Packers 2023 NFL Free Agency Guide: Everything You Need to Know
The Green Bay Packers and the rest of the NFL are beginning the 2023 free agency period with a lot of work to do. Green Bay has several voids to fill at some point in the offseason, and I’ll get you completely prepared for free agency with this elite primer.
Key Dates
- Monday, March 13th at 11 a.m. CT: Legal negotiation window ahead of free agency
- Wednesday, March 15th at 3 p.m. CT: 2023 NFL League Year begins. Teams must be under the salary cap. Trading period and free agency open.
Teams and players can agree to contracts beginning March 13th at 11 a.m., but nothing is official until March 15th at 3 p.m. The Packers are currently at a disadvantage because they don’t know what will happen with Aaron Rodgers. If he’s traded, Rodgers could count for an additional $9 million against the 2023 salary cap.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Green Bay Packers’ 2023 free agency, including unrestricted free agents, dates, and more.
Salary Cap Update
Speaking of the salary cap, Dairyland Express’ Paul Bretl just provided us with a nice update you can read here.
The Packers restructured the contracts of Aaron Jones, Jaire Alexander, David Bakhtiari, Preston Smith and Kenny Clark to help them get $24.02 million in cap space. Of course, those moves also pushed money into future years. That money will be needed to re-sign their own players, sign external free agents, sign their draft class, eat salary on a Rodgers’ trade and make in-season maneuvers.
Unrestricted Free Agents
- Dean Lowry
- Jarran Reed
- Robert Tonyan
- Marcedes Lewis
- Allen Lazard
- Randall Cobb
- Adrian Amos
- Rudy Ford
- Dallin Leavitt
- Mason Crosby
- Eric Wilson
- Keisean Nixon
- Justin Hollins
Restricted Free Agents
- Yosh Nijman
- Tyler Davis
- Krys Barnes
Positions Of Need
The Packers have several major needs they’ll need to address in one way or another this offseason. Due to their limited financial situation, I don’t expect them to touch all of them in free agency. However, they could re-sign a veteran free agent at a position or two and target another one in free agency.
Wide receiver, safety and tight end are at the very top of Green Bay’s needs list. They have at least two free agents at each position and must replace much playing time. That’s not where it ends, however, as Green Bay could beef up the interior of their offensive line, add a quality defensive lineman or two, add depth to their outside linebacker and add another quality cornerback.
Free Agents Of Note
Next. 3 bold predictions for Packers' free agency. dark
This year’s free agent class isn’t great at the top, but does offer intriguing options that could be had for reasonable contracts. That should help the Packers, as tight end, wide receiver and safety have depth on the market. Here are five players to keep an eye on:
- Mecole Hardman, wide receiver
- Parris Campbell, wide receiver
- Julian Love, safety
- Juan Thornhill, safety
- Irv Smith Jr., tight end