Packers begin to reshape roster for 2026

Catching Up on Brian Gutekunst's Busy Week as Free Agency is Underway

Withe the new league year starting up yesterday, general manager Brian Gutekunst has been very busy. We wanted to give you a one-stop shop to catch up on all of the news involving the Green Bay Packers.

To kick things off, the Packers are losing multiple key players from their 2025 roster. Gutekunst has traded away two starters and allowed several others to leave in free agency. On top of those moves, it's widely expected that wide receiver Romeo Doubs and offensive tackle Rasheed Walker will sign elsewhere over the next couple of days. There could be more subtractions to come.

There are still plenty of moves to come. The Packers have multiple holes that need filling, specifically on the defensive line and at cornerback. ESPN's Rob Demovsky reported that the Packers will be focused on reshaping their defensive line. The Packers have reportedly been reaching out to the Eagles regarding defensive lineman Jalen Carter. They also have their eyes on Javon Hargrave when he gets released. It will be interesting to see if anything transpires on either front.

Let's get caught up on all the moves thus far.

Announcing the 2026 CheeseheadTV NFL Draft Guide!

For the 15th consecutive season, we are proud to present our Pro Football Draft Guide! If you’re new to Cheesehead TV and wondering what the Pro Football Draft Guide is about, it’s a comprehensive NFL Draft preview, and the ORIGINAL NFL draft guide catered specifically to YOU - the Green Bay Packers fan. It comes to you as a digital download for a simple and fast way to get the guide in your hands as soon as it’s published.

The 2025 Draft team is already at work, watching film, researching prospects, and putting together our feature articles. The guide will be available for purchase as a digital download on April 2nd on our Patreon page (you don’t need to be a paying member but you will need an account!) giving you plenty of time to be fully immersed in draft knowledge and ready for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Green Bay Signs DT Javon Hargrave

The Green Bay Packers have added some serious firepower to the middle of their defensive line, signing veteran defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to a 2-year, $23 million deal. It’s a move that immediately upgrades the Packers’ interior pass rush while giving the defensive front a veteran presence.

Hargrave has been one of the NFL’s most disruptive interior defenders over the past several seasons. Known for his quick first step and ability to collapse the pocket, he brings the kind of interior pressure that defensive coordinators dream about. Even when he’s not getting home for sacks, Hargrave consistently forces quarterbacks off their spot — something the Packers have been searching for from the defensive tackle position.

Beyond the pass rush, Hargrave also brings veteran leadership to a defensive line room that continues to evolve. His presence should raise the overall level of play up front and give the Packers a much more formidable interior.

Breaking Down the Packers’ Offseason Moves So Far

The Packers have already been busy this offseason — but what do their moves actually say about the direction of the team? CHTV co-founder Aaron Nagler welcomes in Eddie Petzk of The Beers and Ball Show to take a step back and look at the bigger picture of Green Bay’s early offseason decisions. From roster changes to defensive adjustments, the conversation centers on how the Packers are reshaping the team heading into 2026.

Packers New Defensive Voice: Zaire Franklin

Versatility. A key word that new Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon has emphasized through his NFL coaching career. Specifically in his lone Super Bowl trip in 2022 with the Philadelphia Eagles. Being able to play different coverages, different fronts, all depending on who the matchup was against led to an NFL top defense that season.

This past weekend the Packers made the first step toward shaping their new era of defense, trading for Linebacker Zaire Franklin. Gannon and Franklin were previously together with the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2020, where Gannon served as the defensive backs/cornerbacks coach. It is safe to say the first move of the Packers off-season in terms of acquiring talent, and it being a player at one time on the same team as Gannon, is no coincidence.

Franklin is a downhill enforcer, high-IQ, high-motor linebacker who relies on swiftly identifying plays, forcefully filling run lanes, and acting as the defense's communication center. He is regarded as one of the NFL's most dependable second-level defenders due to his exceptional tackling volume, aggressiveness, and leadership.

Offseason moves are unpredictable in how they pan out, look no further than comparing Green Bay’s 2024 offseason signings of Xavier Mckinney and Josh Jacobs up against their 2025 class of Nate Hobbs, and Aaron Banks.

Having prior experience working with players beforehand certainly helps that uncertainty. Jonathon Gannon could look to announce his presence to Green Bay in resorting to those that already know what it takes.

Packers Trade Rashan Gary To The Dallas Cowboys

The Green Bay Packers have officially moved on from Rashan Gary, trading the veteran pass rusher for a 2027 fourth-round pick. What does the deal mean for the future of the Packers’ defense?

Patriots Pay Up for Romeo Doubs

The New England Patriots are signing former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs to a four year deal worth up to $80 million.

Doubs arrives in New England after four seasons in Green Bay, where he carved out a reputation as one of the Packers’ most dependable targets. While he was rarely the flashiest receiver in the room, Doubs consistently delivered in key moments, particularly in the red zone and on third downs. His strong hands, physical route running and ability to work the boundary made him a favorite of quarterback Jordan Love.

From the Packers’ perspective, Doubs’ departure is notable but not entirely surprising. Green Bay has spent the past few seasons developing a deep group of young wide receivers, and the front office has historically been reluctant to hand out big-money second contracts at the position.

Now Doubs gets his payday in Foxborough, while the Packers will look to their next wave of receivers to fill the void, most notably last year's 1st round selection Matthew Golden.

