The Green Bay Packers will need to be much more active in the 2024 NFL free agency than they were in the 2023 free agency cycle.Of course, that’s an incredibly low bar to clear. The Packers made virtually no major signings last season.
A month into free agency, their biggest outside acquisition was long snapper Matt Orzech. This year must be different. The Packers have cap space ($350,000) for at least this offseason and don’t have many domestic free agents to re-sign. After the Packers make some cuts, restructures or trades, they will need to free up a little free agent budget to improve the roster.But still they need to use their money wisely. It’s great to connect teams with bigger free agents, but they also need to be financially responsible for how they continue to build their roster.
These free agents should be avoided because of expected price, team fit, or positional value. This has become a real trend, as has the offseason of pairing the Packers with the top receivers in the free agent class. Since the Davante Adams trade, everyone but the Packers front office has rushed to add to the Packers’ top free agents, trade candidates and draft prospects.Despite the hype, the Packers have remained steadfast in their approach to drafting and development at the position.
They were able to give Jordan Love enough resources to be successful this offseason without the need for free agency or a trade.That won’t stop some from thinking the Packers should make a big splash this offseason. Ultimately, Christian Watson didn’t live up to his expectations, and the Packers could still use a big outside receiver. At first glance, Mike Evans fits the bill. He’s a 6-foot-4, 230-pound specialist coming off his strongest season in years with Baker Mayfield at quarterback. But that’s the problem. He has been a big contributor for the Buccaneers this season. If you can help someone in their 30s, it’s because they know something that others don’t.
The Bucs have $37.6 million. If they want to extend Evans, they will. If not, it would be a red flag that the resilient Evans is starting to show signs of his age, both in practice and among the team’s medical staff. The Packers are doing well with their young passing corps. If they add anything to it through free will, they must consciously decide how much risk they are willing to take.
