The Green Bay Packers will enter the offseason in 2025 with ample salary cap space and zero “must re-sign” free agents. It’s a flexible place to be for general manager Brian Gutekunst, who has a chance to be selective in bringing back his own free agents and aggressive in targeting outside help.
The Packers have six exclusive rights free agents — punter Daniel Whelan, receiver Bo Melton, safety Zayne Anderson, running back Emanuel Wilson, edge rusher Arron Mosby and offensive lineman Kadeem Telfort — and we can safely assume all six will return. But which of the Packers’ 11 unrestricted free agents will Gutekunst prioritize?
Let’s rank them by priority,
Top priority
K Brandon McManus: He turns 34 in July, and he missed a 38-yard field goal in Philadelphia, but his age and finish shouldn’t tarnish what he accomplished during the regular season. McManus made 20-of-21 field goals (only miss was in heavy rain at Lambeau Field vs. Lions) and all 30 extra points. He hit back-to-back game-winning field goals and all three of his kicks over 50 yards, including the go-ahead 55-yarder in freezing temps in the season finale. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, McManus is a safe and solid option at kicker. The guess here is the Packers want to avoid another circus at kicker this summer and will work to get McManus back for at least the 2025 season.
Probably would like to keep
DL TJ Slaton: His silly penalty in the fourth quarter against the Eagles will leave a sour taste in the Packers’ mouth, and PFF thought Slaton took a big step backwards in performance during his first season in the 4-3 front. Still, he started all 17 games for the Packers in 2024 and was a trusted player for the spine of the run defense, which improved vastly. According to ESPN, Slaton finished first in run stop rate among defensive tackles, so he has a legitimate skill. The Packers also don’t have another front player with his size.
C Josh Myers: The Packers can and should do better at center, and drafting Jordan Morgan in the first round last year — and training him at guard — provides the option of moving a player like Elgton Jenkins inside to center and plugging Morgan in as a starter at guard. But something tells me the Packers like Myers a lot more than the outside perception, and I won’t be surprised if there’s a push to bring him back on a modest deal. The center market isn’t deep or strong, so Myers might find more money elsewhere. We’ll see.
LB Eric Wilson: The veteran made a handful of splash plays as a backup and was the team’s most heavily used player on special teams, appearing on 340 snaps for the third phase. He turns 31 in September. Matt LaFleur loves Wilson as a player and locker room influence, and the guess here is Rich Bisaccia will push to have him back as one of the special teams leaders.
Could return
LB Isaiah McDuffie: He started all 17 games at linebacker and finished second on the team in tackles with 97. He can also play multiple roles on special teams and would be a perfectly capable No. 4/5 linebacker. Because the Packers drafted Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper last year, it’s possible McDuffie will have to find a better opportunity elsewhere.
CB Corey Ballentine: While he struggled at corner, Ballentine was one of the Packers’ best special teams players. He made six tackles and didn’t have a penalty across over 200 special teams snaps. It’s possible the Packers will want him back as a veteran competing for one of those final roster spots.
OT Andre Dillard: The veteran was on the field for only 13 offensive snaps in 2024, but he looked decent during the preseason and has the natural talent (as a former first-rounder) to be developed in Green Bay’s system. Another year with the Packers could turn Dillard into a trusted backup at tackle.
CB Robert Rochell: The Packers have turned to Rochell during each of the last two years to play snaps on special teams. He’s fast and still only 26 years old. On a minimum deal, Rochell could return for a third season.
Unlikely to return
CB Eric Stokes: While he started seven games, played in all 17 and didn’t suffer an injury in 2024, his end to the season was probably telling. Stokes played only five snaps in the season finale and just a single snap in the playoff loss in Philadelphia. The 2021 first-rounder had a decent stretch of games in December, but the Packers are probably ready to move on. An upgrade is required at corner.
RB A.J. Dillon: He missed the entire 2024 season with a neck injury, and the Packers developed incredible depth at running back behind Josh Jacobs. With MarShawn Lloyd coming back from a nightmare rookie season and Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks coming off a strong year, there’s no room for Dillon in the running back room.
TE Tyler Davis: Back-to-back lost seasons likely means Davis is done in Green Bay. The Packers like Ben Sims and John FitzPatrick behind Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave. Davis is highly thought of as a special teamer, but it’s hard to come back from missing two seasons with injury.
