GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers announced on Monday that they have re-signed tight end John FitzPatrick.
FitzPatrick was originally a restricted free agent this offseason with three accrued NFL seasons. However, when the Packers non-tendered him, he became an unrestricted free agent and was free to sign with any team, but instead made his way back to the Packers.
After Luke Musgrave was placed on injured reserve prior to Week 5, the Packers signed FitzPatrick to their 53-man roster off the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad.
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FitzPatrick was a sixth-round pick by the Falcons in the 2022 NFL draft out of Georgia and played 18 offensive snaps during his second NFL season in 2023, along with 83 special teams snaps that year as well.
“A guy that can do it all,” said FitzPatrick’s college teammate Javon Bullard. “A guy that is not afraid to stick his face in the run game. A guy that is reliable in the passing game. Just a guy that is going to do his job to the best of his ability. A guy that you can count on for minimal mistakes. A guy that doesn’t make too many mistakes.”
With the Packers, FitzPatrick was frequently the third tight end on the depth chart behind Tucker Kraft and Ben Sims, while Musgrave was sidelined. In total, he played 73 offensive snaps for the Packers from Week 8 through the NFC Wildcard round, and at 6-7 – 250 pounds, he was utilized mostly as a blocker. FitzPatrick was also on the field for 60 special teams snaps, most of which came on the kick return unit.
“He’s a talented player, he’s smart, he’s quiet, but he’s done a nice job, and these guys have to be Swiss army knives a lot,” said tight ends coach John Dunn late in the season. “You’ve got to learn to play in our system. There’s a Y and there’s an F when there are two tight ends on the field, and the motions, just all the things sometimes even before the ball is snapped, just learning those things and the timing and all that stuff, and he’s been a pro and he’s worked hard at it.
“He’s picked up the offense nicely, fits in the room great, and he’s a pro and he’s working to get better every day. Another young guy who’s trying to improve on technique and just continue to get better.”
The addition of FitzPatrick strengthens the depth of the tight end room for the Packers. He rejoins Kraft, Musgrave, and Sims, along with Messiah Swinson and Johnny Lumpkin, both of whom spent time on the practice squad last season.
The tight end position group is going to run through Kraft and Musgrave, but an area of opportunity for the others on the roster, including FitzPatrick, is to further elevate their play in the running game as blockers. While PFF’s grading system isn’t the be-all-end-all, Ben Sims ranked 59th out of 80 tight ends in run-blocking grade, while FitzPatrick didn’t get enough opportunities to qualify.
If accomplished, whether that more reliable blocking presence comes from Musgrave, FitzPatrick, or Sims, having that element could provide Kraft with more opportunities to be featured in the passing game. Re-signing FitzPatrick can hopefully help elevate the competition on the roster for that third spot on the tight end depth chart.
“I think Georgia a big thing is if you’re willing to block, you’re going to find your way onto the field, and that’s what I learned early from some older guys in the room,” said FitzPatrick after arriving in Green Bay last season. “From there, just really honed in on that and wanted to get on the field, obviously, so I honed in on that and it created some opportunities for me.
“I’m never going to say I’m great at blocking or it’s my strong suit. I’m working on it every single day. There’s always something you can be better at within a block, specifically, or just any type of block.”
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Perhaps an early-round addition in the NFL draft can provide the Packers with the added pass rush consistency that they need. However, the larger part of that ‘improved-play’ equation is likely going to have to be more steady and impactful play from those already on the roster.
For a defensive front that struggled to produce against the NFC’s best, and overall, ranked 26th in ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric, everyone has to be better. But among those who need to take the biggest step forward in 2025 is Lukas Van Ness.
“I think sitting here on April 8 and looking into the season,” Van Ness said prior to leaving for the Packers’ Tailgate Tour, “this is obviously the most important one as it’s the next one ahead.
“Again, this is my job. I love what I do, I love playing football. My goal every single day is to come to work and put that effort in, and then, ultimately, put the best product on the field on Sundays.”
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In his second NFL season in 2024 and in a Jeff Hafley defense where the defensive front was supposed to have the freedom to pin its ears back, we didn’t see Van Ness take that sophomore leap that so many successful NFL players make.
But instead, Van Ness finished the season with a modest 22 pressures–only two more than he had as a rookie–and three sacks, which was one fewer than he had in 2023. For some context, among all defensive ends, Van Ness ranked 90th in pressures. As the pressure numbers indicate, the consistency wasn’t there with ranking 78th in pass rush win rate as well, according to PFF.
“I think this next step going into next year is not only for myself for this team,” Van Ness said, “but just continue to play hard together, play four consistent quarters of football. Ultimately, if we can do that together, we’ll do pretty well.”
When the Packers drafted Van Ness in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, it was known that he was a bit of a raw defensive end prospect, having played fewer than 1,000 defensive snaps at Iowa with the majority of them coming at the defensive tackle position.
The upside and physical traits were too good for GM Brian Gutekunst to pass on, but it was known that time and reps were needed. At the NFL level, having a pass rush plan is a must because a defender can’t just run through every offensive tackle. So when a pass rusher’s initial move is taken away, what’s Plan B? How do you counter?
Improvement in this facet of the pass rush game specifically can be a catalyst in helping Van Ness take his game to the next level.
While Van Ness’ overall production last season certainly doesn’t leap off the stat sheet, he did start to build momentum over the second half of the season. Of his 22 pressures, 13 of them came from Weeks 12 through 18. He also showcased more consistency, ranking 27th in win rate during that span, and he was 19th in pass rush productivity, meaning that he took advantage of and finished the pass rush reps he had.
