2025 NFL Free Agency

[McKnowledge]

Davante signed, today, with the Rams. 2yr/$46mil, $26mil guaranteed.

Good for him.

He's back on the west coast.

Got a great contract, with room to make money at age 34.

This dude is going to play for a long time, and I foresee him retiring as an NFL all-time great.

 

[Firethorn1001]

Was never a fan of giving up that much and signing a massive contract. If they end up with MVS, a decent DB and maybe Mack I'd be happier with that than with Metcalf.

Have the 'OMG Packers aren't doing anything everyone is getting better, but us!' screams started yet?

I also assume the 'Pickens to the Packers' rumors will start. Pickens isnt' going to be happy with making 3M vs 30M. Plus they both wear 14... Although, not sure how I feel about Pickens.

 

[AmishMafia]

I think we go with a CB in free agency. I'm not sure there will be value at 23 at the CB and in the 2nd, it may not work out either. Gute doesn't like to go into the draft with a need. Our only hard need is CB. I think we go after Paulson Adebo. He is only 25, an elite athlete, and a good player.

I think our other pursuit will be Milton Williams. Again only 25. 9.96 RAS, and a tremendous player. He is a pocket collapsing machine. I dont think he got enough credit on the Eagles because of all the other talent around him. He will be very expensive, but I think he can make a huge difference for us.

 

[AmishMafia]

Ouch to that expenditure. Yeah. Sometimes letting that initial waive pass puts us in a better position to get the best bang for our buck. The issue with a $30mil annual deal (as much as I like DK) it prohibits us from doing anything substantial beyond 1 player. Our luck is he blows an PCL game 1 and our investment is lost.

I think we can go get 2-3 veteran players for that kinda $$ neighborhood. I’m talking $35Mil annual area. Kinda don’t put all our eggs in 1 basket (or don’t put 1 big egg in a basket by itself)
$21mil annual
$13

I didn't like DK when he came out. I thought he was a bit of a head case. I haven't followed him much and not sure if that has manifested or not. I'm not sure if he would have fit in or not. Would have been a very interesting weapon for Love.

 

[OldSchool101]

Seattle had the 45th pick while GB had the 47th, but it's good GB didn't give up the pick plus $$$.

However, with actual difference makers at WR1 (Adams/Metcalf), I think GB needs to allocate those resources to the other areas CB, Edge, and OL.

I looked on Sprotrac.com and there are inexpensive deep threats at the WR position, and there's always the draft.

The more I consider WR. I’d be totally fine with being patient at WR. We still have trades and the draft to address that. We normally are an above average team at choosing quality at WR. We Don’t need to get jumpy let those other guys overpay

Was never a fan of giving up that much and signing a massive contract. If they end up with MVS, a decent DB and maybe Mack I'd be happier with that than with Metcalf.

Have the 'OMG Packers aren't doing anything everyone is getting better, but us!' screams started yet?

I also assume the 'Pickens to the Packers' rumors will start. Pickens isnt' going to be happy with making 3M vs 30M. Plus they both wear 14... Although, not sure how I feel about Pickens.

Yeah pretty much the usual initial high priced deals, Firethorn. I agree while I would’ve been excited to have DK, $30mil average makes me gulp.

Get someone like a MVS on a value deal or someone with a raw speed threat that can threaten the deep field. I’m not opposed to going after a WR in Day2. There are 10 WR’s in that consensus 50-100 overall area. Many have the requisite speed we are looking for. Isaiah Bond, Jaylen Noel, Jayden Royals, Elic Ayomanor to name a few. I’m more concerned at Pass rusher, with CB as my second wish. Let’s go get Preston’s replacement. If 1 of our current Pass Rushers pop, so be it we’ll have too many Pass Rushers. Most position groups lose a guy or 2 through the year I like being too deep at Pass Rush.

