Rundown of Packers free agent signings and departures

The Green Bay Packers began free agency with 14 unrestricted free agents and three restricted free agents.

Since the NFL’s legal tampering period began nearly two weeks ago, the Packers have re-signed six of their own, along with bringing in two outside additions, and placed a second-round tender on Yosh Nijman. They’ve also had four former players sign elsewhere, while five players remain unsigned. This group includes Mason Crosby, Marcedes Lewis, Randall Cobb, Adrian Amos, and Dallin Leavitt.

As expected, it’s been a relatively quiet few weeks for the Packers from a free-agency perspective. Although they have over $22 million in available cap space, the pending trade of Aaron Rodgers will knock that total nearly in half due to additional dead cap hitting the books. Green Bay, like every other team, also has incoming operating expenses, such as signing the draft class, for example, that will count against the cap as well. All of which has restricted their spending power.

As I’m sure you’ve noticed, of the players that the Packers have signed, there has been a clear emphasis on special teams. These special teams specific additions helped this unit turnaround in 2022, and it’s some that Brian Gutekunst said the team would do again. When it comes to helping out your young starting quarterback, taking advantage of field goal chances and winning the field position battle are two little things that can go a long way.

Here is a quick look at what each free agent signing and departure means for the Green Bay Packers.

Players the Packers signed

Keisean Nixon, CB

Re-signing Nixon felt like a must. The All-Pro return man was a game-changer for the Packers, flipping the field position battle often–something that could be quite helpful for Love, as I just mentioned. In addition to what Nixon brings to special teams, he held up well defensively when called upon and gives Green Bay needed depth at cornerback.

Justin Hollins, Edge

Bringing back Hollins provides the Packers with needed depth at edge rusher, after a season where Green Bay struggled to get after the quarterback consistently–especially without Rashan Gary. After being claimed off waivers about halfway through last season, Hollins was instantly a productive member of the edge rusher rotation. From Weeks 12 through 18, he ranked 26th in pass rush win rate among all edge rushers and 27th in PFF’s run-stop rate.

Eric Wilson, LB

Wilson joined the Packers in early October after being signed off the New Orleans practice squad. Despite the late start, he finished tied for first in solo tackles on the team and finished second in total tackles. Wilson also had no missed tackles, a blocked punt, and out of all special teams players league-wide who played at least 85 snaps, he had PFF’s highest grade.

Corey Ballentine, CB

Ballentine didn’t join the 53-man roster until November, after being on the Packers’ practice squad, but he became a core special teams player right away. Due to his late start, Ballentine would finish 18th on the Packers in total special teams snaps, but he still ranked sixth in solo tackles. Ballentine also has over 400 defensive snaps during his NFL career–although his primary role will be special teams.

Rudy Ford, S

Ford was a very good flier on the punt coverage team, helping to limit the opposing return man, and as the season went on, he saw his role expand on defense with the Packers continuing to have issues at safety. Ford was a willing tackler and run defender, ranking 19th out of 90 safeties in run-stop rate, and he always seemed to be positioned correctly, which led to him coming away with four takeaways, including three interceptions. Given the current makeup of the safety room, Ford could be competing for a starting spot this summer.

Tyler Davis, TE

The Packers non-tendered Davis as a restricted free agent but quickly re-signed him. He was the team’s leader in special teams snaps in 2022, and he’s someone the coaching staff and Gutekunst have spoken very highly of over the last year. Tight end remains one of the Packers’ biggest needs, both in terms of depth and added playmaking.

Yosh Nijman, OT (second-round tender placed)

The Packers placed a second-round tender on Nijman, who was also a restricted free agent. In short, this means that Nijman can still negotiate with other teams, and if one of those other teams matches Green Bay’s offer, the Packers have the option to either retain Nijman or let him go, and they receive a second-round pick in return. By placing a second-round tender on Nijman, that comes with a predetermined salary of $4.3 million in 2023.

Perhaps the Packers are looking to trade Nijman, but my guess is that isn’t the case. At a minimum, he gives the Packers a very good backup offensive tackle option who has seen a lot of playing time over the last two years. At most, he is a starter and provides Green Bay with additional flexibility along the offensive line. Although the offensive tackle position may appear to be in good shape for 2023, there are a lot of questions surrounding it in 2024, and having Nijman as an option would be valuable. As a restricted free agent, Nijman’s contract is only for the 2023 season, making him a free agent in 2024. If he is viewed as a long-term option along the offensive line, an extension at some point this season would make sense. If not, then Green Bay should consider getting a second-round pick for him before he hits free agency.

Matt Orzech, LS

Orzech signed a three-year deal with the Packers, signifying that he will be the favorite this summer for the long-snapper role. With Orzech as the Rams’ long-snapper, kicker Matt Gay would hit 90 of his 92 extra point attempts while making 68 out of 74 field goals. Punter Riley Dixon, meanwhile, was PFF’s third-highest-graded punter in 2022. Although there were fewer issues at long-snapper this past season with Jack Coco, he was very much aided by having Pat O’Donnell as the holder.

Tarvarius Moore, S

Moore, who has 4.32 speed, had spent his full career in San Francisco up to this point, where he accumulated nearly 1,200 special teams snaps, playing on a variety of units. He also brings defensive experience, something the Packers need at safety, with 1,073 total snaps, including 13 starts, although it’s worth noting that he played only 60 defensive snaps this past season.

Former Packers who signed elsewhere

Allen Lazard, WR (New York Jets)

Lazard has joined the New York Jets to continue playing with Aaron Rodgers, but even if Rodgers was staying in Green Bay, Lazard was likely never returning. As mentioned above, the Packers do not have much spending power in free agency, and the $11 million per year that Lazard received was well out of their price range.

Dean Lowry, IDL (Minnesota Vikings)

Lowry was asked to do the dirty work and was never someone, given his role, who was going to fill the state sheet. I do think that in a smaller role, he could have been more effective, but he was the No. 2 next to Kenny Clark for much of his career in Green Bay. With that said, it was just time to move. When Lowry landed on IR, the interior defensive didn’t miss a beat without him last season. With Devonte Wyatt and TJ Slaton presumably taking on larger roles, Lowry can get more playing time in Minnesota, and he made more money than what the Packers should be paying their fourth interior defensive lineman.

Jarran Reed, IDL (Seattle Seahawks)

Reed had a really strong finish to the season, and his play during that final stretch of games was one of the reasons why we saw the interior defensive line group as a whole improve. But like I just described with Lowry, Reed can earn more money and playing time elsewhere, with Clark, Wyatt, and Slaton taking the bulk of the defensive snaps.

Robert Tonyan, TE (Chicago Bears)

The Packers absolutely need more playmaking at tight end, but I thought a reunion with Tonyan made sense, given his reliability as a pass-catcher, which could provide some stability at the position as a rookie gets acclimated to what is usually a very steep jump at the tight end position going from college to the NFL. Tonyan would sign a one-year deal worth $2.65 million, an amount that even the Packers could have afforded. So either they were ready to move on, or it was Tonyan who wanted a fresh start.

Krys Barnes, LB (Arizona Cardinals)

Barnes was another restricted free agent, but he was non-tendered, which made him an unrestricted free agent, allowing him to sign anywhere. Ultimatley, the linebacker room in Green Bay became too crowded. Quay Walker and De’Vondre Campbell are taking all of the defensive snaps. Isaiah McDuffie emerged as a core special teams player and the third linebacker on defense, while Wilson was one of the Packers’ better special teams players. Barnes was also inactive for several games last season.