“It’s important for all our guys, including Lukas,” said GM Brian Gutekunst at the NFL combine when asked if it’s an important season for Van Ness. “Again, we talked a little bit about we need to affect the quarterback more in our front four, with just four players, and Lukas is a big part of that. He does everything he can. He’s everything you want in a professional as far as his work ethic and what he puts into it, and I expect him to take a big jump this year.”
Going beyond the production, however, a potential turning point for Van Ness last season and something that truly showcases his growth as a player at the NFL level came in Week 12 against San Francisco. In that game, Van Ness caused a forced fumble, but that result is not what’s noteworthy. Instead, it’s the process to get to that point.
In the locker room afterward, Rashan Gary mentioned that a few series prior to the fumble, Van Ness had noticed something in how the offensive line was blocking off of play-action and how the defensive front should then attack it. Then when San Francisco presented that look again, Van Ness knew exactly how to respond and took advantage.
“Man it was a great,” said Gary of the play. “A couple series back, Lukas was saying if he gives me the play-action, if we get it, just shoot up field and it was crazy because the play out there was the same play he was getting a couple series ago.
“So it actually showed how locked in he is, and we locked in and you see the formation, you pull the trigger and when you pull the trigger big plays happen and we needed it.”
This will be the first time since Van Ness’ final season at Iowa that he will have been in the same defensive system for consecutive years. That important component coupled with the foundation he seemingly began to establish during the second half of last season will need to result in him–and the rest of the defensive line–making a bigger impact in 2025.
As Gutekunst said earlier this offseason, if the Packers are going to accomplish the goals that they have, they need more consistency from the pass rush, and of course, Van Ness is going to be a big part of making that happen.
“I think we have a great group,” Van Ness added. “Whether we take two guys (or) we take nobody, I think we’re all going to come to work every day, we’re going to compete against each other for our spots, and we’re going to work hard. I love the guys we have in our room. I think we’re all hard-working, we love the game of football, and I’m excited to see what we can do together.”
Do the Packers' late-season passing game woes result in their first-round WR drought ending? Some recent pre-draft visits tells us it's at least on their radar.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Is this the year that the Packers finally take a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL draft? A few of the prospects that Green Bay has had in for official 30 visits tell us that it is at least on their radar.
As we all know, the Packers haven’t drafted a wide receiver in the first round since the team selected Javon Walker out of Florida State back in 2002. While that’s how things have played out, it’s of course not intentional on the Packers’ part.
“It’s funny,” said GM Brian Gutekunst back at the NFL combine, “it’s never been a philosophical thing we’ve talked about through my time in Green Bay, which goes back quite a while. It’s never been something, where, hey don’t want to take wide receivers in the first round. There’s certainly opportunities we’ve had that we thought that was going to happen and for whatever reason it didn’t.”
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As of now, it’s been reported that Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden and Ohio State wideout Emeka Egbuka have visited with the Packers. Golden seems pretty well cemented into being a first-round selection, while Egbuka could go in the latter portion of the first round or potentially early on in the second round.
Golden will bring speed to an offense. Measuring in at 5-11 and weighing 191 pounds, he posted a 4.3-second 40 time. The 2024 season was Golden’s first at Texas after spending two seasons at Houston, where he was also featured in that offense.
However, Golden’s target share was spread around, with him regularly attacking all levels of the field. That ability, coupled with lining up both inside and out makes him a good fit for the Matt LaFleur offense, where the wide receiver roles can often be interchangeable.
“The one-on-one routes to the boundary, I can get open to the boundary,” Golden said. “I can change my tempo, my speeds and be able to snap down and comeback to the quarterback. I can stretch the field vertically. I also like to be in the run game. I take a lot of pride in blocking.”
Egbuka, meanwhile, doesn’t have the same athletic testing numbers that Golden does, but he comes to the NFL extremely polished and has good size at 6-0 – 202 pounds. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com notes Egbuka’s ball skills and calls him “competitive” and someone who can “squeeze out additional yardage.”
Egbuka has been a big part of the Ohio State offense for three seasons. This includes eclipsing 100 targets in two of those seasons and going over 1,000 receiving yards in each of those years as well.
The bulk of his playing time has come from the slot, but at his size and with his ball skills, he does potentially have the skill set to line up outside as well, which will be important for the Packers.
Last season, roughly two-thirds of Egbuka’s targets came within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage, where he then ranked 32nd among eligible receivers in average YAC per reception.
“He’d be a great fit for somebody that wants plug and play, for a team that’s ready to win right now,” Daniel Jeremiah said during a pre-Scouting Combine conference call.
With the Packers’ passing game sputtering late last season, the team is in search of more consistency from the wide receiver position heading into the new year.
Dropped passes throughout the 2024 season were an issue for this team. In addition to that, LaFleur mentioned after the Week 17 loss to Minnesota, against the Vikings’ unexpected heavy usage of man coverage, the Packers didn’t win their routes consistently enough or quickly enough. Then in the playoff loss to Philadelphia, LaFleur brought up that on two of the interceptions thrown by Jordan Love, receivers weren’t running their routes with the proper detail that was needed to put them in the proper positions.
These are just a few examples–but big examples in crucial games–of things that went awry over a long NFL season. But, to a degree, these performances also seemed to be a microcosm of what we saw from the receiver position on and off during the year.
