As the Green Bay Packers head into the 2025 NFL offseason, their primary aim is to evolve from a good team into a truly exceptional one.
Despite the discussions surrounding last season’s ups and downs, one thing stands out: for the Packers to progress, they need to look beyond the draft and make bold moves in free agency.
General manager Brian Gutekunst has shown his willingness to make impactful decisions in the free-agent market, as evidenced by his previous signings of Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs last year. Now, the opportunity is ripe for another major signing that could significantly shape the team’s future.
6. Drew Dahlman, Center
A crucial focus for the Packers is the interior of their offensive line, which, despite consistent performance, needs a boost of youth and athleticism. With Josh Myers poised to become an unrestricted free agent, it may be time for the Packers to part ways with a player who, while adequate throughout his four years, never truly emerged as a standout.
In 2024, Pro Football Focus ranked Myers as the 38th best center out of 40 qualified players, a score that hardly warrants a long-term investment, particularly with cap space and the need for an upgrade at stake.
This is where Drew Dahlman comes into the picture.
At just 26 years old, Dahlman has already established himself as one of the top run-blocking centers in the NFL. His technical skills and athleticism make him a strong candidate to be the new cornerstone of the Packers’ offensive line.
While Green Bay has internal options for the center position—potentially shifting Elgton Jenkins, Sean Rhyan, or even Zach Tom into that role and promoting 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan—the free-agent market offers an enticing option in Dahlman.
5. D.J. Reed, Cornerback
Gutekunst is set to make significant changes to the Packers’ cornerback room. Through roster cuts, free agency, the draft, and possibly a trade, this group will look very different when Green Bay hits the field in 2025, which is likely a positive development.
The key player in this equation is Jaire Alexander.
The Packers need to make a call on his contract, and it seems likely that this will lead to him parting ways with the team.
When healthy, Alexander ranks among the top cornerbacks in the league. However, his health has been a consistent issue, with injuries affecting three of the last four seasons—an unfortunate reality that complicates his hefty price tag. Releasing or trading him could free up cap space, but it would also create a significant gap at the CB1 position.
Keisean Nixon is confident he can fill that role, but the evidence suggests otherwise. While Nixon performed well in coverage last season, he may be better suited as a CB2 or slot corner rather than a premier lockdown defender.
Green Bay will need to secure someone capable of covering the top receivers in the league, and D.J. Reed stands out as the top free-agent option.
Although Reed had a somewhat subpar 2024 season, his overall performance history indicates he remains an effective cover corner. He plays with aggression and physicality and can effectively shadow elite receivers.
The real question is whether Gutekunst sees Reed as having more potential ahead of him. He tends to pursue players in free agency who he believes can still reach their peak. If he believes Reed has another level to achieve, Green Bay could be poised to make a strong bid for him in March.
4. Khalil Mack, Defensive End
Gutekunst generally avoids pursuing older veterans in free agency, aiming instead for players whose best years are still ahead of them. Khalil Mack doesn’t fit that profile; however, this might be an occasion where an exception makes sense.
Although Mack isn’t the dominant player he once was during his peak, he remains one of the top defensive ends available at age 33 (turning 34 before next season).
He continues to deliver impressive performances. In 2023, he had a remarkable resurgence, earning a career-high 17 sacks, demonstrating he still has a lot of talent left. He then followed with a respectable, albeit less spectacular, six sacks in 2024. Despite his physical abilities diminishing, Mack’s pass-rushing instincts and techniques are still exceptional.
Mack offers more than just sack production; his run defense remains strong. He effectively sets the edge, sheds blocks, and makes it difficult for running backs aiming to break outside. He’s not solely a situational pass rusher; he can disrupt plays on every down.
The Packers’ defensive line is in need of reinforcements. Rashan Gary had a disappointing season despite making the Pro Bowl, and Kenny Clark was largely ineffective at times. The entire unit struggled with consistency. Green Bay requires a boost in physicality and dependability upfront, and Mack could deliver that.
They’ve taken this path before. In 2014, Green Bay signed an aging Julius Peppers, who went on to have three productive seasons as a veteran pass rusher. Mack could provide a similar benefit—an effective short-term addition that fulfills the defense’s needs. If the cost is reasonable, the Packers should certainly reach out.
