Brian Gutekunst has long maintained that he isn’t interested in acquiring players on the back end of their careers. This year’s free agent market, however, may force the Packers’ general manager to reconsider that stance

One important wrinkle: players released by their teams do not count against the NFL’s compensatory pick formula. That loophole allows Gutekunst to pursue veteran upgrades without sacrificing future draft capital — a balance Green Bay has historically prioritized.

Rashan Gary Goodbye

The Packers made their first major move of the offseason by parting ways with edge rusher Rashan Gary. Green Bay also moved on from Nate Hobbs, just one year after signing the cornerback to a four-year, $48 million contract.

Those departures leave the Packers with significant needs at both edge rusher and cornerback.

There is some internal hope that Lukas Van Ness can help fill the void. The former first-round pick showed flashes late last season after returning from a foot injury. The question now is whether Green Bay can realistically rely on him to replace Gary’s production.

Depth Signings

So far, Gutekunst has taken a measured approach to free agency.

The Packers’ only notable additions during the early window have been Benjamin St-Juste and Skyy Moore, and neither move dramatically reshapes the roster.

The situation at cornerback is particularly thin. As things stand, the Packers do not have a single cornerback under contract through 2027, and St-Juste’s deal appears to be more of a short-term “prove it” arrangement.

Moore, meanwhile, looks like a familiar type of Green Bay signing — a low-risk addition with special teams value, similar to past pickups like Mecole Hardman. If he sticks through training camp, he could help stabilize a unit that has struggled for consistency.

The Market Is About to Expand

The real movement may begin once free agency officially opens.

Several teams — including the Vikings, Dolphins, Cowboys, Ravens, and Bills — still need to clear cap space, which could lead to a wave of veteran releases.

Minnesota defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave are widely expected to become cap casualties. Both had relatively quiet seasons statistically, but that’s often the case in Brian Flores’ defense. Flores’ aggressive blitz-heavy scheme frequently asks defensive tackles to occupy blockers and control the line of scrimmage rather than chase sacks.

Another intriguing possibility is Bradley Chubb in Miami.

Chubb didn’t have a dominant 2025 campaign, but he still finished with more sacks than Gary. In the right role, he could provide the kind of pass-rush depth the Packers now lack — and potentially serve as a direct replacement on the edge.

Plenty of Time Left

Free agency is still in its early stages, but the Packers clearly have work to do. Between the departures and the lack of major additions so far, it’s difficult to argue that Green Bay is a better team today than it was at the end of last season.

The good news? The clock With key departures and minimal signings, the Packers’ patient start to free agency raises questions about their offseason planhasn’t run out.

With veteran cuts looming and the draft still ahead, Gutekunst has multiple paths to reshape the roster. The question now is whether the Packers will make the bold move that pushes them closer to contention.