“You’d like to have somebody move into that space,” Gutekunst said of having a No. 1 receiver, “but, at the same time, I’d like multiple guys to be able to move into that space. What I’m looking for is guys that, when they’re called upon, can perform at a high level. I think we have a lot of guys that have done that.”
Of course, spending a first-round pick on a receiver doesn’t mean the passing game is solved and the Packers now have their go-to WR1. Maybe Golden or Egbuka can be that player, but assuming that is going to happen comes with obvious risks.
Also, it’s not as if the Packers’ current receiver room is void of talent either. Improved play is needed, certainly, but Green Bay believes they already have several candidates on the roster who can be that go-to target in crucial moments.
And, not to be forgotten in all of this, when it comes to operating within the LaFleur offense and at the NFL level in general, the third and fourth-year receivers that the Packers have on the roster already are–at least initially–going to be ahead of any incoming rookies.
“I think we’re certainly looking for these guys that we have currently to take a step into that role where they are more consistent on the down-down basis,” Gutekunst said of the receiver position after the season. “Certainly, if there’s somebody outside of our building, whether it’s the draft, free agency, that makes some sense for us, we’ll certainly look to do that, but we’re also looking for these guys to continue to grow and hopefully grow into that space.”
So, instead of waiting for WR1 to just walk through the doors, the catalyst for improved play is still likely going to have to be competition, which Golden or Egbuka, if the Packers go that route, can very much add. This will help raise the level of urgency within that room, whether it be competing for a roster spot, playing time, or targets, and in turn, that then hopefully elevates the entire room as a whole, and provides that consistency.
Free agency probably didn’t play out as expected or hoped for many but Hobbs and Banks’ fits with what the Packers want to do highlights why they were prioritized.
“he’s a really versatile all-around corner, can do everything”
GREEN BAY, Wis. — I’m going to guess that free agency for the Packers didn’t play out how many had expected or hoped.
Instead of landing that true No. 1 wide out in free agency or via trade, the only addition at the receiver position was Mecole Hardman on a one-year prove-it deal. At pass rusher, no signings have been made up to this point.
Even when it came to the two big contracts that the Packers did hand out, Nate Hobbs and Aaron Banks weren’t among the often talked about free agents that were available. Along those lines, when it comes to Banks’ position as an offensive lineman, that wasn’t one of the big perceived needs on the outside.
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Ultimately, until games are played and we see how the season unfolds for Hobbs and Banks, we won’t truly know what level of impact they can have. So, for the time being, all we have to go off of is what these players have done in the past, while seeing the big free agent names that were available sign elsewhere, as receiver and pass rusher remain needs for Green Bay, which I imagine, only fuels any frustration that may exist among fans.
However, with that said, while perhaps not obvious initially, one can also see the vision that the Packers have with these two additions. Although signing Hobbs and Banks may fall more so into the ‘under-the-radar’ category, their fits skill set-wise and schematically with what the Packers want to accomplish can help further elevate their own play, and therefore the play of the offensive and defensive units for Green Bay as well.
Hobbs had primarily been a nickel cornerback with the Las Vegas Raiders the last few seasons, but he has experience on the boundary, and the Packers believe he has the ability to play both.
“We just really thought he’s a really versatile all-around corner, can do everything,” GM Brian Gutekunst said at the NFL league meetings. “We really like his ability to play on the outside, which he hasn’t done a ton of, but the ability to move him inside and match different receivers, and his play style I think is one of the things that really stood out to all of us. Really, really excited to see what he’s going to do for us this year.”
That versatility that Hobbs brings to the Packers is already a prominent element throughout the secondary and is a factor that can further enhance the Jeff Hafley defense.
Like Hobbs, Keisean Nixon can play both inside and out at the drop of a hat if needed. Javon Bullard can handle nickel or safety duties, helping out in the run game, blitzing, or the various coverage responsibilities that come with each role.
Green Bay also believes Evan Williams can take on a variety of responsibilities at the second and third levels, which was a factor in their decision to draft him last April. And we all know Xavier McKinney brings a do-it-all presence to the safety position.
“We got some of these young guys who give us the versatility to move people around and get creative,” Hafley said last season prior to the Houston game in Week 7. “As you start to see each week, if you turn us on and really watch us, there’s something a little bit new every single week and it’s kind of talked about. We gotta build and build and build and find what we’re good at, who’s good at what and really start to roll.”
Versatility helps a team navigate any potential injuries that may occur during the course of the NFL season. But, from a schematic perspective, it can put a lot on the plate of an opposing offense as it allows the defense to be extremely malleable.
From a preparation standpoint for opposing offenses, there’s a lot to watch and be ready for throughout the week when the defense is putting a variety of looks on tape. Then pre-snap, quarterbacks won’t as easily get a beat on what’s coming based solely on where defenders are lined up because it’s either a different look or where players are aligned or what role they have on a given play could change once the ball is snapped.
While Hafley has his core defensive principles that he has built his scheme around like any offensive or defensive play-caller, his playbook is ever-evolving as well–adapting and adjusting weekly to what the opponent is doing, what Hafley wants to prioritize taking away from the offense, and also what skill sets he has on the roster in order to maximize those abilities.
However, in order for Hafley to have that ability, versatility is the straw that stirs the drink. It’s not only about the individual skill sets on a roster; more importantly, it’s about how all the players and those skill sets work together in unison. When operating as a cohesive and interchangeable unit, that’s when defenses can really level up.
“I think it’s about adapting,” Hafley said last season. “I’ve said this since I got here, it’s not like, ‘Hey, here’s the playbook. This is in. Go run the defense.’ It’s each week, what did we look like? What do we look like when they watch us on tape? What can we do a little bit different to counter that? What do we do really well?
