For The Packers, The Time Is Now

Veteran Signings Show Packers’ Shift in Urgency

The Packers traded Aaron Rodgers to the Jets less than three years ago, but in NFL terms, it feels like a lifetime.

Plenty has changed since then, with Green Bay quickly rebooting with a young core of players and not skipping a beat, making the playoffs in three straight seasons, even if the results have not been what the team or the fans would have ultimately hoped.

For three straight years, from 2023 to 2025, the Packers had the youngest team in the league, as the fledgling team grew around Jordan Love as the starting quarterback. But Green Bay’s moves early in this offseason indicate a change in the air.

Gutekunst has indicated multiple times over the years that he does not see the team’s youth as a problem as it pertains to closing out tight games in the playoffs, but these moves seem to indicate the Packers wanted to add some experience, and are ready to spend resources on moves that should pay immediate dividends.

The Packers have shifted the dial further towards ‘all-in’ again after a patient approach over the last three seasons.

Packers Draft Needs: Where Green Bay Must Find Immediate Impact in 2026

CHTV NFL Draft Analyst Newt Westen breaks down the positions Green Bay needs to address in the 2026 draft and which prospects could be immediate contributors. He also takes a look at Day 3 possibilities, including developmental quarterbacks, wide receivers, and late-round running backs who could add depth to the roster.

To Comp Or Not To Comp?

As the first wave of free agency winds down to a close, the Packers have added four players to their roster via a wide range of avenues. Through one trade, one signing of a released player, and two free agency signings, Green Bay has begun the dirty work of restocking for the 2026 season. Naturally, every move the team makes at this point is done in service of one singular goal: winning the Super Bowl.

To that end, one of the biggest questions that teams face in this period is whether signing players to contracts now (aka, immediate gratification) is a better long term strategy than reaping the eventual rewards of collecting compensatory selections a year later.

Good teams know how to maximize their quantity of draft picks, while still being able to add outside talent. The Packers dabbled in this with signing Javon Hargrave after his release, and could continue to add players in this way via trades, or signing players after the draft (which is when the comp formula stops tracking signings).

The Packers should continue to live in this “best of both worlds” approach, and maximize both aspects of their team building approach. I’d love to see the Packers make a trade over the next few weeks for another player to impact the defense, though the compensation Green Bay should be willing to give up does become a bit of a pressure point.

The ultimate question of whether or not Green Bay should have leaned into stockpiling comp picks vs signing outside free agents is probably best left to the eye of the beholder. It’s now clear which side of the fence Brian Gutekunst falls on (which has probably been inevitable since the Micah Parsons trade). Barring a trade or post draft signings, the Packers will have lots of money to award extensions to their internal candidates such as Christian Watson and Tucker Kraft. Whatever money is left over will be a nice stash fund for the season, and then roll over into the 2027 offseason, where the Packers are poised to be major spenders armed with $84 million dollars in projected cap. Then the real fun begins.

Inside the Cheesehead TV Draft Guide | The Ultimate Packers Draft Resource

Getting ready for the 2026 NFL Draft? The Cheesehead TV Draft Guide is built to give Packers fans a deeper look at this year’s prospects and how they might fit in Green Bay. From combine measurables and pro day numbers to detailed breakdowns of strengths, weaknesses, and scheme fits, this guide is designed with the Packers in mind.

Policy Smart To Get Ahead Of Packers Economic Conversation

The Green Bay Packers occupy a unique place in the NFL. They are the league’s lone publicly owned franchise — a point of pride for generations of fans and shareholders. But in today’s NFL economy, where billionaires and private equity funds are pouring unprecedented money into franchises, that uniqueness presents tough challenges. And that’s exactly why Ed Policy deserves credit for thinking ahead.

In a recent interview with Sports Business Journal, the Packers’ president and CEO acknowledged a reality that many around the league prefer not to talk about: the financial playing field is shifting quickly. While other teams can sell small equity stakes to private equity funds and instantly raise significant money, the Packers simply don’t have that option.

That means the organization has to find other ways to keep pace.

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Lambeau Naming Rights Convo A Classic Trial Balloon

Moore Signing Most Intriguing of Packers’ Off Season

So far in free agency the Green Bay Packers have signed seven players. Four of these players were current Packers re-signed to new deals: offensive lineman Sean Rhyan and Darin Kinnard, defensive tackle Jonathan Ford and edge Brenton Cox Jr. The other three were signed off of other teams: defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, cornerback Benjamin St. Juste and wide receiver/returner Skyy Moore.