 

[OldSchool101]

I didn't like DK when he came out. I thought he was a bit of a head case. I haven't followed him much and not sure if that has manifested or not. I'm not sure if he would have fit in or not. Would have been a very interesting weapon for Love.

Exactly. If I’m going to go all in for broke? Give me a pocket collapsing Defender that reaps havoc on opposing QB’s.
As far as WR. I still believe Watson gets back before playoffs. There are also a nice grouping of 4.3-4.4’s Wideouts in RD2,3,4,5 areas. This draft looks sparsely populated at the top at WR, but going into Later Day2 early Day3 they are thicker and with plenty of speed options mid draft.

Thankfully we went hard at LB last year and we just locked McDuffie. This class looks thin at LB, which means there will be teams reaching at LB. I liked our LB grouping, I’d even be ok with resigning Eric Wilson also if he’s on the cheap.

 

[McKnowledge]

The more I consider WR. I’d be totally fine with being patient at WR. We still have trades and the draft to address that. We normally are an above average team at choosing quality at WR. We Don’t need to get jumpy let those other guys overpay

Personally, I don't like it. It would've been nice to get Metcalf, but not at $30M AAV.

Unfortunately, I am not happy with the current WR room, Reed is the only consistent threat.

I think Slayton provides stability and consistency, but talent wise it's not an upgrade.

I think maybe check out Mike Williams, he has the size/speed combo and is still adept at 50/50 balls.

He won't break the bank and could help win games.

I also have strategy for this team, target a team that is delusional in their ability to compete (i.e. Miami) and offer Jaire Alexander for a future 1st round pick.

Miami is going downhill and that 1st round pick could be top 5 in 2027.

My theory is that in the next 2 years, Jeremiah Smith is eligible for the draft and would be the defacto WR1 in the 2027 draft.

 

[McKnowledge]

Exactly. If I’m going to go all in for broke? Give me a pocket collapsing Defender that reaps havoc on opposing QB’s.
As far as WR. I still believe Watson gets back before playoffs. There are also a nice grouping of 4.3-4.4’s Wideouts in RD2,3,4,5 areas. Many look impressive and filter over our draft selections.

I think Watson is washed, too many injuries at a young age.

Physical recovery is possible, but the mental aspect is the toughest to overcome.

Either way, regardless of his recovery and standing within the organization, GB cannot afford to wait and see.

 

[Pkrjones]

A phone call wouldn't hurt...LOL!!!

But I've read reports Steelers might make an offer to Sam Darnold.

He'll help get them into the playoffs, again... but 1 & done with Darnold.

 

[AmishMafia]

I also have strategy for this team, target a team that is delusional in their ability to compete (i.e. Miami) and offer Jaire Alexander for a future 1st round pick.

Jaire will not get us a 4th round pick. If we get a 5th, that would be something

 

[McKnowledge]

I think we go with a CB in free agency. I'm not sure there will be value at 23 at the CB and in the 2nd, it may not work out either. Gute doesn't like to go into the draft with a need. Our only hard need is CB. I think we go after Paulson Adebo. He is only 25, an elite athlete, and a good player.

I think our other pursuit will be Milton Williams. Again only 25. 9.96 RAS, and a tremendous player. He is a pocket collapsing machine. I dont think he got enough credit on the Eagles because of all the other talent around him. He will be very expensive, but I think he can make a huge difference for us.

I think Adebo and Charvarius Ward is a nice FA combo and could altogether go around $22M out of this year cap space, leaving money for other needs.

Packers can create $2-4M by converting Kenny Clark's deal into signing bonus and spreading dead money over the next two years.

I think he's a trade candidate for next offseason.

 

[McKnowledge]

He'll help get them into the playoffs, again... but 1 & done with Darnold.

Agreed.

 

[McKnowledge]

Jaire will not get us a 4th round pick. If we get a 5th, that would be something

If Jaire Alexander remains with the team this season and performs at a Pro Bowl level or All-Pro level, he could garner a 1st round pick out of a team.