“Let’s do more of it, make it look different. And then as we start to see certain players do certain things, how can we best use them to improve? We have to keep getting better. That’s the whole key to this whole entire thing as we go. Any way that we can adapt and get better, both coaching, playing, scheme, personnel, it’s not just like plug and play. Let’s evolve. I think that’s very important.”
On the offensive side of the ball with Banks, that addition helped shore up the starting offensive line unit after Josh Myers parted in free agency. It also affords the Packers additional flexibility to have Jordan Morgan compete at not only right guard, but at left tackle, which is what the plan appears to be this summer.
But in addition to that, the strength of Banks’ game during his career has been as a run-blocker, which includes operating within the gap, power running scheme–which we saw a lot more of from the Packers last season with Josh Jacobs–along with Banks’ movement abilities, and all of that can really help elevate the run game.
“Obviously a really large man that can do all the things that Matt asks those guys to do in our scheme as far as our ability to get off the ball quickly, get out in space and really run,” said Gutekunst of Banks.
“Again, this isn’t a 295-pound man. This is a 330-pound man. His ability to play physical in the run game and anchor down in the pass pro is something where he’s played at a high level for a few years now, and to get a guy like that really in the prime of his career is something I thought would really benefit us.”
We saw a shift last season from the Packers to being a more run-centric offense, and that does not appear to be going away. But in order to maximize that, and truly lean into that facet, more big plays are needed. Runs of four, five, or six yards are great and keep an offense ahead of the sticks, but explosive plays put up points.
At this time of the offseason, all we have to go off of is what the offense looks like on paper. But from a running game perspective in that regard, the Packers certainly look like an improved team compared to last year, with Banks at left guard and Elgton Jenkins at center.
“You try to avoid the comparisons on a year-to-year basis, but I’m excited about the group that we have coming in,” LaFleur said of the offensive line. “It’s going to take a lot of work, that’s the bottom line. Every season’s a new season, and you can’t take anything for granted. We’re excited about Banks coming in and then moving Elgton back to center. We feel like we have a lot of pieces.”
As was discussed recently, urgency comes in many forms. Just because the outside perspective of what must be done doesn’t align with how the Packers operated internally does not mean that urgency didn’t exist–it was different.
The Packers clearly thought that addressing the offensive line was an urgent matter, and I think we can all agree that with the uncertainty around Jaire Alexander’s future with the team, cornerback was a much more pressing need prior to free agency than what wide receiver and pass rusher were.
Hobbs and Banks aren’t wide receivers or defensive ends, and neither was the top free agent available within their respective position groups, but in terms of what the Packers want to accomplish on both sides of the ball schematically, they each fit quite well, and that can, in turn, elevate the level of play throughout the team.
While without Christian Watson, it’s crucial that the Packers still have a downfield passing game.
So who fills that role? Gutkeunst and LaFleur believe there are several options on the roster already.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — As the Packers search for consistency in the passing game this offseason, accomplishing that come the start of the 2025 season becomes more difficult without Christian Watson’s presence for a portion of the season.
Watson suffered an ACL tear in the Packers’ Week 18 loss to the Chicago Bears. There hasn’t been a reported timeline for his return, but he is expected to miss a portion of the upcoming season.
“I wouldn’t count him out just because I know his work ethic and how he approaches things,” said GM Brian Gutekunst at the NFL league meetings. “Certainly it won’t shock me at all if he’s a big factor for us this season, but at the same time, as you said, we have to make sure we’re protecting him in case that doesn’t happen.”
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In what is a deep wide receiver room, there still aren’t any other pass-catchers on this Packers’ roster who can bring the combination of size and speed to the equation like Watson can.
The obvious loss for the offense is the lack of big-play ability that will now be missing with Watson’s ability to stretch the field. Last season, Watson had caught 29 passes for 620 yards and two touchdowns.
This included a four-game stretch from Weeks 11-14, where Watson hauled in 10-of-16 passes for 331 yards at a whopping 33.1 yards per reception. Watson was targeted downfield on 37.5% of the passes thrown his way–the eighth-highest rate among receivers–and his 21.4 yards per catch is the third-most in football this season.
“Christian’s a pretty dynamic guy,” Gutekunst said. “There’s not many guys like him in our league, so when he’s out there, it certainly changes things. Getting him healthy down the stretch I think will be a really important part of that.”
This field-stretching element within the offense will have to be replaced. However, while there aren’t any other players on the roster who are 6-4, 208 pounds, and ran a 4.28-second 40, the Packers do believe that there are players already on the roster who can provide this vertical presence.
“You always want that, and I think we’ve got that,” said Matt LaFleur at the league meetings about having a deep threat. “I think we’ve got guys that can do that, whether it’s Jayden Reed or Bo Melton. And I don’t want to limit Wicks and Rome and Malik and those guys either. Those guys can certainly do some of that stuff.”
LaFleur would also mention using tight ends Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave in certain situations to stretch the field. Gutekunst, when asked a similar question, would bring up free agent signee Mecole Hardman, who ran a 4.33 coming out of Georgia.
“It’s on us as a staff to kind of get creative and find different ways to open up some of those shots down the field in the pass game,” LaFleur added.
Last season, according to PFF’s metrics, Dontayvion Wicks was second on the team with 18 targets of at least 20-plus yards downfield. Compared to the rest of the NFL, this ranked 34th. Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed each had 15 downfield targets, which was tied for 47th among wide receivers, and Bo Melton had seven. At tight end, meanwhile, Kraft’s five targets of 20 or more yards ranked 16th.