Which Prospects Tested Like Future Packers At The Combine?

The 2026 NFL Combine is in the books, and as always, the testing numbers are giving us clues about which prospects might fit what the Green Bay Packers look for on draft day.

Packers Take a Flier on Skyy Moore

The Green Bay Packers are adding an honest to goodness returner, signing wideout Skyy Moore to a one year $2.5 million deal that could reach $4.5 million total.

Originally a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Western Michigan, Moore entered the league with plenty of buzz thanks to his quickness, route-running ability and production in college. While he showed flashes during his time in Kansas City, consistency proved elusive in a crowded Chiefs offense that was constantly turning over its receiver group. Now Moore gets a fresh start in Green Bay. For the Packers, this is a classic low-risk addition with some potential upside. Moore has experience in a high-powered offense and has already played meaningful snaps in big moments, including Kansas City’s Super Bowl run early in his career.

At just 25 years old, there’s still plenty of runway if the Packers coaching staff can unlock the traits that made him such an intriguing prospect coming out of the draft.

More immediately, Moore adds a proven returner who should be the first one up on punt return, an area where the Packers have been desperate since the departure of Micah Hyde.

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Development Key For Packers O-Line

Packers Bring Back Brenton Cox Jr.

The Packers are keeping a familiar face in the edge rusher room.

Brenton Cox Jr. has agreed to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million to remain in Green Bay for the 2026 season. After a frustrating, injury-shortened 2025 campaign, the Packers are betting that a healthy Cox can once again provide some juice off the edge. Cox appeared in just four games last season while dealing with a groin injury, limiting what he could contribute to Jeff Hafley’s defense. But the flashes from the previous season were hard to ignore. In 2024, Cox recorded four sacks and seven quarterback hits across seven games, consistently showing the kind of burst and disruption that made him an intriguing developmental pass rusher. For the Packers, this is a low-risk bet on upside. Green Bay features an edge room with Micah Parsons, Lukas Van Ness, and Barryn Sorrell. Adding Cox back into the mix gives the defense a rotational rusher who has proven he can get to the quarterback when healthy. If Cox can stay on the field in 2026, he could carve out a meaningful role in the Packers defense.

Packers Offseason Talk: Depth, Roster Building & What Comes Next

In the latest episode of Carry The G Radio, Aaron and Billy take a step back and look at the bigger picture of the Packers’ roster construction—how Brian Gutekunst and the front office continue to build out the depth chart, why those “just a guy” depth players actually matter, and what the team might still have up its sleeve this offseason.

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2022 Draft Still a Success Despite FA losses

A few days into 2026 NFL Free Agency, the Green Bay Packers have lost their first pick from the 2022 draft, linebacker Quay Walker, who agreed to terms with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday.

Also on Monday, edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare, a former 5th round pick, agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Jets.

Wide receiver Romeo Doubs signed a four-year deal with the New England Patriots on Tuesday and offensive tackle Rasheed Walker is also very likely to sign elsewhere in this free agency period.

Including quarterback Malik Willis, the Packers will lose five players drafted in 2022, but this will also bring back several compensatory selections in 2027. These picks, along with the pick acquired in the Rashan Gary trade, will be very important next spring as the Packers will be without a first round pick for the second straight draft as a result of the Micah Parsons trade.

As the Packers look toward 2026, there are also four important players returning from the 2022 draft.

Defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, picked in the first round like his college teammate Quay Walker, will be on the last year of his rookie deal, and with another impressive season, he likely gets a contract extension.

Wide receiver Christian Watson, the 34th pick in 2022, is coming off his best season since rookie year, and it is likely that Gutekunst will extend Watson before the 2026 season begins. The Packers offense was noticeably much more explosive when Watson was in the lineup compared to when he was not.

The offensive line also will have two starters who were drafted in 2022, interior lineman Sean Rhyan and tackle Zach Tom. Rhyan figures to continue as the team’s center, starting the last 10 games of the season after now-former teammate Elgton Jenkins was injured against the Philadelphia Eagles. Tom has been a mainstay at right tackle the last three seasons, becoming one of the league’s best right tackles. He played with several injuries in 2025, which severely impacted the play of the offensive line. Tom could arguably be the second most important Packer on the offense after quarterback Jordan Love.

Former Packers President Bob Harlan passes away

Former Green Bay Packers President and CEO Bob Harlan passed away Thursday, March 5th, following a brief illness. Harlan was 89.

“The Packers family was saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Harlan,” said Packers President and CEO Ed Policy. “Bob was a visionary leader whose impact on the franchise was transformational. From his inspired hiring of Ron Wolf to turn around the club’s on-field fortunes to his tireless work to redevelop Lambeau Field, Bob restored the Packers to competitive excellence during his tenure and helped ensure our unique and treasured flagship NFL franchise was on sound footing for sustained generational success.

On the field, the Packers enjoyed a resurgence under Harlan’s guidance, posting the league’s best overall record, 152-88, from 1993-2007, and returning the Lombardi Trophy to Green Bay with a victory in Super Bowl XXXI. The successful period also included 13 straight .500-or-better seasons (1992-2004), an impressive accomplishment in the free agency era and the team’s best stretch since the 1930s and ‘40s.

Off the field, the crowning achievement of Harlan's tenure — the $295 million redevelopment of historic Lambeau Field — was ushered in at the beginning of the 2003 season and has stood as a key component of the team’s financial strength for ongoing success.