Packers free agency update: Who is returning, departing and arriving?
There was no shortage of player movement for the Green Bay Packers to start the 2024 offseason. The team had 17 free agents, including 12 unrestricted free agents, and three more veterans were added to the pile via releases. General manager Brian Gutekunst then made two of the biggest splashes in free agency, signing top players at running back and safety.
Here who is returning, departing and arrival for the Packers in free agency this offseason:
Re-signed: CB Keisean Nixon, RB A.J. Dillon, CB Corey Ballentine, CB Robert Rochell, LB Eric Wilson, LB Kristian Welch, TE Tyler Davis
The big return is Nixon, who signed a three-year deal that likely locks him in as the starter in the slot for 2024. New kickoff rules could immediately increase his value on special teams. Dillon is back on a cheap, one-year deal and could be a bargain as an experienced backup option behind Josh Jacobs. Ballentine and Rochell provide depth and special teams value at corner, and Wilson, Welch and Davis all could be core special teamers. Wilson has experience at linebacker in the 4-3 and could be called on to play snaps in 2024. The only player to re-sign who got legitimate guaranteed money was Nixon. The Packers also brought back exclusive rights free agents Emanuel Wilson, Daniel Whelan and Caleb Jones.
Signed elsewhere or released: S Darnell Savage, OL Jon Runyan Jr., S Jonathan Owens, LT David Bakhtiari, RB Aaron Jones, LB De’Vondre Campbell, OT Yosh Nijman, TE Josiah Deguara
The Packers are losing three offensive linemen that have started games within the last two years, including Runyan, who got $10 million per year from the Giants, and Bakhtiari, a five-time All-Pro who is still recovering from a major knee surgery. Savage got $12.5 million from the Jaguars and will likely get a chance to play in the slot. The Packers swapped out Jones for Josh Jacobs after Jones refused another drastic pay cut. Campbell was designated a post-June 1 cut and won’t provide salary cap help until later in the summer. He leaves behind a hole at linebacker. The Packers could use draft picks to find a swing tackle to replace Nijman and an H-back to replace Deguara, two disappointing players from the 2023 season. Owens was one of the leaders in special teams snaps but is a replacement level safety.
Signed: RB Josh Jacobs, S Xavier McKinney, K Greg Joseph
The Packers believe Jacobs, who is three years younger than Aaron Jones and just one year removed from an NFL rushing title, is a workhorse back who can play all three downs and provide leadership in the locker room. In a better environment in Green Bay, Jacobs could flourish, but the Packers still rolled the dice swapping out the running backs. McKinney, a playmaking 24-year-old, fills a major need at safety for Jeff Hafley’s defense. He could be the new leader in the secondary. The Packers saw McKinney as the perfect free agent signing. Joseph signed a one-year deal to compete with Anders Carlson for the kicking job. In many ways, Joseph is just a more experienced version of Carlson — big leg, but inconsistent.
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