Re-sign or Let go and Prediction: Packers special teams ace Dallin Leavitt
By Paul Bretl
This offseason, the Green Bay Packers have 14 unrestricted free agents of their own to make decisions on either before or during NFL free agency.
Over the next few weeks, my “Re-sign or Let go & Prediction” series is back, where I will take a look at each of the Packers’ unrestricted free agents, laying out why Green Bay may try to re-sign them, why they would let them walk, and then I’ll make a prediction.
Next up, I will be taking a look at special teams ace Dallin Leavitt. Below you will find the other players already discussed.
Why the Packers would re-sign Dallin Leavitt
In Rick Gosselin’s annual special teams rankings, the Green Bay Packers jumped 10 spots and went from being ranked 32nd to 22nd. In the grand scheme of the NFL landscape, the Packers still ranked in the bottom third of the NFL; however, this was a massive jump for a team that has routinely been ranked last or close to it over the last few seasons.
Of course, the hiring of Rich Bisaccia played a big role in that turnaround, but another factor was GM Brian Gutekunst’s willingness this season to sign special teams-specific players like Dallin Leavitt. Leavitt would play only one defensive snap in 2022 but was a core special teams player, finishing second on the team in snaps while playing on a variety of units. He also finished tied for second on the Packers in total tackles, per PFF ($$).
If on the team, special teams contributions will be the reason why, but Leavitt does also play safety on defense, and that is a position where the Packers are lacking serious depth at the moment. In addition to Leavitt’s on-field contributions, Aaron Rodgers talked about the importance of his locker-room presence throughout the season.
Leavitt has also spent his entire NFL career playing under Rich Bisaccia, and I have to think that plays a factor — even a small one — in this decision as well.
Why the Packers would not re-sign Dallin Leavitt
I already feel like a broken record writing these articles, but Green Bay is going to be limited by the salary cap this offseason, which will lead to some difficult decisions. Leavitt isn’t going to break the bank by any means, but perhaps another team has the flexibility to offer him more than the Packers can for a special teams-only player. Or perhaps another team would be willing to offer a longer contract than Green Bay can. I have to think that the Packers want him back on the team, but the price has to be right.
Prediction: The Packers re-sign Dallin Leavitt
Maybe because of his 2022 performance, Leavitt is in-store for a raise this offseason, but even if that’s the case, he made less than $1 million in 2022. Assuming that the contract value is in this ballpark, signing him to a two-year deal rather than a one-year contract shouldn’t be an issue either–even for the cap-strapped Packers.
During his postseason press conference, Gutekunst discussed the special teams unit and how operating differently in 2022 by signing those aforementioned special teams-specific players was crucial to this unit’s turnaround. Gutey also added that the Packers would take a similar approach in 2023. And if that’s the case, that means having Leavitt back on the team.