Future Free Agents

[Dantés]

At this time of year when we are turning our attention to the draft, I start to think about the shape of the roster beyond this season. Draft picks are typically about needs that will arise 1 or more seasons down the line than they are about filling an immediate hole. And the reality is that the Packers don't have any glaring holes to fill in the starting lineup. They could play tomorrow and be competitive with anyone:

QB: Love
RB: Jacobs
WR: Doubs
WR: Wicks
TE: Kraft
WR/TE: Reed/Musgrave
LT: Walker
LG: Banks
C: Jenkins
RG: Morgan/Rhyan
RT: Tom

DE: Gary
1T: Clark
3T: Wyatt
DE: Van Ness
LB: Walker
LB: Cooper
CB: Nixon
CB: Hobbs
NB: Bullar/Valentine
S: McKinley
S: Williams

So the question to me is not so much about filling an immediate hole, but rather preparing for future ones. And that turns my attention to the list of 2026 free agents and has me wondering who they plan to keep and who they will allow to walk. Here's the list, by position:

Malik Willis, QB

Emanuel Wilson, RB (RFA)

Christian Watson, WR
Romeo Doubs, WR
Bo Melton, WR (RFA)
Malik Heath, WR, (RFA)

Zach Tom, OT
Rasheed Walker, OT
Sean Rhyan, G
Trey Hill, C

Devonte Wyatt, DT*

Kingsley Enagbare, DE
Brenton Cox, DE (RFA)
Arron Mosby, DE (RFA)

Quay Walker, LB*

Zayne Anderson, S

Daniel Whelan, P (RFA)
Matthew Orzech, LS

*The Packers have until 5/2 to pick up 5th year options. Walker's would be 14.6M and Wyatt's would be 12.9M.

Now here are players who could potentially be cap casualties next off-season:

-Elgton Jenkins: 24.8M cap hit with 4.8M in dead money-- 20M in cap savings
-Kenny Clark: 31.3M cap hit with 17M in dead money-- 14.3M in cap savings
-Rashan Gary: 28M cap hit with 17M in dead money-- 11M in cap savings
-Josh Jacobs: 14.6M cap hit with 6.3M in dead money-- 8.3M in cap savings
-Keisean Nixon: 7.2M cap hit with 2.2M in dead money-- 5M in cap savings

Now first off-- this is a huge list. And secondly, what they do in this draft is going to be heavily influenced by their plans for this group.

So here's the question-- who stays and who goes?

 

[Dantés]

Here are my thoughts, but I want to know what others think. This isn't necessarily what I think they should do, but more what I think they will do.

Locks:

-Zach Tom: I would expect an announced extension just about any time.
-Daniel Whelan: I don't think they're letting him get away barring some major issues arising with him.

Likely:

-Emanuel Wilson: If he continues to play like he did last season, I could see them tendering him.
-Christian Watson: I think his injury makes returning on a one year contract pretty likely.
-Brenton Cox: Another guy who would easily get tendered if he continues on his trajectory.
-Quay Walker: I don't think they've invested so much time in him just to let him walk as it's beginning to click; I think an extension is likelier than exercising the option.
-Devonte Wyatt: I think this is one where the club option makes sense-- 12.9M for a good pass rushing tackle isn't much money.

Maybe:

-Rasheed Walker/Sean Rhyan: I think one or both walk, but wouldn't be surprised to see one return. A lot, to me, depends on their plans for Morgan.
-Zayne Anderson: If he would come back for close to the vet minimum, I could see them keeping him as a nod to Bisaccia.

Unlikely:

-Malik Willis: He's young enough and has shown enough that someone will want him in their mix at the position and will pay up for him, pricing GB out.
-Romeo Doubs: I think it's more likely he gets traded this off-season than that he's back on an extension beyond 2025.
-Kingsley Enagbare: My guess is that Cox and Van Ness both pass him on the depth chart this season.

Irrelevant: Melton, Heath, Hill, Mosby, Orzech (I doubt these guys make this year's roster, let alone get brought back).

Cuts:

-Elgton Jenkins: Maybe they work out a short extension that spreads out his cap hit, but otherwise, that's a big hit for a center in the latter stage of his career.
-Kenny Clark: If his play continues to wane this season, I wouldn't be surprised to see them cut him loose.

Future Needs: What would this mean for the draft? Here's are the needs I see being created by this plan, by position:

-QB: They would need a new QB2 and would probably likely to groom that guy for a year.
-WR: They would need a new possession receiver and potentially a vertical X as well.
-OL: They would need 1-2 new starters.
-DT: They would need a new 1T ready to go for 2026 and 3T guys in the pipeline.
-DE: They would need more depth.

 

[Firethorn1001]

Don't really see anything major to disagree with.

On the potential cuts would definitely put Clark on the watch list. He would have a $11M roster bonus due so, if his play is flat-lined or regresses than I could see them moving on. Jenkins is the last year so they could see some significant cap savings moving on from him. Gary probably safe as I don't think he has any new money so, barring a significant injury he probably would be around til the end.

Guess if they were really really wrong on Banks could put him in the potential cuts, but that would be a significant judgement error by Gute this year.

Thinking the WR room going to be significantly overhauled the next 2 seasons with new bodies.

 

[tynimiller]

I predict Jenkins we save money by extending him to be our center for next two or three seasons if he shows out this year at it

 

[El Guapo]

The flexibility with Jenkins at center is that we already have his replacement drafted in Monk. Assuming that he is on the path to be a legitimate NFL player by the end of Yr2, that could allow the Packers to either move on from Jenkins or reshuffle him back into a position of need along the line. The value of a versatile lineman, despite any age concerns at this point, is important to a team with a young QB.

 

[Schultz]

Who is this young QB you speak of?