7 Key Items on Brian Gutekunst and Packers Offseason To-Do List
By Paul Bretl
Following an incredibly disappointing 8-9 season, where do the Green Bay Packers go from here? There are a lot of unknowns entering this offseason, and although not said specifically, both Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur made it quite clear when meeting with reporters at the end of the season that there won’t be a rebuild in Green Bay.
To a degree, the Packers feel a bit stuck. Of course, a potential change at quarterback would be a big difference in 2023, but when it comes to the overall construction of the roster, this team may not look terribly different in the upcoming season. This means that if Green Bay is going to improve, internal development will be crucial to that happening.
As we look ahead to the coming months for Gutekunst and the Packers, as always, there will be plenty to address, but these seven key items should be at the top of the to-do list.
Packers offseason to-do list: Make a decision at the quarterback position
This is going to have to be the first domino to fall for the Green Bay Packers this offseason. As Aaron Rodgers said on the Pat McAfee Show this past week, while the trade speculation has ramped up, he still has not yet made a decision on whether he is going to retire, stay in Green Bay, or play elsewhere. However, he did very much sound at peace with the idea of being traded if that’s what is decided.
If traded before June 1st, the Packers will have to absorb a dead cap hit of about $40 million this season. The good news is that they will then have more cap flexibility in 2024, and as part of the trade package, they will receive 2023 draft pick(s) that can help them now. On the flip side, if Rodgers is traded after June 1st, for starters, his market may not be as robust as teams prepare for training camp, but also, the draft capital received by the Packers wouldn’t be until 2024. From a salary cap standpoint, this option is more friendly in 2023, with Rodgers’ dead cap hit being only $15 million compared to $40 million, but that is followed by another $24 million in dead cap on the books in 2024.
Unfortunately, as much as the Packers have tried to keep their Super Bowl window open, it feels like it has closed with the current roster. Coming off an 8-9 season, there is little improvement that can come from the outside, with not much spending power in free agency and really no worthwhile roster cuts available. In short, this roster could look very similar in 2023, and as we watch the NFL playoffs unfold and see the remaining four teams, the Packers don’t look close at all to competing with them.
If Rodgers does retire or is traded, it will finally be Jordan Love’s time. Even without Rodgers, I don’t expect a rebuild from the Packers.–it’s just not how they operate, and they need to give Love every opportunity to be successful so they can truly evaluate him as a quarterback. But if Rodgers does return, Love very well could be the one demanding a trade — and understandably so — after sitting on the bench for three seasons. Although if that is the case, he has very little leverage.
From a salary cap standpoint, because Love is still on his rookie deal, if the Packers wanted to have both quarterbacks on their 2023 roster again, they very easily could. However, it finally feels like we’ve hit the crossroads where a decision has to be made.