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Packers 2026 Offseason Update: A New Look Roster Takes Shape

Cory Trimm • • Offseason

The 2025 season left a bitter taste. A 9-8 record. A Wild Card appearance against the Chicago Bears that turned into one of the franchise’s most painful collapses — up 21-3 at halftime, then watching it all slip away in a 27-31 defeat. Five straight losses to close the year. If there’s a silver lining to a gut-punch ending like that, it’s this: it lights a fire under everyone — players, coaches, and front office alike.

The 2026 offseason has been anything but quiet. Let’s break down what happened.

Free Agency: The Painful Goodbyes

Every offseason has its losses, and this one stung.

Romeo Doubs walks after four seasons in Green Bay. The man who led the team in receiving in 2025 — 55 catches, 724 yards, six touchdowns — is gone. For a Jordan Love offense that desperately needs playmakers, losing your most reliable target is a significant blow. The two sides couldn’t get a deal done, and Doubs is someone else’s problem to cover now.

Malik Willis cashed in big time. Per ESPN’s free agency tracker, the backup QB signed a three-year, $67.5 million deal with the Miami Dolphins — starter money. Good for him. His time in Green Bay helped him develop, and the Dolphins clearly see the upside. Wherever Willis goes, Packers fans will cheer for him.

On defense, the losses pile up. According to ESPN, Quay Walker — who was growing into a legitimate starting linebacker — signed a three-year, $40.5 million deal with $28M guaranteed elsewhere. He was only getting better. Kingsley Enagbare headed to the New York Jets on a one-year, $10 million contract. And Rasheed Walker departed for the Carolina Panthers on a one-year deal. The linebacker and defensive line rooms look very different heading into the summer.

Free Agency: The Moves Made

General Manager Brian Gutekunst didn’t sit on his hands.

The biggest acquisition was a trade for linebacker Zaire Franklin from the Indianapolis Colts. Franklin is a proven veteran presence — exactly the kind of experienced voice a young defense needs after losing Walker. He fills the communication and leadership void at linebacker.

Per Packers.com, center Sean Rhyan earned a new contract after stepping into the starting lineup midseason and never looking back — he started the final seven regular season games plus the playoff game. Continuity up front matters, and Rhyan staying keeps the offensive line intact.

Defensive back Cox was retained on a one-year, $2.5 million deal, per Lombardi Ave’s free agency tracker. Smart, cost-effective depth.

The 2026 NFL Draft: Quality Over Quantity

Green Bay entered the draft with eight picks and came out with six selections — the smallest draft class under Brian Gutekunst’s tenure, and the smallest Packers class since 2004, per Acme Packing Company. The message was clear: swing for high-ceiling talent rather than filling every hole with warm bodies.

Round 2, Pick 52 — CB Cisse: The headline move. At just 20 years old, Cisse is one of the youngest players in the entire draft class, but scouts project him as a future CB1. Per Acme Packing Company’s draft recap, Gutekunst and his staff were “very high” on him throughout the pre-draft process. Cornerback was a glaring need, and the Packers went out and got someone they believe can be special.

Round 3 (trade-up) — DL McClellan: Green Bay moved up seven spots from 84, surrendering a fifth-round pick to land McClellan. He’s a versatile interior presence — can anchor the nose but also generate some pass rush. After losing Enagbare, adding a young defensive lineman with upside was important.

Round 5 — C/G Jager Burton: Offensive line depth with position flexibility — always useful.

Round 6 — CB Domani Jackson: More competition and depth in the secondary. After drafting Cisse, you double down on what you believe in.

Undrafted Free Agents: Per Packers.com, ten players were added post-draft, including Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones — a dual-threat passer who appeared in 41 games with 32 starts in college (5,785 yards, 45 TDs). He won’t threaten Jordan Love’s job, but a developmental QB with his athleticism is exactly the kind of camp story that keeps things interesting.

Jordan Love and What It All Means

Per Spotrac, Love enters year two of his four-year, $220 million contract ($55M average annually, with $160.3M guaranteed). He’s under contract through the heart of this rebuild, and this offseason signals that Gutekunst is doubling down on building around him with young talent rather than expensive veterans.

The 2025 season showed the ceiling — Love can play at a high level, and when the offense clicks, the Packers can beat anyone. The 2025 season also showed the floor — when the team goes cold, they really go cold. Five straight losses. A 21-3 halftime lead squandered.

The roster looks different now. The weapons are changing. New pieces are coming in. But the goal is the same: take the next step, get back in the playoffs, and stop losing early.

After three straight first-round exits, 2026 needs to be the year Green Bay gets past the opening weekend.

Go Pack Go. 💛💚

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