So the Packers asking the players mentioned by Gutekunst and LaFleur to step into this role more often won’t be new to them by any means, but circumstances are also quite different when defenses know that you’re the go-to downfield option on a route versus there being attention elsewhere–like on Watson–as we saw in Green Bay’s playoff loss to Philadelphia.
Having that downfield threat is a critical component for an offense. Beyond the big plays that player can generate, and as LaFleur often says, explosive plays lead to points, having that presence within an offense can open up opportunities for others. To limit those downfield throws, defenses may play a heavy-dose of Cover-2, which is then a prime opportunity for the offense to run the ball.
When a defense respects an offense’s ability to stretch the field, it can create better spacing over the middle and on underneath routes for other pass-catchers to attack.
On the flip side, when that element isn’t present, second and third level defenders can begin creeping closer to the line of scrimmage, taking away space to operate in on those other routes, which in turn, makes moving the ball more challenging. And to a degree, even the run game can be impacted with more defenders closer to the ball.
“I do think the more explosive players that you have, the chances are that you can [be more explosive], whether they’re running somebody out of there or they’re the primary read. It’s all dependent upon what coverages you’re getting, but yeah, you definitely want speed on the perimeter,” LaFleur said.
Whether the downfield element exists or not, either way, there is a massive trickle-down effect–positive or negative–that impacts the rest of the passing game and even the running game as well.
The Packers believe they have several players who can impact the game in that fashion, and they could also still add someone in the NFL draft. There may not be one designated downfield presence without Watson, but rather it could be a by-committee approach depending on the in-game situation, who the opponent is, and what LaFleur wants to go after schematically.
If the Packers’ passing game is going to be more consistent this season, beyond improved play, the attention to detail, and numerous other factors, the vertical component has to be a part of the equation. If so, there is a lot of good that comes with that and makes the jobs of everyone on offense easier. But without it, it could be tough sledding through the air.
“I think it’s just a little bit, it was our offense in general was a little bit inconsistent at times in the passing game,” said Gutekunst of the wide receiver play last season. “We worked through some injuries as well, which always affects that.
“They’re very experienced players now, but they’re entering kind of that third year where you usually see these guys get into a comfort zone when their ability really comes out. So hopefully we can stay healthy in there, see what those guys give us this year.”
The pass rush must be better. Further investing into that group in the draft can help, but ultimately internal growth is still a massive part of the equation.
“I think there’s a significant amount of improvement for those guys”
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers’ pass rush has to improve and become more consistent in the 2025 NFL season. However, in order to accomplish that, an addition may not be a must, at least according to GM Brian Gutekunst. Instead, the opportunity for growth and improved play can come from those already on the roster.
“I think we can do everything we need to do with the players we have on our roster right now,” Gutekunst said at the NFL league meetings. “I think there’s a significant amount of improvement for those guys, not only in Year 2 of a scheme but just individually as well.”
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On the stat sheet, the Packers finished the 2024 season ranked top 10 in sacks and around the middle of the pack in terms of pressures–not bad. But those figures don’t tell the entire story either.
This was a Packers’ pass rush that was either feast or famine, often posting some big days against lesser opponents, but going quiet against the NFC’s best, like Minnesota, Detroit, and Philadelphia. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley also helped manufacture some of that pass rush production through blitzes and simulated pressures.
So perhaps a more accurate portrayal of the success that the Packers’ front four had rushing the passer is ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric, which measures how often a defender is winning his matchup against the offensive lineman. In that category, the Packers ranked 26th.
“We had some pretty good moments with the pass rush last year,” Gutekunst added. “It just wasn’t consistent enough. I think when you’ve shown it, the ability to pass rush at a high level, you know you can do it. It’s just a matter of, at that point, being able to do it week in and week out.”
Regardless of whether or not the Packers add to this unit in the NFL draft, internal improvement is still going to be a must. Individually, by PFF’s pass rush win rate metric, only two Packers defensive linemen, Devonte Wyatt and Rashan Gary, ranked in the top 100 in that category, and only Wyatt was inside the top 50, ranking 48th.
A second year in Hafley’s defensive scheme can hopefully help facilitate that growth, but as Gutekunst said at the NFL combine, the pass rush has “gotta be better,” adding that the Packers have to find ways to more consistently affect the quarterback with only four rushers.
Despite there being a need for improved play, it’s not a surprise that this position wasn’t addressed in free agency. For one, this is a position group that the Packers have already invested heavily into from a salary cap perspective. Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark are both top-four on the team in salary cap hits this season, not to mention a decision about Devonte Wyatt’s future has to be made soon as well.
That important factor, to some degree at least, probably had some sort of impact on Gutekunst’s willingness to spend on the defensive line in free agency. This is also an incredibly deep defensive line draft class. So when it comes to adding to the roster at this position, if the choice is between a veteran with a hefty cap hit or a high-upside draft pick on a rookie deal, we all know what Gutekunst would prefer.
“We’ve invested in that quite a bit already and I’m excited to see the growth that those guys will have,” Gutekunst said. “If the draft happens to bring us some more ammunition in that caliber great but I don’t think it’s something that’s necessarily that we’ll have to go chase.”
Perhaps an added challenge that the Packers face when deciding if or how to add to this position group is that they have a strong foundation along the defensive front already on the roster. I’m not sure how much help they get from signing a middle-tier veteran in free agency or drafting a player on Day 2 or Day 3. The Packers don’t need rotational depth–they have that. They need a higher-impact presence, and there are only so many of those players out there.
