add that aforementioned experience and bolster the competition on the back-end of the offensive tackle depth chart. He would end up making the 53-man roster and spent the season there, appearing in two games on offense and playing 13 total snaps.
“His athleticism, being able to move, being able to set and cover guys up,” said GM Brian Gutekunst last offseason after signing Dillard. “I remember him coming out in ‘19. We had him in the building and, going back through our notes and watching film on him, very similar to what we saw. Very athletic, can play multiple positions. Just his athleticism stood out.”
If, for the sake of this conversation, we assume that Jordan Morgan is going to continue playing guard, then in terms of tackle options on the roster behind Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker, Green Bay has Kadeem Telfort and Travis Glover–that’s it.
Bringing Dillard bad doesn’t stop the Packers from adding to the offensive tackle position either, but it does provide them with at least some insurance at that backup spot heading into the draft and training camp. It’s also not as if Dillard is going to break the bank either. His contract last year with Green Bay was a league-minimum deal worth $1.125 million with no guarantees.
The best-case scenario is that he competes, bolsters the depth, and again makes the 53-man roster on a very inexpensive contract. The “worst-case” scenario–and that’s a relative term–is that whether it be Glover, Telfort, or a new addition, someone beats him out during training camp for a roster spot, and the Packers let him go with little to no salary cap ramifications.
Why the Packers won’t re-sign Andre Dillard
We’ve seen Brian Gutekunst cycle through veteran tackles throughout the years during the free agency period. Before there was Dillard, the Packers also had Rick Wagner and Jared Veldheer. If there is an opportunity out there to potentially find an upgrade, as he should, Gutekunst will go that route.
From the outside perspective after last season, given Dillard’s lack of playing time, it’s difficult to know what level of confidence the coaching staff has in him if he were to be called upon.
While Dillard has the draft pedigree and the athleticism teams covet, the last time he saw extended action during the 2023 season in Tennessee was not good. In just 331 pass-blocking snaps, he allowed 41 pressures and 12 sacks, according to PFF. Out of 86 eligible offensive tackles that season, Dillard ranked 85th in pass-blocking efficiency, and he was also a below-average run-blocker by PFF’s metrics as well
Now, the hope is that a change of scenery and a new scheme could help elevate his play, and perhaps to some degree, that did take place. I mean, he was on the roster all year. But the difficult part of this evaluation and prediction is that we saw very little of Dillard, so we don’t truly know how his play was viewed by the coaches.
It’s also worth pointing out when having this conversation that we all know how important versatility is to the Packers when it comes to offensive line play. At the tackle spot, specifically off the bench, that means having the ability to play both the right and left sides, but that was an area Dillard struggled with during training camp.
“I think we just gotta keep working him on both sides,” said offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich last summer. “He looks a lot better on the left side. He struggled a little bit on the right side. Us as coaches, we gotta make sure we put him over there on the right side to make sure he feels comfortable playing over there. It’s a new scheme. Just like anything, new terminology, some different techniques and things like that. You just gotta keep working at it and we’ll keep coaching him up.”
An upgrade, a younger player, and improved versatilty are all realistic reasons that the Packers look elsewhere this offseason when attempting to bolster their tackle depth.
Prediction: The Packers re-sign Andre Dillard
Flip a coin with this one.
Like I said, our insight when it comes to this prediction is limited. However, I went with keeping Dillard primarily because of the current state of the Packers’ offensive tackle depth.
Re-signing Dillard is an insurance policy that gives the back end of that position group a boost in competition and in experience before the NFL draft arrives. A camp battle for the swing tackle role between Glover, Telfort, and a rookie–depending on where that rookie was taken–can come with obvious risks, just given the overall unknown around those players.
The fact that Dillard was on the roster all year is perhaps the most telling thing that we have when it comes to how he was performing on the practice field.
In addition to that important element–experienced depth–as I’ve already mentioned, this is another league-minimum deal with a minimal salary cap impact and in no way does it alter how the Packers approach the draft or the rest of free agency.
This might be one of those signings that doesn’t happen until we are a few weeks in, and Gutekunst sees how the offensive tackle market has taken shape.