The Green Bay Packers have been very intentional with their moves this offseason, improving key areas of their roster for a Super Bowl push next season.
General manager Brian Gutekunst spoke immediately following the season and talked about how they needed to improve their sense of urgency to win a Super Bowl.
Many fans and analysts perceived that as the Packers making a splashy move via free agency or a trade.
After all, players like Davante Adams, Trey Hendrickson, Tee Higgins, and DK Metcalf were all rumored to be available.
Unfortunately, Gutekunst didn’t pull the trigger on any massive trade.
Instead, he signed a few lower-key free agents and stayed put at his original draft spots in each round.
In a typical Packers way, however, he still found ways to improve the team through shrewd moves.
Here are three position groups that improved the most this offseason.
Rushing Offense
You’ll have to forgive me since this isn’t a specific position.
It was clear Gutekunst wanted to improve the Packers’ power running game this offseason.
Josh Jacobs will be the centerpiece of the rushing attack.
He’s coming off a season in which he ran for 1329 yards and 15 touchdowns. Don’t be surprised to see his rushing yards increase next season.
The Packers let Josh Myers walk in free agency and replaced him with the mammoth guard Aaron Banks. Elgton Jenkins will slide to center, and Banks will start at left guard.
Green Bay also used their second-round pick on the behemoth Anthony Belton.
Belton is another big body who can punish defensive linemen and create space inside the tackles for Jacobs to run wild.
This power running game should give Matt LaFleur a strength to build his entire offense around. Green Bay won’t become a run-first team, but they’ll continue to display a balanced attack.
Cornerback
At the moment, the Packers’ cornerback room is in a much better spot than it was last season. Jaire Alexander remains the headliner, and the team added a solid slot specialist in Nate Hobbs, giving this group some real teeth.
With Alexander, Keisean Nixon, Hobbs, Carrington Valentine, and even Javon Bullard in the mix, Green Bay has built a five-deep rotation that’s more than serviceable—it’s sturdy, versatile, and quietly loaded with upside.
That said, everything still hinges on one big piece: Alexander himself.
The star corner has been simmering with frustration for a couple of years now. This offseason, things nearly boiled over. Rumors of a release were flying, but instead of cutting ties, the Packers hit pause, holding out hope for a trade that could bring some return on their investment.
So far, no deal. No release either. That leaves the door cracked open for a reconciliation—if both sides are willing to budge.
The sticking point is the price tag. The Packers aren’t keen on paying $24.6 million for a part-time presence, no matter how talented. A restructured deal would need to bring that number down if he’s going to stick around.
There’s no handshake yet, but the two sides are closer now than they’ve been in months.
If they find common ground, Alexander gives Green Bay the lockdown corner every defense needs.
Nixon proved last year he can hold up outside, and the Packers think Hobbs has the flexibility to swing out wide, too.
Valentine isn’t ready for the spotlight, but he’s a strong depth piece and a reliable fourth option.
All told, keeping Alexander and bringing in Hobbs—while moving on from Eric Stokes—feels like a step in the right direction. The Packers may not be done remodeling the room, but for now, the foundation looks strong.
Wide Receiver
The Packers didn’t make the splashy move fans were dreaming of at wide receiver, but that doesn’t mean they stood still. The position’s still trending up heading into next season.
It’s tough to knock them for not swinging big in free agency. Outside of Davante Adams, the market was thin unless you wanted to pay top dollar for past-their-prime production. Adams had eyes for the West Coast anyway and ended up signing with the Rams.
Could Green Bay have gone the trade route? Sure. The Commanders snagged Deebo Samuel from the 49ers for a 2025 fifth-round pick—basically couch change in NFL terms—but also took on a $17.5 million cap hit for a one-year rental.
DK Metcalf was another big name on the move. But the Steelers had to cough up three picks and roll out the red carpet with a $150 million contract. That’s not exactly a budget-friendly move for a team still figuring out its long-term picture.
So the Packers played it cool—until right before the draft.
Their only free-agent pickup was Mecole Hardman, a certified burner who brings postseason pedigree (three Super Bowl rings), some gadget-player versatility, and legit juice with the ball in his hands.
The real fireworks came in the draft.
Green Bay finally broke their first-round receiver drought and took Matthew Golden at No. 23 overall. Another burner, Golden has WR1 upside—and the Packers think that ceiling could come into view fast, maybe even this season.
Then came Round 3, where they doubled down with TCU’s Savion Williams. He’s a bigger body, gives them a different flavor, and could carve out a real role early.
