Green Bay packers are not foreign to the measured decision -making. For decades, the franchise relied on a philosophy “build from the interior” rooted in writing, development and confidence. This offseason, this identity remained intact, but at what price? With a promising young quarter in Jordan Love And a balanced listIt could have been the moment to go all-in. Instead, Director General Brian Gutekunst played a little too sure. Of course, packers remain a competitor in the playoffs. However, their most blatant off -season error could come back to haunt them.
Silent off -season by design
Gutekunst’s offseason in 2025 played predictably: modest free agent movements, conservative trades (or absence) and an accent on the project. The nate Hobbs corner half, brought from Las Vegas, should compete for a starting nickel role. Aaron Banks, formerly of the 49ers, offers a solid but not very spectacular presence in Guard. However, the two players were paid too much compared to the market value. This has raised questions about Green Bay’s professional screening process more than his portfolio.
Where Gutekunst made noise was the project. After years of passing receivers in the first round, the packers finally used a higher choice on one. They wrote the point of view of Texas Matthew Golden. He will be joined by the choice of the fourth round Williams soap in a large -crowded but young wide receiver room. The symbolic weight of finally investing early in a sleight of hand is heavy. He said to Jordan Love: “We build around you.” On the other hand, in terms of pure football, the value of the addition of gold can be debated.
The packers ranked third in yards under net virtue by pas de passes last year, fifth in total and fifth offense in total defense. It was not a team with desperate offensive holes. This makes the luxury choice of a somewhat understandable receiver. That said, the opportunity cost of not tackling the more urgent areas – such as the rush to the passes – could define this season.
Here we will try to look at the most risky movement that Green Bay packers executed during the offseason of the 2025 NFL.
The risky bet: ignore the edge
For a team that prides itself on the balance of the list and regular improvement, the packers’ decision to give up strengthening the position of the edges is perplexed. It could also be potentially catastrophic.
With Rashan Gary leading the rush to the passes, Green Bay has a high -level defensive anchor. However, behind him, the depth painting is slim and not proven. The deposit after him is Stark. Kingsley Enagbare, Brenton Cox Jr and Lukas Van Ness are all promising. However, none has constantly shown that they can disrupt games on a weekly basis.
The Bet Office Front? Bank on internal growth rather than an external strengthening.
Of course, there is still time to do a job – rumors of interest for the veteran of Bengals, Trey Hendrickson, surfaced. However, Green Bay did not move. Hendrickson, a proven rusher, would have been the addition of an ideal victory. Of course, with a limited cap flexibility and a long -term state of mind, the packers seem little willing to make this kind of splash. This could be a mistake they regret in mid-season.
The program of the defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is based on the quarter-Arrière pressure. Without a coherent edge presence opposite Gary, the packers may become too dependent on the Blitz packages or to exhibit their secondary. Note that they have just lost the former first -round choice Eric Stokes and did not get a significant upgrade in its place.
Too little, too late in secondary
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Speaking of secondary school, the decision to let Stokes walk without a viable succession plan adds to the risk profile of off -season. Yes, Jaire Alexander is always one of the best corners of the league when he is in good health. That said, injuries have slowed it down in recent years. Hope is that Hobbs is part of a versatile role and occurs at a high level, but that’s right: hope.
Packers also have no cornerback until day 3. None of their selections are planning to be immediate contributors. This leaves them vulnerable if one of their runners falls or underperform.
Given the otherwise balanced structure of the team, the lack of investment in the rush towards the passes and the secondary is mystifying. If packers fail in January, it will not take a film study to understand why.
A project focused on 2026, not 2025
A plausible defense of Gutekunst’s strategy is that the team thinks beyond 2025. Golden has the potential to be a long-term WR1, and Anthony Belton, taken to strengthen the offensive line, could become a quality starter. However, these are movements for tomorrow, not today.
The problem is that Green Bay may already have the heart of a super Bowl competitor now. Jordan Love made a huge jump last season. The offensive is diversified, the Stout Defense and the NFC North feels open to the catch. Passing the possibility of significantly upgrading their greatest weakness, even at the cost of future capital, is a risk that seems unnecessarily careful.
The risk reward
Packers did not get their offseason, but they did not maximize it either. Their risky movement was not a business or a choice. It was a non-movement: the tap standing at the edge, where the depth is precarious, and overlooking the need for reinforcements in the secondary.
Matthew Golden can flourish in a star. Jordan Love could set up another level. But unless Green Bay finds a way to put pressure on the quarter in a coherent way and to stand at the back, they will have trouble making a serious push in the playoffs. In a league where aggressiveness often separates the contenders from the pretenders, the refusal of the packers to swing Big could be their loss.