The most intriguing of the bunch might just be Skyy Moore.

Moore comes to the Packers as a 5th-year player, a former 2nd round draft pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. Moore came out of Western Michigan, the same school that produced Greg Jennings, with an impressive junior year with 96 catches, 1293 yards and 10 touchdowns.

However, in Kansas City Moore never caught on as a contributor at wide receiver. His best season was as a rookie with 22 catches for 250 yards. He did have a touchdown in the 4th quarter of the Chiefs Super Bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

In three seasons in Kansas City, Moore had just 14 punt returns (all as a rookie in 2022) and only five total kickoff returns (in 2022 and 2023). Last season with San Francisco, it was his first year where he was a full-time return specialist. The result was the 5th best average (27.5) on kickoffs amongst returners with at least 26 kickoff returns. His 291 yards on punt returns was 11th best in the league.

Moore, who is still young at 25 years old, could finally be finding himself in a role that could keep him as a regular contributor in the NFL as a return specialist. And for the Packers, it is a position they have struggled to fill regularly for decades. It is possible that this signing will be one of the more impactful ones for the 2026 team.

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Adam Stenavich's Biggest Challenge

Free Agency Approach: Addition By Subtraction

It’s been an anticlimactic free agency period for general manager Brian Gutekunst and the Green Bay Packers. He watched a handful of players leave in free agency for other teams, brought back some familiar faces, and sent a few others packing. Gutekunst was active over the last couple of weeks, but not in free agency per se. Per Spotrac, the Packers rank 26th in free agent spending.

2,727 offensive snaps, 2,988 defensive snaps, and 663 special teams snaps - those are all of the snaps from last season that are no longer on the Packers roster and joined other teams over the last week. That’s a lot of turnover. Gutekunst let many of his key contributors go, and he didn’t do a ton over the last week to fill the voids those players left.

Why was Gutekunst so dormant? For starters, he wants the compensatory picks that the team will receive for free agents leaving in free agency. He has also been planning for this, in some cases, one to two years in advance. He’s relying on his draft-and-develop model and sprinkling in a few calculated, low-risk moves to shore up some concerns. In short, Gutekunst wasn’t very active because he didn’t have to be.

The Packers roster is most likely worse today than it was last season. There are many holes that someone will need to fill. That said, there’s reason to believe that the Packers will also have some addition by subtraction. The team let some players go, and some of their replacements have the chance to be even better. It’s a risky approach, but will it work out?

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All Signs Lead to 13: Wicks Time

The Green Bay Packers always have a plan. Letting Romeo Doubs out of Green Bay is part of it. Whether it is due to a crowded receiving room, with Christian Watson now healthy and playing tremendous football through mid to late 2025 season. Or Jayden Reed proving to be a true YAC receiver, perhaps 1st round pick Matthew Golden showing flashes of a potential WR1 eventually.

While it’s undoubtedly about all of that, the confidence in a similar receiver already being in house is a reason that stands out. Of the now three seasons Jordan Love has been the Green Bay Packers starting quarterback, two of them saw Romeo Doubs lead the receiving core in targets (’23, ’25). In 2024 however, Dontayvion Wicks would lead the room (76 TGTS).

With Romeo Doubs now gone, all signs point to Wicks taking on a bigger role, and potentially ready for the career ascending year. Wicks hasn’t had any incredible seasons yet, but then again, neither has Green Bay during the time Love has been quarterback.

Packers to install Bob Harlan's name on Lambeau Field facade

The Green Bay Packers are set to honor one of the most influential figures in franchise history, announcing that the late Bob Harlan’s name will be permanently installed on the northeast façade of Lambeau Field.

Harlan, who passed away on March 5th at the age of 89, served as the team’s President and CEO from 1989 until his retirement in 2008 after first joining the organization in 1971. During his tenure, Harlan played a pivotal role in transforming Lambeau Field into the iconic venue it is today, helping secure the team’s long-term future in Green Bay while overseeing one of the most successful eras in franchise history.

Harlan’s name will appear in a designated area on the northeast corner of the façade, joining former general manager Ted Thompson, who was similarly honored in 2021. While the façade traditionally celebrates Hall of Fame players and coaches, this distinction underscores Harlan’s unique and enduring legacy as a steward of the franchise.