 

[DoURant]

Some crazy money being thrown around on the night before legal tampering FA begins. Not on this list is Aaron Jones 2 yr $20M from the Vikings

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[OldSchool101]

Jaire will not get us a 4th round pick. If we get a 5th, that would be something

Unless J’aire restructures he’s as good as gone imo. Do a rework that pays him proportionate to playing time and I’m all ears. Otherwise he’s got too many question marks for me. I’d prefer someone fresh in the draft paired with a mid-tier FA Corner. Erik Stokes is just a body and the only way he stays is in a cheap deal as a CB4.

Designate JA post June and let’s sign a FA option and draft another CB also. We have the $$ and imo CB is a #2 need. Jahdae from Texas would be my last years equivalent of Edgerrin Cooper in RD2– but here in Day1. He’s a Santa Wish list type. He’s a CB turnover machine. Very disruptive player who you’ll notice is always around the ball. He reminds me of a CB version of Cooper. He switched from wearing #23 to #7 and I won’t wrestle with Quay Walker for his Jersey (because I want to live!) but
I will personally have a #23 Jersey starched and pressed in plastic at his locker

 

[OldSchool101]

I think Watson is washed, too many injuries at a young age.

Physical recovery is possible, but the mental aspect is the toughest to overcome.

Either way, regardless of his recovery and standing within the organization, GB cannot afford to wait and see.

That’s exactly why I mentioned doubling down at WR. 1 established Veteran to provide immediate stability to that room, yet with a pair of expiring WR contracts after 2025, it’s time to double down. Really getting MVS on a cheaper deal is ideal. He knows the Offense, he’s got requisite speed to replace Watson and he’s recently performed above expectation. He’s not enough though. I’d be sniffing at WR starting with our 2nd Rounder if a good fit is there (Tre Harris).
At minimum I’m taking a WR by mid Day3.
Tre Harris is intriguing to me. He flipped to the SEC in his final 2 seasons he put up 2,000 yards at nearly 18 per and 15 TD’s. If he’s there anywhere sniffing our RD2 selection? he’s quietly on my draft radar and I might even move up slightly to get him.

 

[Sanguine camper]

I'd rather not see MVS back with the Packers. He played his way out of KC by dropping too many passes. The WR Corp already drops too many passes without adding another butterfinger. If speed were the only necessity, the Packers could put Bo Melton in there. It isn't so pass on MVS.

 

[Sanguine camper]

That’s exactly why I mentioned doubling down at WR. 1 established Veteran to provide immediate stability to that room, yet with a pair of expiring WR contracts after 2025, it’s time to double down. Really getting MVS on a cheaper deal is ideal. He knows the Offense, he’s got requisite speed to replace Watson and he’s recently performed above expectation. He’s not enough though. I’d be sniffing at WR starting with our 2nd Rounder if a good fit is there (Tre Harris).
At minimum I’m taking a WR by mid Day3.
Tre Harris is intriguing to me. He flipped to the SEC in his final 2 seasons he put up 2,000 yards at nearly 18 per and 15 TD’s. If he’s there anywhere sniffing our RD2 selection? he’s quietly on my draft radar and I might even move up slightly to get him.

If the Packers think Doubs is going to go the route out of the NFL like Sam Shields with too many concussions, then drafting Tre Harris in the second round makes some sense since they are similar players. If not, Other WR'ers with a different skill set would make more sense. This draft class is deep on the O and D lines. It makes sense to possible ignore WR and just go after guys that can help dominate the LOS.

 

[AmishMafia]

Unless J’aire restructures he’s as good as gone imo. Do a rework that pays him proportionate to playing time and I’m all ears. Otherwise he’s got too many question marks for me. I’d prefer someone fresh in the draft paired with a mid-tier FA Corner. Erik Stokes is just a body and the only way he stays is in a cheap deal as a CB4.