As we saw in the Super Bowl, when the defensive line is able to create steady havoc on its own, the entire defense benefits and everything becomes much more difficult for the offense. On the flip side, without consistent pressure, the quarterback has time in the pocket and now the job of the second and third level defenders has become a lot more challenging.
The ceiling for what this Packers’ defense can be is ultimately going to be determined by the play of the defensive line because the potential impact that position group can have on a game is staggering. But one other potential, not to be overlooked perk of more steady play up front, is that we may then see more of what Hafley’s defense can truly be.
“I think we all came in with a vision of being one thing and it transitioned to something totally different,” said Matt LaFleur at the NFL league meeting about Hafley’s defense. “Initially we were gonna jet off the football with our front and try to create havoc that way and then we started to play a lot more technique, playing with our hands and doing a better job in that regard and then from a coverage standpoint.
“I think the basis was gonna be more your 3-deep and we played a ton of split safety, but I think that’s — you gotta constantly evolve and adjust to the pieces that you have and I think that’s what coaching is, is trying to maximize each individual, put ’em in the best position possible to help the team win.”
Gutekunst mentioned the Packers need for “urgency” early this offseason. What did he mean by that and did his approach this offseason match?
“it’s for our players, it’s for our organization in how we’re going to approach things”
GREEN BAY, Wis. — During GM Brian Gutekunst’s season-ending press conference following the Packers’ loss to Philadelphia, he brought up the need for greater “urgency” and “not getting complacent.”
Creating and maintaining the sense of urgency throughout the year will be an important element when it comes to competing for championships, which Gutekunst also said is time to start doing.
But what did Gutekunst mean by more urgency? And who does it apply to?
“I think the urgency comment is really more for our team, our organization to understand what the expectations are,” said Gutekunst at the annual NFL league meetings on Monday.
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During the second half of the 2024 season, it looked like this Packers team was trending in the right direction. They had won five of six games coming out of the bye week and had scored 30 or more points in five straight outings.
However, with the flip of a switch, things went cold, especially on the offensive side of the football. The Packers entered their Week 17 matchup with Minnesota still fighting for better playoff positioning. But a loss that week, followed by another to Chicago at home in Week 18, left the Packers as the NFC’s seventh seed and fortunate that the league expanded the playoffs a few years ago.
Green Bay’s season then ended one week later in the NFC’s wildcard round with a loss to the aforementioned Eagles. Rather than winning their last three games of the regular season, as they did in 2023, and riding a wave of momentum into the playoffs, the Packers sputtered down the stretch, losing their last three games of 2024.
“I think the one thing especially for younger players is you don’t necessarily, it goes by really fast,” said Matt LaFleur on Tuesday at the league meetings. “And before you blink, it seems like you’re at the end of your career.
“So it’s just maximizing those moments and taking advantage on a day-to-day basis of really putting your best foot forward and — because I am a believer, you’re either getting better or you’re getting worse every single day. You’re never staying the same. And that’s something we preach to ’em, but ultimately, each individual has to take that to heart and maximize our time together.”
So the Packers expect more urgency from their players to help get this team to being a championship-level contender, but how does that urgency apply to Gutekunst and his roster-building approach?
I’m going to guess that for most, if not all, free agency didn’t play out as expected. Wide receiver and pass rusher were the two big needs the outside world pontificated on for two months between the Packers’ season ending and free agency starting. However, the only addition made at either spot was Green Bay bringing in Mecole Hardman, a receiver and primary return man, on a prove-it deal.
Even the additions that the Packers did make, bringing in cornerback Nate Hobbs and guard Aaron Banks, I’m going to guess weren’t on the radars of many.
However, in terms of spending, the Packers still ranked quite high compared to the rest of the NFL. In terms of total dollars spent, Green Bay ranks 11th, according to Over the Cap. By average annual contract value, they rank fifth.
Now, in guarantee dollars, the Packers rank in the bottom half of the NFL, and that can be a factor for a free agent in deciding where to go if the Packers found themselves competing with other teams for someone, but there haven’t been any reports to suggest that happened.
“I think we were very urgent in free agency,” added Gutekunst. “Obviously, we went after a couple top targets; we were able to acquire them and I think that really is going to help our football team. The urgency comment is across the board. I think it’s for our players, it’s for our organization in how we’re going to approach things.”
A factor that cannot be overlooked in all of this, either, was the strength of this year’s free agent class. Overall, this was a so-so group, and what every team wants to avoid is throwing money at a need just because there is cap space available. It still comes down to whether it’s the right player and whether or not the cost to acquire them makes sense.
“Every free agent class is different,” Gutekunst said. “You have to be honest with yourselves about it; you can’t just go chasing after things and try to create stuff. We very much felt the targets that we targeted were the ones worth targeting.
“So I thought we were pretty aggressive and were able to acquire guys pretty early. But every year is unique with the free agency class, and I think it’s just a matter of how you evaluate that.”
Urgency comes in different forms. What the outside world views as an urgent need may not be what Gutekunst views as an urgent need. Green Bay clearly thought that improving the offensive line needed to be a priority.
In addition to that, I think we can all agree that given the roster outlook at cornerback, receiver, and pass rusher prior to free agency, especially with the uncertainty around Jaire Alexander, that cornerback was the biggest need of the three. That factor was a primary reason why I predicted that cornerback was where the Packers would spend in free agency.
There are also levels of urgency. Think about our own day-to-day lives, not everything that we come across is a level 10 issue that we have to address.