3. Chris Godwin, Wide Receiver
In 2024, the wide receiver position in Green Bay was particularly frustrating.
The Packers started the season with a promising group of young receivers—Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks—who were all anticipated to make significant strides.
Unfortunately, none of them did. While there were glimpses of potential, inconsistency, injuries, and dropped passes turned what should have been a strong position into a weakness.
Now, the outlook is even more unclear. Watson suffered an ACL tear in the season finale, sidelining him for a significant part of the 2025 season. Doubs sustained a severe concussion during the playoffs, which was his second in just a month, raising concerns about his long-term health.
Reed and Wicks showed some promise but both struggled with crucial drops at inopportune moments. Jordan Love requires more reliability in his receiving corps.
Enter Chris Godwin.
Godwin is the second-best wide receiver available in free agency, right after Tee Higgins. More importantly, he’s exactly the kind of dependable target the Packers need.
Throughout seven of his eight NFL seasons, he has maintained a drop rate of under six percent. In 2024, he didn’t drop a single pass before his season ended early due to a dislocated ankle after just seven games. When healthy, he is among the top possession receivers in the league.
The Packers must be cautious not to overpay. Godwin will turn 29 before the next season, and there are doubts about whether he can be a true WR1. However, his route running, hands, and veteran experience would bring a much-needed element to an offense that struggled the previous season.
If the cost is reasonable, he’s exactly the type of receiver who can enhance Love’s effectiveness and the Packers’ passing game.
2. Josh Sweat, Defensive End
Josh Sweat may not be the most prominent name available, and he hasn’t had a standout sack season like Khalil Mack or been the star of a dominant pass rush. However, he embodies the kind of well-rounded, high-potential player that the Packers need to bolster their defensive front. He also seems to be anticipating a departure from the Eagles.
In 2024, Green Bay’s pass rush was inconsistent. Some weeks, they appeared untouchable, while in others, they struggled to pressure quarterbacks.
Rashan Gary is a crucial component, but he requires assistance. Lukas Van Ness displayed promise but isn’t ready for a full-time position yet, and Kenny Clark, who was once a force in the middle, has been inconsistent for extended periods. Adding Sweat would elevate the performance and potential of this unit.
Although he’s not solely a sack specialist—he recorded eight sacks last season, his second-highest total—Sweat is a disruptive force. He regularly pressures quarterbacks, forcing them into poor decisions even when he’s not bringing them down.
In the past three seasons, he has accumulated 25.5 sacks and achieved at least 25 pressures in three of the last four years. This level of consistency is what Green Bay needs on the edge.
At 27, Sweat is still in his prime and has several productive seasons ahead of him. If the Packers are serious about enhancing their pass rush, he is definitely a player worth pursuing.
1. Tee Higgins, Wide Receiver
It’s hard to say if this is a realistic scenario, but let’s be clear—Tee Higgins is the ideal free-agent target for the Packers.
He’s not only the top wide receiver on the market this offseason; he might just be the best free agent overall. He meets all the criteria Green Bay needs: size, experience, solid hands, and the ability to create separation. Plus, at 26 years old, he still has his prime ahead of him.
The main question around Higgins isn’t his talent; it’s whether he can be a true WR1. Having played alongside Ja’Marr Chase throughout his career, he hasn’t faced the challenge of being the main receiver in an offense. This concern is valid for someone likely to command a contract exceeding $ 22-25 million annually, but for the Packers, it may not be a deal-breaker.
Green Bay wouldn’t expect Higgins to carry the load alone. They already have a talented, albeit inconsistent, group of young receivers. Bringing Higgins on board could not only enhance the passing game but also provide Jordan Love with a reliable target in critical situations.
Last season, Higgins recorded 73 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 12 games. If he remains healthy (which has been a concern), he has the potential to achieve 1,200 yards and double-digit touchdowns in an offense like Green Bay’s.
General Manager Brian Gutekunst has a preference for free agents who are still on the rise rather than those whose best years are behind them, and Higgins perfectly fits that profile.
The question remains whether the Packers are ready to fully commit and pay what it takes to acquire him. If they genuinely want to maximize their Super Bowl window, they should at least extend an offer.
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