What to Know: Eric Wilson, a key member of the Packers’ special teams, is re-signed by Paul Bretl
Next season, four young Packers might play larger roles, according to Brian Sampson
Packers in Green Bay
Summary of Paul Bretl’s free agency signings and exits with the PackersEight months beforehand
With three restricted free agents and fourteen unrestricted free agents, the Green Bay Packers entered the free agency market.
The Packers have added two outside players, re-signed six of their own, and placed a second-round tender on Yosh Nijman since the NFL’s permissible tampering period started over two weeks ago. In addition, five players are still unsigned while four previous players have signed elsewhere. Mason Crosby, Adrian Amos, Randall Cobb, Marcedes Lewis, and Dallin Leavitt are in this group.
The Packers have had a somewhat quiet few weeks in terms of free agency, which was to be expected. Despite having more over $22 million in available cap space, the impending Aaron Rodgers move will almost completely eliminate that amount as more dead cap will be added to the books. Like other teams, Green Bay will also be subject to cap-related fees for incoming operations costs, such as signing the draft class. It has decreased their ability to spend.
You’ve probably noticed that the Packers have signed guys who have a definite emphasis on special teams. This unit’s 2022 turnaround was aided by several upgrades tailored to special teams, some of which Brian Gutekunst promised the team will repeat. Winning the battle for field position and using field goal opportunities are two little but effective ways to support your rookie starting quarterback.
Here’s a brief summary of the implications for the Green Bay Packers of each free agency signing and departure.
Players that the Packers signed
Keisean Nixon, CB
Resigning Nixon thought he had to. For the Packers, the All-Pro return guy changed the game by frequently winning the battle for field position—something that, as I just indicated, might be very beneficial for Love. Nixon not only contributes to special teams but also provides Green Bay with much-needed depth at cornerback and performed well defensively when called upon.
Edge and Justin Hollins
Regaining Hollins gives the Packers the depth they need at edge rusher, which is much-needed after the team failed to regularly pressure the quarterback in the absence of Rashan Gary. About halfway through the previous season, Hollins was taken off waivers and quickly established himself as a valuable component of the rotation of edge rushers. He was 27th in PFF’s run-stop rate and 26th among all edge rushers in the pass rush win rate from Weeks 12 through 18.
Eric Wilson, LB
Wilson was signed off the New Orleans practice squad and then joined the Packers in early October. He ended tied for top on the squad in single tackles and second in total tackles despite the late start. In addition, Wilson recorded a blocked punt, no missed tackles, and the highest PFF grade of any special teams player in the league who played at least 85 snaps.
Ballentine, Corey, CB
Ballentine was on the Packers practice squad before to being added to the 53-man roster in November, but he immediately established himself as a vital member of the special teams unit. Despite starting later than expected, Ballentine ended up ranking sixth in solo tackles but 18th in total special teams snaps for the Packers. Ballentine has played more than 400 defensive snaps in the NFL, though he will mostly be used on special teams.
Rudy Ford, S.
Due to the Packers’ ongoing problems at safety, Ford saw his position on defence grow during the season. He was a very excellent flier on the punt coverage unit, helping to minimise the opposing return man. Ford was a willing run defender and tackler who finished 19th out of 90 safeties in run-stop percentage. He also had four takeaways, including three interceptions, since he always appeared to be in the right place. With the present composition of the safety room, Ford may have competition this summer for a starting position.
TE Tyler Davis
After Davis was non-tendered as a restricted free agent by the Packers, they swiftly signed him again. Over the last year, Gutekunst and the coaching staff have talked highly of him, and in 2022, he led the club in special teams snaps. The Packers still have a lot of needs, especially at tight end in terms of depth and additional playmaking.
Yosh Nijman, OT (tender placed in second round)
Nijman, a restricted free agent, received a second-round tender offer from the Packers. To put it briefly, this implies that Nijman is still free to negotiate with other teams. Should one of those clubs choose to accept Green Bay’s offer, Nijman’s options are still open, and the Packers will receive a second-round selection in exchange for keeping him. By offering Nijman a set salary of $4.3 million in 2023 as part of a second-round tender.
It’s possible that the Packers are trying to move Nijman, but I’m going to assume not. He provides the Packers with, at the very least, a very capable offensive tackle backup option who has seen a lot of playing time in the last two seasons. He is, at most, a starter and gives Green Bay more options along the offensive line. Even if the offensive tackle position might seem stable in 2023, there will be a lot of uncertainties about it in 2024, thus having Nijman as a backup would be beneficial. Nijman is only under contract as a restricted free agent through the 2023 season; after that, he will become a free agency in 2024. At some point during this season, an extension might make sense if he is considered a long-term option along the offensive line. If not, Green Bay ought to think about acquiring a second-round selection for him prior to his entry into free agency.
Matt Orzech, LS
Orzech, who agreed to a three-year contract with the Packers, is expected to be the top candidate for the long-snapper position come summertime. Kicker Matt Gay would make 68 out of 74 field goals and 90 of his 92 extra point tries with Orzech serving as the Rams’ long snapper. Riley Dixon, a punter, was ranked third among PFF’s top punters in 2022. This last season, Jack Coco had less problems at long-snapper, but he benefited greatly from having Pat O’Donnell as the holder.
Moore Tarvarius, S.
Moore, who has a 4.32 speed rating, has played on a variety of units during his whole career in San Francisco, where he had amassed roughly 1,200 special teams snaps. In addition, he brings 1,073 total defensive snaps—13 of which were starts—something the Packers desperately need at safety. However, it should be noted that he only played 60 defensive snaps in the previous campaign.
Former member of the Packers who signed with another team
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard
To play beside Aaron Rodgers, Lazard joined the New York Jets, but even if Rodgers stayed in Green Bay, Lazard was probably never coming back. The Packers do not have much wiggle room in free agency, as was previously noted, and Lazard’s $11 million annual salary was way above their means.
IDL (Minnesota Vikings) Dean Lowry
Given his position, Lowry was never expected to complete the state sheet—rather, he was always required to perform the grunt labour. While I believe he may have been more productive in a limited position, he spent the most of his Green Bay career as Kenny Clark’s backup. That being stated, it was time to get moving. Last season, the inside defence didn’t miss a beat when Lowry was sent on injured reserve. Lowry can play more in Minnesota since Devonte Wyatt and TJ Slaton are likely to play bigger roles, and his salary was higher than what the Packers need to be paying their fourth interior defensive lineman.
Seattle Seahawks’ Jarran Reed, IDL
Reed finished the season in a pretty good way, and the improvement of the interior defensive line group as a whole may be attributed in part to his performance in those last few games. However, like I just mentioned with Lowry, Reed can play more and make more money somewhere else, since Wyatt, Slaton, and Clark will be playing the majority of the defensive plays.
Tonyan Robert (TE, Chicago Bears)
Though I felt a reunion with Tonyan made sense, given his consistency as a pass-catcher, and could offer some stability at the position as a rookie gets adjusted to what is typically a very steep jump at the tight end position going from college to the NFL, the Packers definitely need more playmaking at the position. Even the Packers could have afforded the $2.65 million one-year contract that Tonyan would sign. Thus, it was either Tonyan who desired a new beginning or they were prepared to go on.
Arizona Cardinals LB Krys Barnes
Barnes was an unrestricted free agent who could join with any team because he was not tendered, unlike other restricted free agents. Ultimately, the Green Bay linebacker room got too packed. De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker are getting all of the defensive snaps. While Wilson was one of the Packers’ finest special teams players, Isaiah McDuffie developed as a key member of the special teams unit and the team’s third linebacker. Last season, Barnes missed a number of games due to injury.