With that said, the big question is, did the Packers do enough this offseason? However, we don’t have that answer yet. We first have to see how the draft plays out and ultimately what takes place on the football field.
I wouldn’t say that the Packers haven’t been urgent up to this point in the offseason, but what urgent looks like to them is different than how the outside world may view it. Now it’s up to Gutekunst to be proven right, otherwise those questions around his approach–and the urgency that comes with that–will only grow.
The offseason OL movement for the Packers should provide the offense with a boost in one particular area where there is an opportunity for more.
“I’m excited about the group that we have coming in.”
GREEN BAY, Wis. — On paper anyway, the Packers’ offensive line unit, particularly in the running game, looks like an improved unit following free agency.
“Certainly,” said GM Brian Gutekunst on Monday when asked if Aaron Banks and Elgton Jenkins can make the for a better run-blocking unit. “I think we have the potential to be. At the same time, those five guys got to work in concert and there’s a lot of work that has to be done before you ever get to that point.”
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The play of the Packers’ offensive line unit last season was good, especially in pass protection. This was a unit that ranked seventh in ESPN’s pass-block win rate metric, while Jordan Love ranked 23rd in pressure rate despite being the most blitzed quarterback in football.
In the run game, the Packers leaned heavily on that facet, and it was often the catalyst for overall success on offense, along with helping Green Bay to put games away late. Including the playoffs, Josh Jacobs would rush for 1,410 yards at 4.4 yards per rush with 16 touchdowns.
This was a unit that was really good at churning out four, five, and six-yard carries. However, what was missing were the big, explosive runs. PFF’s breakaway percentage metric measures how often a running back has a carry of 15 or more yards. In that category, Jacobs ranked 32nd.
That isn’t a Jacobs stat either. To me, that’s about the offensive line. With help from PFF, nearly 80% of Jacobs’ total rushing yards came after contact. For some context, Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry were in the 50%-55% range.
So how do you get more big runs? The offensive line helps Jacobs get to the second level more cleanly and more often. Along the interior, the Packers seem to be in a better position to accomplish that.
Free agent signee Aaron Banks will take over at left guard for the Packers. The strength of his game during his career has been as a run-blocker, specifically, as ESPN’s Matt Bowen pointed out, in the gap run scheme, which the Packers leaned heavily on last season with Jacobs.
While not the be-all, end-all, Banks would rank 27th out of 81 eligible guards last season in PFF’s run-blocking metric.
“A really large man that can do all the things that Matt (LaFleur) asks those guys to do in our scheme as far as our ability to get off the ball quickly, get out in space and really run,” Gutekunst said of Banks.
“Again, this isn’t a 295-pound man. This is a 330-pound man. His ability to play physical in the run game and anchor down in the pass pro is something where he’s played at a high level for a few years now, and to get a guy like that really in the prime of his career is something I thought would really benefit us.”
With Banks at left guard, Jenkins will be moving to center. By comparison, while no new addition to the roster was made, having Jenkins at center instead of Josh Myers should provide the Packers with an upgrade.
Out of 42 eligible centers during the 2024 season, Myers would rank 41st in run-blocking grade.
“We were pretty good last year,” LaFleur said of the Packers’ running game on Tuesday. “You try to avoid the comparisons on a year-to-year basis, but I’m excited about the group that we have coming in. It’s going to take a lot of work, that’s the bottom line. Every season’s a new season, and you can’t take anything for granted.
“We’re excited about Banks coming in and then moving Elgton back to center. We feel like we have a lot of pieces. There’s going to be some good competition at a lot of spots, but you got to re-create it each and every year, and the only way you do that is you get to work.”
As Gutekunst said, you have to have the ability to both run and throw the ball depending on the opponent and the situation at hand. With that said, there was a more run-centric approach that this Packers’ offense took last season, and if Green Bay is going to continue leaning into that element–which it appears they are–then the ability to create more chunk runs has to be a part of the equation.
And while it is only early April, it would appear that the Packers are in a better position to do just that.
A possible change coming to the Packers' OL could be at LT, where Jordan Morgan will have the chance to compete.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — After competing and playing at right guard during his rookie season, Jordan Morgan will now have the opportunity to compete with Rasheed Walker this year for the Packers’ starting left tackle role.
“It’s going to be a great competition,” Matt LaFleur said at the annual NFL league meetings. “Him and Sheed are going to battle it out and hopefully push each other to be that much better.”
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Left tackle is Morgan’s natural position. Of the 2,404 snaps he played in college at Arizona, 2,392 of them came at left tackle, according to PFF. However, very quickly upon his arrival to Green Bay, Morgan found himself at right guard, where he competed with Sean Rhyan for playing time.
The learning curve that Morgan experienced last season was two-fold. Along with adjusting to the play speed and strength of the NFL, he was also moving from tackle to guard, where there is less time to react.
“You’ve got to be in a three-point stance a lot more,” said Morgan during training camp about the move from tackle to guard. “Everything happens quicker. You’ve got to get your hands on people quicker.”
But in addition to that, Morgan also went from playing on the left side of the offensive line to the right side, which comes with adjustments as well. In short, every movement that Morgan had grown accustomed to making had to be reversed.
“I’d say just technique,” Morgan added last the summer about playing on the right side. “I mean, the footwork and the hand placement. I’m used to punching with my left then getting out there and having to punch with my right. It’s so different and you’ve got to get used to the timing and pick up everything quicker.”
