Packers' 2025 Free Agents, Targets and Draft Needs After NFL Playoff Loss
A year ago, the Green Bay Packers seemingly took the NFL by surprise. Jordan Love stepped onto the stage as a franchise quarterback, and the league's youngest roster made serious noise in the postseason.
While Green Bay didn't ambush anyone this season, it navigated injuries and a brutal divisional schedule to make a return trip to the postseason.
Now that the Packers' postseason run has ended, general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur begin the challenge of building on what the franchise has accomplished over the past two seasons.
There will be contracts to address, holes to fill and many, many players to consider in free agency and the draft. Here's a look at what's next for Green Bay as its 2025 offseason officially begins.
Free Agents
Unrestricted Free Agents
S Zayne Anderson
CB Corey Ballentine
TE Tyler Davis
OT Andre Dillard
RB AJ Dillon
LB Isaiah McDuffie
C Josh Myers
DT Tedarrell Slaton
CB Eric Stokes
LB Eric Wilson
Restricted/Exclusive-Rights Free Agents
OT Caleb Jones
WR Bo Melton
DE Arron Mosby
OT Kadeem Tiefort
P Daniel Whelan
RB Emmanuel Wilson
The Packers had the NFL's youngest roster in 2024, Unsurprisingly, only a small fraction of the team is headed to unrestricted free agency.
Fortunately for Green Bay, the team's list of impending free agents doesn't include many key contributors. The Packers locked up key players like Love and defensive tackle Kenny Clark ahead of the regular season.
Of the players the Packers could potentially lose, linebacker Eric Wilson, cornerback Eric Stokes and center Josh Myers are arguably the most important. All three were starters in 2024 but come with caveats.
Performance-wise, Wilson was solid this season. However, he'll turn 31 shortly after the start of next season. Stokes has largely disappointed since being selected in the first round of the 2021 draft, and Green Bay declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.
Myers has been serviceable in the middle of the offensive line and only allowed a single sack during the regular season, according to Pro Football Focus. However, he left a lot to be desired as a run blocker, and the Packers will probably try to find an upgrade.
A handful of starting-caliber centers will be available in March.
Theoretically, Gutekunst could let everyone walk and it wouldn't be a complete disaster. Green Bay's best players are under contract, and the Packers have $64.4 million in projected cap space with which to reload. Of course, that means that Green Bay can afford to bring back a few familiar faces while still strengthening the roster through free agency and the draft.
Potential Free-Agent/Trade Targets
The Packers have done an excellent job of drafting and developing young talent over the past few years. Therefore, they're unlikely to go trading valuable draft capital unless a truly premier player becomes available.
Green Bay's playoff window is open, so if a legitimate difference-maker like Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby or Sauce Gardner ends up on the trade market, Gutekunst will probably consider it. Otherwise, the Packers will probably keep their picks and trust their ability to find talent in the draft.
In free agency, however, the Packers may be more aggressive. They went after running back Josh Jacobs early last offseason, and they could take a similar approach during this year's legal-contact window, which will open on March 10.
The Packers are fairly set with skill players, but if Myers doesn't return, centers like Drew Dalman, Ryan Kelly and Coleman Shelton will probably be on their radar. Though rookie first-round pick Jordan Morgan is still expected to be the left tackle of the future, Green Bay might also consider a spot-filler like D.J. Humphries or Jedrick Wills Jr.
Defensively, Gutekunst will probably place a premium on pass-rushers and cornerbacks. He'll likely look to skew younger, so players like edge-rusher Azeez Ojulari, edge-rusher Malcolm Koonce, cornerback D.J. Reed and cornerback Asante Samuel should draft the most interest.
Adding defensive line depth in the form of Levi Onwuzurike or Milton Williams would also be logical.
The Packers won't completely shy away from older veterans they believe can help bring a championship to Green Bay. However, they're still looking to build a long-term contender and will likely value players on the under side of 30 the most.
Draft Targets
The Packers are likely to take a best-player-available approach early in the draft. Logically, though, they'll target defense in the opening round. Green Bay just used a first-round pick on a tackle, and the 2025 draft class isn't particularly impressive at center.
Fortunately, the 2025 class has some impressive prospects at cornerback. While Stokes didn't quite work out as Jaire Alexander's full-time running back, a rookie like Notre Dame's Benjamin Morrison might.
Morrison was the pick for Green Bay in the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's post-regular season mock draft.
"Morrison's skills and versatility are an ideal fit for the Packers, who have been decimated by injuries in their cornerback group over the past few seasons," Cory Giddings of the B/R Scouting Department said. "...His ball skills and ability to maintain tight coverage on receivers would allow him to make an immediate impact, particularly in the NFC North where physical, fast receivers dominate."
Other defensive prospects the Packers will likely consider in Round 1 include Georgia edge-rusher Mykel Williams, Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker, Oregon defensive lineman Derrick Harmon and Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron.
Prospects Green Bay might consider on Day 2 include Kansas cornerback Cobee Bryant, Kentucky defensive lineman Deone Walker, Ohio State corner Denzel Burke and Ohio State edge-rusher Jack Sawyer.
The middle rounds are also a realistic target area for a center prospect like Ohio State's Seth McLaughlin or Texas' Jake Majors.
While the Packers have a strong group of skill players, they could consider adding a young playmaker like Clemson running back Phil Mafah or Miami receiver Xavier Restrepo to the mix. That decision could depend on whether Green Bay retains restricted free agents Bo Melton and Emmanuel Wilson.
In all, the Packers are scheduled to have seven picks in the 2025 draft, one in each round.
*Cap, contract and free-agent status information via Spotrac. Draft information via Tankathon