Designate JA post June and let’s sign a FA option and draft another CB also. We have the $$ and imo CB is a #2 need. Jahdae from Texas would be my last years equivalent of Edgerrin Cooper in RD2– but here in Day1. He’s a Santa Wish list type. He’s a CB turnover machine. Very disruptive player who you’ll notice is always around the ball. He reminds me of a CB version of Cooper. He switched from wearing #23 to #7 and I won’t wrestle with Quay Walker for his Jersey (because I want to live!) but
I will personally have a #23 Jersey starched and pressed in plastic at his locker

I assume you are saying DE is a bigger need? We have several young talented players there who are still developing. Although I think we should get a guy on day 2, I would be okay with going status quote with Gary, LVN, Enegbarre, Cox, and Mosby. Gary is good and one of the others can get us by and are all still ascending. I have optimism for each one as they all have flashed something. LVN holds the most promise and his ceiling is higher than Gary.

At CB, we have Valentine and Nixon. Valentine is good and Nixon i think may have maxed out. We need at least 2 new players here. The other young players here havent shown me much to be optimistic about. We cannot go into the season with what we have. We are wasting the play making and effectiveness of our safety duo if we have other weak links in the secondary.

 

[Heyjoe4]

The Packers have generally preferred younger players in free agency. Virtually every major FA move they've made under Gutekunst has involved guys who are 27 or younger. That's an interesting dynamic to consider in this class, as it's an unusually old group. Here are the FA's at the key position groups who are currently 27 and younger and who played at least 40% of snaps last season (with exceptions for injury).

WR:

-Josh Palmer, LAC
-Dyami Brown, WAS
-Elijah Moore, CLE
-Lil'Jordan Humphrey, DEN

OL:
-Drew Dalman, ATL
-Will Fries, IND
-Dan Moore, PIT
-Mekhi Becton, PHI
-Teven Jenkins, CHI
-Jedrick Wills, CLE
-Dillon Radunz, TEN
-Robert Jones, MIA
-Liam Eichenberg, MIA
-Ben Bredeson, TB

DT:

-Milton Williams, PHI
-Levi Onwuzurike, DET
-Bobby Brown, LAR
-Tershawn Wharton, KC

DE:

-Dayo Odeyingbo, IND
-Chase Young, NO
-K'Lavon Chaisson, LV
-Azeez Ojulari, NYG
-Malcolm Koonce, LV
-Chauncey Golston, DAL
-Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, TB
-Patrick Jones, MIN

CB:

-Byron Murphy, MIN
-Paulson Adebo, NO
-Nate Hobbs, LV
-Kristian Fulton, LAC
-Asante Samuel Jr, LAC
-Noah Igbinoghene, WAS

If history is any indication, the Packers' FA splashes will come from this list.

Very good work Dantes, thanks.

The only guys I know about on this list are WR Elijah Moore from Cleve and CB Byron Murphy from MN. Murphy is solid as far as I know. Don't know anything about Moore.

This tells me Gluten wouldn't trade for Hendrickson, who is 30, and probably not Metcalf, who is, I think, 27 or 28.

Finally, it's not a bad way to operate. The NFL is now a league that belongs to guys from 20 to about 32. That's not a rule, just an observation. Certainly there are guys in their mid to late 30s who can play, esp at QB. The NFL rewards speed - both physical speed and decision making. (And yeah, Tom Brady won a SB in his 40s. That's amazing.)

Dantes, or anyone, do you know how old Reggie White was when he came to the Packers? I think he was in his mid 20s, like 26, maybe 27. Or Woodsen? Both guys played most of their careers in GB.

 

[Heyjoe4]

DK to the Steelers. 5 years, 150 mill. Yikes.

A new deal for DK Metcalf: Steelers are signing their new wide... - ESPN

Read the breaking news story from the ESPN contributor Adam Schefter

www.espn.com

If that's what it took to get him, the Steelers can have him. I'm glad Gluten didn't make a deal like that.