In addition to making a position change, Morgan dealt with a lingering shoulder injury as well. That injury sidelined him during training camp and kept him out of the preseason. It then eventually landed him on injured reserve.
Morgan would end up playing 186 snaps as a rookie, which included one start in Week 9. Otherwise, he was in a right guard rotation with Rhyan, who dominated much of the playing time.
If there was any doubt following last year’s draft about whether or not Walker would start at left tackle, those notions were put to bed quickly, with Walker seizing control of that job almost immediately last offseason.
On the season, Walker would surrender just three sacks and four quarterback hits, but he did give up 35 pressures. While not the be-all, end-all, Walker ranked 45th out of 87 tackles in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric, and he was 69th in run-blocking grade.
Also, not to be overlooked is the long-term component of all this. Walker is a free agent next offseason. Zach Tom is in line for a big payday, and Elgton Jenkins could be due for an extension in the next year, and Aaron Banks just got a big deal in free agency. Not everyone up front can be paid, so there is a lot of value in having a starter on a rookie deal, whether that be this year or beyond.
Competition, often along the offensive line but throughout the roster, has been a catalyst for this Packers’ team as a whole over the last two seasons, and LaFleur and GM Brian Gutekunst want to continue leaning into that element. Naturally, the focus is on Jordan Love and the passing game, but success starts up front with time in the pocket and having a run game to lean on.
While Walker has given the Packers stability at left tackle, there is room for improvement as well, and whether it’s fair or not, as a first-round pick, Morgan is going to get every opportunity to prove that he can start somewhere along the offensive line.
“I think Rasheed’s done a lot of really, really good things for us,” Gutekunst said. “I don’t think he necessarily needs to show anything. Like anything, you’ve got to continue to play at a high level. We’re going to have a lot of competition there. Not just at his spot, but all across the offensive line.”
As expected, Brian Gutekunst confirms that Elgton Jenkins will be the team's center this season.
A look at what it means for Jenkins and the rest of the offensive line.
“We feel he’s got a chance to be an All-Pro center.”
GREEN BAY, Wis. — During the NFL combine, it was reported by Ian Rapoport that the Packers were having trade conversations centered around cornerback Jaire Alexander. However, with April nearly here and the NFL draft on the horizon, Alexander remains a part of the team.
“I think we’re still working through that,” said GM Brian Gutekunst on Monday at the NFL league meeting. Obviously, a very, very good player for us, and we have some time here to figure that out. See what’s best for him and the organization.”
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Alexander suffered a torn posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his right knee during the Packers’ Week 8 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Alexander attempted to return in Week 11 against Chicago, but would exit the game early on.
During the second half of the season, Alexander appeared to be trending in the right direction as he returned to the practice field and his workload seemed to steadily increase. However, Alexander was never able to get to the point where he was able to play on Sundays, and he ultimately ended up undergoing surgery prior to the Packers’ Week 18 finale, which officially ended his season.
When players were cleaning out their lockers following the season-ending loss to Philadelphia, Alexander was asked by local media members to speak, but he declined, adding that he doesn’t know if he will be in Green Bay next season and that he didn’t have anything good to say.
When on the field, Alexander continues to operate at a high level. This includes this past season, allowing a completion rate of just 56% on 25 targets with a pick-six and three pass breakups. Unfortunately, due to injuries, Alexander often hasn’t been available–a “frustrating” reality for both Alexander and the Packers, as Gutekunst put it after the season.
Since the 2021 season, he has appeared in only 34 out of a possible 68 games. This includes playing only four games in 2021, and seven games in each of the 2023 and 2024 seasons. During the 2022 season, when he made 16 starts, Alexander was a second-team All-Pro.
On Monday, Gutekunst didn’t rule out Alexander remaining with the Packers for the 2025 season, saying “There could be a possibility, absolutely,” but those conversations around what’s next are still being had.
Of course, this is one of those questions where we ask ourselves, how else is Gutekunst supposed to respond? But if the opportunity to run things back for at least one more season exists, keeping that door open does make sense, given the unknowns that the Packers currently have at the cornerback position.
With that said, ultimately, whatever things end up going, Gutekunst wants to find the best solution for everyone involved.
“John Thornton is his agent,” Gutekunst said, “we talk weekly about these things, working together on finding the best solution for everybody. Obviously, we invested a lot into Jaire, and we want to make sure that if he’s not going to be on our football team helping us win games, that we get something back for that investment. So we’ll see where it goes, but again, working with him weekly and trying to figure out what’s best for both Jaire and the Packers.”
There doesn’t seem to be a hard deadline anytime soon when it comes to finding a resolution, whatever that may be, although Gutekunst did acknowledge that finding a solution before the NFL draft would be helpful.
“I think that would be nice,” said Gutekunst, “but I don’t think you can say that for sure. But I think that would be helpful.”
With two years left on his current deal, Alexander comes with a cap hit this season of $24.99 million. If traded or released, the Packers would save $6.87 million in cap space for the 2025 season, and Alexander’s contract would be off the books for the 2026 season, when Green Bay has some potentially expensive roster decisions to make.
However, if traded or released with a post-June 1st designation, the benefit in the short term is that the Packers’ cap savings in 2025 would sit at $17.11 million instead of $6.87 million. But the downside is that a portion of Alexander’s contract is still on the books in 2026 and would still be something that the Packers would have to continue to navigate around from a cap perspective.
As expected, Brian Gutekunst confirms that Elgton Jenkins will be the team's center this season.
A look at what it means for Jenkins and the rest of the offensive line.
“We feel he’s got a chance to be an All-Pro center.”