The Green Bay Packers are not known for making huge free agent signings. Indeed, it is a rare occurrence when they go out and sign one of the premier free agents on the market. Of course, the signing of Reggie White in 1993 remains the greatest signing in franchise history. However, the signing of Charles Woodson in 2006 came close to matching it. After all, Woodson won a Super Bowl in Green Bay as well and was the 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
In 2019, Green Bay took a dive into the upper levels of free agency and signed three notable defensive players: Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, and Adrian Amos. Of these three, only Preston remains with the team, but all three had/are having good seasons with Green Bay.
This past spring, the Packers once again looked to the best players in free agency after years of not having the salary cap space to sign any room for players of that caliber.
The Green Bay Packers Signed Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs in Free Agency
With the Aaron Rodgers contract off of the books, as well as the $20 million in cap space saved by releasing David Bakhtiari, the Packers found themselves in a unique situation (for them) where they could afford not just one, but two of the best players in free agency.
Green Bay bid farewell to their entire safety room following the 2023 NFL season, with Darnell Savage and Jonathan Owens each signing with other teams (the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears, respectively). Rudy Ford remains a free agent.
While they did take three new safeties in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Packers first went out and got the best free agent safety on the market: former New York Giants star Xavier McKinney.
Additionally, Green Bay chose to sign 2022 NFL rushing leader Josh Jacobs to a four-year $48 million deal instead of retaining Aaron Jones. They also re-signed AJ Dillon to an extremely team-friendly deal and took Marshawn Lloyd in the third round of the draft.
Green Bay Packers Running Back Josh Jacobs Reveals the Las Vegas Raiders Didn’t Want Him Anymore
The Raiders do not exactly have a great offense. While they boast former Packers wide receiver Davante Adams, they lack a quality starting quarterback. For much his career, Jacobs has had to shoulder much of the offensive burden in Las Vegas. He will not have to do that in Green Bay with Jordan Love at quarterback and a plethora of talented pass catchers around him.
During a recent podcast appearance (linked at the top of this article), Jacobs opened up about his exit from the Raiders franchise:
“I never talked to the GM or none of that. It just was what it was. At the end of the day, I told them, ‘Look, I’ve got every Raider record since I’ve been here, basically.’ And I’m like, ‘If y’all don’t have enough respect in me to sit me down and have a conversation, then we don’t have anything to talk about.’ It’s that simple, really.”
Jacobs said that head coach Antonio Pierce wanted him back, but that there was nothing he could do about the situation.
Las Vegas has replaced Jacobs as their premier running back with Zamir White, he had 104 carries for 451 yards and a touchdown last season.
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