Maybe this will turn out to be a good trade and a good deal for the Steelers. It will if they win a SB in the next 5 years, or however long Metcalf plays.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I assume you are saying DE is a bigger need? We have several young talented players there who are still developing. Although I think we should get a guy on day 2, I would be okay with going status quote with Gary, LVN, Enegbarre, Cox, and Mosby. Gary is good and one of the others can get us by and are all still ascending. I have optimism for each one as they all have flashed something. LVN holds the most promise and his ceiling is higher than Gary.

At CB, we have Valentine and Nixon. Valentine is good and Nixon i think may have maxed out. We need at least 2 new players here. The other young players here havent shown me much to be optimistic about. We cannot go into the season with what we have. We are wasting the play making and effectiveness of our safety duo if we have other weak links in the secondary.

Agreed. I think CB is the bigger need and that can be addressed through FA and the draft. As for pass rushers, the Packers have young talent on the team, you're right. I'd still like to see them add a guy like Josh Sweat and still address in the draft.

That leaves WR up in the air. At this point, I have no idea what will happen there.

 

[AmishMafia]

Agreed. I think CB is the bigger need and that can be addressed through FA and the draft. As for pass rushers, the Packers have young talent on the team, you're right. I'd still like to see them add a guy like Josh Sweat and still address in the draft.

That leaves WR up in the air. At this point, I have no idea what will happen there.

I was for adding a superstar and even give up a high pick in trade. But i think we should stay away from the Cinci guy, too old. Crosby would have been good. I expect we spend a day 1 or 2 pick on a DE just because they are plentiful this year and Gary will need to be replaced at some point. Gute seems to like rotating in a bunch of players there.

I think our second biggest need is OL. We need more depth and I expect we don't resign Walker. Our OL thrives because of low turnover and players playing very well together. Have to have guys ready to take vacancies over who have a year or two learning. We will have a guy named Zabel, Conerly, Grant or Brown by the end of day 2 of the draft.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I was for adding a superstar and even give up a high pick in trade. But i think we should stay away from the Cinci guy, too old. Crosby would have been good. I expect we spend a day 1 or 2 pick on a DE just because they are plentiful this year and Gary will need to be replaced at some point. Gute seems to like rotating in a bunch of players there.

I think our second biggest need is OL. We need more depth and I expect we don't resign Walker. Our OL thrives because of low turnover and players playing very well together. Have to have guys ready to take vacancies over who have a year or two learning. We will have a guy named Zabel, Conerly, Grant or Brown by the end of day 2 of the draft.

Interesting take on the OL as a top need this offseason. Well we certainly saw how deadly a lack of depth can be when Jenkins went down against the Eagles. Morgan's injury-marred rookie season didn't help any, but that just reinforces the need for depth.

Gluten has valued versatility on the OL, guys who can play multiple positions. To me, that a "jack of all trades, master of none" strategy that leads to suboptimal play for the group. It has worked well for the Packers though, and there aren't many years when the OL was truly bad.

But yeah, we may be overstating the gaps on this team. I don't know. It's a lousy year to spend in FA, and the draft seems solid at DL/DT and CB. Take what ya can get.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

It’s possible I’d consider a 2nd. What’s weird is Metcalf was undervalued in his draft and slid hard. I might even part with #23 but it would have to include a kickback of a day2 selection at minimum. I could be wrong but I highly doubt anyone trades a potential Rookie deal, potential top 20 type selection for Metcalf. He’s good but that’s passing up some serious options on the cheap. I’d rather pony up for Davante on a 2yr X 50mil type deal and use my #23 on a either a stud CB or DL

Pointless discussion now but I don't think Adams adds much to this team, the receiving corps REALLY needs someone with deep speed to open things up. I'm also not as attached to first round picks with Gute as, historically, he hasn't been great in the first round; in six drafts I'd say he's found two great players? I'm not entirely convinced THIS is the year he's going to find his second All-Pro.