The Green Bay Packers have had, well, an interesting offseason. For a team that has not made many free agent signings, they sure have made headlines a great deal. That is, of course, due to the ongoing Aaron Rodgers saga with the New York Jets. All in all, the Packers have made moves that are underwhelming to many fans and do not have serious salary cap space heading into the season, making their chances of making one fairly slim.
Sure, they may eventually sign a bargain free agent as they did with De’Vondre Campbell two years ago and Jarran Reed last year. However, their lack of moving the needle has been frustrating to fans, and one NFL analysts has given the Packers his second-lowest offseason grade.
The Green Bay Packers Get a D- for Their Offseason So Far
Alex Kay of Bleacher Report graded each NFL team’s offseason going into the 2023 NFL Draft. His grade for the Packers was a D-, and there was only one thing keeping them from getting a F:
“Green Bay has largely been handcuffed in free agency because of Rodgers’ contract, which includes a $58.3 million option bonus due before the start of the season. The Packers have $22.2 million in cap space, but making any sort of significant addition without knowing for sure that Rodgers will be out would be ill-advised.
“The Packers’ “notable” additions have been limited to long snapper Matt Orzech and safety Tarvarius Moore. Green Bay, meanwhile, has watched key contributors like Allen Lazard, Robert Tonyan, Jarran Reed, Adrian Amos and Krys Barnes depart in free agency.
“Whether or not Rodgers is on the roster, Green Bay should turn the offense over to fourth-year quarterback Jordan Love this season. Unfortunately for Love, his supporting cast is markedly worse than the one Rodgers had in 2022.
“The fact that the Packers may still get quality trade compensation for Rodgers while eating just $8.7 million in cap space—or saving $15.8 million if he’s dealt after June 1—keeps Green Bay from getting a failing grade.”
Grade: D-
This season will certainly be a reloading year for the Packers, and it is hard to argue with the fact that they have not made any significant free agent signings this season. That being said, they have not made major signings since 2019 when they signed Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, and Adrian Amos.
It is also worth noting that the Packers have always put a greater emphasis on signing their own players than being big players in free agency. Most recently, Green Bay gave Elgton Jenkins a massive extension to keep him in Green Bay long-term. They also made Jaire Alexander the highest paid cornerback in the NFL when they gave him his recent extension. Rashan Gary, too, is in line for a massive extension as he plays on his fifth year option this year.
The fact of the matter is that in order to accurately grade a Packers’ offseason, one must wait for the draft and to see what free agents Brian Gutekunst may find in the bargain bin. He has been very successful in this area over the past two seasons, and he will need to be again.
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