The Green Bay Packers’ approach to free agency could look very different this offseason compared to the last two years. In both 2024 and 2025, the Packers were far more aggressive than we were used to seeing. With 2024, Green Bay landed Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs. In 2025, they added Nate Hobbs and Aaron Banks. One of these offseasons does not look like the others.
Regardless of how you feel about those individual acquisitions, there’s no denying that Brian Gutekunst and the Packers have been unusually active in free agency. That trend is likely to change this year.
After trading for Micah Parsons last offseason, the Packers lost their first-round picks in both the upcoming NFL Draft and the 2027 draft. Because of that, Green Bay will almost certainly look to acquire more draft capital over the next two drafts to make up for the lost first-round selections. More picks simply mean more swings at the plate.
One of the most reliable ways to acquire additional draft picks is through compensatory selections.
Packers May Be in Line For Compensation
The NFL awards compensatory draft picks to teams that lose qualifying unrestricted free agents. The Packers have several players who could hit the open market and potentially net Green Bay compensation.
Teams, however, are limited to a maximum of four compensatory picks per draft. The league’s formula awards the four highest-value picks available. For example, if Green Bay were eligible for a 3rd, two 4ths, a 6th, and a 7th, the 7th-round pick would be excluded because only the top four values count.
This limitation will heavily influence how the Packers approach re-signings this offseason.
Here’s a look at Green Bay’s potential unrestricted free agents and the projected compensation tied to each:
- Rasheed Walker (LT) — High value (potential 3rd or 4th round pick)
- Quay Walker (LB) — High value (potential 5th round pick)
- Romeo Doubs (WR) — High value (potential 5th round pick)
- Malik Willis (QB) — Moderate value (potential 5th or 6th round pick)
- Sean Rhyan (G/C) — Moderate value (potential 6th round pick)
- Kingsley Enagbare (EDGE) — Moderate to low value
- John FitzPatrick (TE) — Low value
If the Packers were to refrain from signing qualifying free agents from other teams and allow these players to walk, Green Bay could realistically receive four compensatory picks ranging from the 3rd to the 6th round. That would be massive, especially considering the loss of first-round picks in 2026 and 2027.
Decisions, Decisions
This is where things get complicated.
Take Quay Walker as an example. If the Packers extend him, they keep a proven starting linebacker — but they also take on a higher cap hit and forfeit a potential fifth-round compensatory pick in 2027.
While Quay Walker the player is almost certainly more valuable than a fifth-round pick, the financial and cap implications make the decision far closer than it appears on the surface. That cap space could instead be available for us on lower-cost “street free agents,” which wouldn’t affect the compensatory formula at all.
The same logic works in reverse. If Green Bay allows Rasheed Walker, Quay Walker, Romeo Doubs, and Malik Willis to all leave, they’d likely max out their four compensatory picks. That would render any compensation tied to Sean Rhyan obsolete. In that case, extending Rhyan wouldn’t negatively impact the formula, making his situation far simpler.
So yes — Packers fans may find themselves rooting for former players to land big contracts elsewhere. That’s especially true for Malik Willis. While he’s currently projected as a 5th- or 6th-round compensation pick, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky has suggested Willis could command $40–50 million and be named a starter. If that happens, his compensation value could jump as high as a third-round pick.
Packers Will Look to Acquire Street Free Agents
Because of the need to preserve compensatory picks, the Packers are unlikely to be active in traditional unrestricted free agency. Instead, expect Green Bay to focus on street free agents — players released by their teams, usually for cap reasons.
Street free agents do not count against the compensatory pick formula, making them ideal targets. Even better, these players can be signed immediately upon release — no waiting period required.
Here are a few potential cap-casualty targets who could make sense for Green Bay:
Here are some possible cut candidates that makes sense for the Packers:
Sean Murphy-Bunting
Murphy-Bunting is coming off a knee injury that he sustained away from the Arizona Cardinals back in May. This is Murphy-Bunting’s last contractual year with the Cardinals and the Cardinal’s could save 7.2 million in cap by releasing the cornerback. If new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon liked Murphy-Bunting back in Arizona, he might try and persuade Gutekunst to bring him on over.
Marlon Humphrey
Marlon Humphrey will be 30 years old this coming season. He had somewhat a drop in his performance allowing several deep plays but is still a versatile cornerback and a ball hawking one at that. Humphrey, if released can save the Ravens $19.26 million in cap savings if designated as a post June 1st cut.
Davon Hamilton
Hamilton isn’t going to wow somebody with his stats. But he was the anchor at nose tackle for the Jaguars who just so happened to have the best run defense in football. Hamilton would be a great way to help boost the Packers run defense in some big ways. Hamilton will cost the cap strapped Jags $12.48 million against their cap numbers. If the Jags were to post-June 1st release him, he would save them $8.44 million in their cap.
Jaylon Johnson
Yes, another cornerback, I know. But the Packers have a real need at the position and even though I think they bring back Keisean Nixon, he isn’t enough in the cornerbacks room. Jaylon Johnson, the Chicago Bear, has a huge cap hit for the Bears. He will account for $24.5 million toward the Bear’s cap. Chicago can’t keep him at that costs making him a potential cut candidate. Johnson would be a great addition to the Green and Gold.
Jonathan Greenard
The Minnesota Vikings edge defender may not have had the stats in 2025 but he still posted high in elite metrics ranking fifth in pass rush pressures. The reason he could be a cut candidate is because he carries a high cap cost of $22.3 million and with the growth of Dallas Turner, this could give the Vikings a reason to let him go.
Packers Final Thoughts
The Packers’ offseason is just kicking off. While they may not be aggressive in traditional free agency, that doesn’t mean it won’t be interesting. Between compensatory pick strategy and opportunistic street free-agent signings, Green Bay still has plenty of ways to improve the roster.
You never know what could happen.
And no matter what —
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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