Packers lone 2023 exclusive rights free agent: IOL Jake Hanson

Although the unrestricted free agents garner the most attention, and understandably so, there are three free agent classes. One of which is an exclusive rights free agent, and after the Green Bay Packers had eight of those specific free agents in 2022, they have just one this offseason in offensive lineman Jake Hanson.

An exclusive rights free agent is a player with fewer than three accrued NFL seasons. Although they are called a free agent, these players have little power. To retain an exclusive rights free agent, all the organization has to do is extend that player a league minimum contract, and once that is done, the player does not have the ability to negotiate with another team–they essentially have to agree to the deal. On the flip side, if the team does not offer the exclusive rights free agent a contract, they then become an unrestricted free agent and can sign anywhere.

When it comes to Hanson, expectations should be that the Green Bay Packers will tender him a contract. Now, this may not be the news that some want to hear, given Hanson’s performance in his lone start last season against Minnesota in Week 1 while at right guard, where PFF credited him with allowing a sack and four pressures. Hanson would then go on to play eight more snaps the remainder of the season — three in Week 3 against Tampa Bay and five in Week 6 against the New York Jets — before landing on season-ending IR with a biceps injury.

However, despite his poor performance against the Vikings, there are really three reasons that I see Hanson sticking around, at least through the summer. For one, the coaching staff, particularly offensive coordinator and former offensive line coach Adam Stenavich, often praised Hanson for his play during training camp and the preseason.

The second reason is his versatility, something that we know the Packers covet along the offensive line. Hanson has the ability to step in and take snaps at any of the three interior offensive line positions.

Lastly, as already mentioned, when it comes to exclusive rights free agents, the Packers only have to offer Hanson a league minimum contract, which, last season, cost Green Bay $940,000, according to Over the Cap. This is also a non-guaranteed contract, so if Hanson underperforms over the summer, he can be cut easily with little salary cap ramifications.

As currently constructed, the Packers have a fairly deep offensive line room, with David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, Zach Tom, Royce Newman, Rasheed Walker, and Caleb Jones all under contract, along with Yosh Nijman likely returning on a restricted free agent contract. Luke Tenuta, who was on the 53-man roster last season, and 2022 third-round draft pick Sean Rhyan are two others who will be in the mix for a roster spot this season as well.

In addition to all of the players just mentioned, GM Brian Gutekunst has also shown that he is more than willing to spend multiple draft picks on the offensive line in the draft — selecting nine offensive linemen over the previous three years alone — meaning I’m going to guess that at least one offensive lineman will be added to the roster in this year’s draft.

So I’ve said all of that to say this, while I fully expect Hanson to be back this summer for the reasons mentioned, he is far from a roster lock and will not be in the mix for playing time, barring any injuries. His ceiling right now is as a backup.