There has been plenty of talk this offseason about the Green Bay Packers making a free agency splash, whether at wide receiver or edge rusher. While their first notable signing isn’t anything extraordinary, it is an important move nonetheless to plug the middle of the defense.
Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the team is bring back linebacker Isaiah McDuffie on a 2 year, $8 million deal.
Sources: #Packers are re-signing LB Isaiah McDuffie on a two-year, $8-million deal with upside to $9.5M.
McDuffie has 183 tackles over the last two seasons. pic.twitter.com/wxUnkAhuMQ
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 3, 2025
Yea or nay?
Green Bay Packers Secure a Familiar Cog in Isaiah McDuffie
Last season for the Packers, McDuffie finished second on the team in tackles with 97, trailing only Quay Walker. It was the final year of his rookie contract covering four years and $3.6 M. McDuffie made $1.1M in 2024-25.
Certainly his new contract is a bump up in pay, but during the past two seasons linebacker has proven to be a capable NFL player who deserves to be paid like a pro.
45th among linebackers with a snap count of 698, McDuffie is more of an innings-eater than a star, as his performance grades out rather poorly compared to others at the position. His value comes from volume rather than game-wrecking. His overall PFF grade of 56.1 ranks just 137th out of 189.
McDuffie’s subpar grade results in large part from his vulnerability in pass coverage (148th/189). In run defense (89th) and pass rush (46th) he is solid to excellent. At 25 years old, he still has time to improve.
While bringing back McDuffie is a start, the Packers still have work to do to account for the free agency departure of inside ‘backer Eric Wilson, either by re-signing him or looking elsewhere. In his 8th season in the league, Wilson supplied 72 tackles and 2 sacks last year with a 65.8 PFF grade good for 82nd/189.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Not Everyone Is Pleased with the Move
Packers fans have mixed feelings about re-signing McDuffie.
“Good extension for a productive player,” said one tweeter.
“Great move, Packers! McDuffie’s a tackling machine.”
“Solid move by the #Packers! Isaiah McDuffie has been a reliable presence on defense, and locking him in for two more years adds stability to the LB corps. Well deserved!”
Others were unimpressed:
“LMAOOOOO HOLY OVERPAY.”
“Meh.”
“Don’t look like a sense of urgency to me, probably could have signed Greenlaw for that money.”
Whether now or later, the Packers needed to do something to fill the void at linebacker. Walker and Edgerrin Cooper can’t do it alone; Wilson and McDuffie combined for over 1200 snaps last season.
With the free agency signing period officially beginning March 12, waiting until then to reach an agreement would risk losing out on a capable player at a relatively cheap cost.
For those who want to see Green Bay make a bigger move in the market, perhaps the McDuffie deal will kickstart further signings. Many are skeptical of GM Brian Gutekunst’s interest in aggressively pursuing upgrades. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see.
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