Packers GM Breaks Down Eventful Offseason Roster Changes

The Green Bay Packers experienced a busy offseason, characterized by several major roster maneuvers. General Manager Brian Gutekunst recently addressed the media at the NFL owners meetings on Monday to discuss these significant moves.

The team welcomed three new free agents while executing two trades. Conversely, five established players departed Green Bay via free agency during this period. Gutekunst acknowledged the work ahead, stating, “We haven’t had a practice yet. There’s a lot of work to be done.”

Reflecting on the Rashan Gary Trade to Dallas

Gutekunst discussed the trade sending defensive end Rashan Gary to the Cowboys, adopting a politically correct tone regarding the compensation received. He noted that parting with Gary was difficult, calling him a “really good player.”

However, Gutekunst explained the move made sense given the team's trajectory. He praised Gary's consistent production, mentioning his 60 pressures and 7.5 sacks, but confirmed the team would only move him if the return made sense for their direction. “Again, I think where we’re headed as a football team, it made sense to do the deal with Dallas. But they’re getting a really good player,” he concluded.

Acquiring Veteran Linebacker Zaire Franklin

The Packers made a significant trade at middle linebacker, sending 25-year-old defensive tackle Colby Wooden to the Colts for 30-year-old linebacker Zaire Franklin. This move came as the team realized retaining Quay Walker in free agency would be financially challenging.

Gutekunst revealed a long-standing interest in Franklin, the 2024 second-team All-Pro and NFL tackles leader. “We’ve liked Zaire for a while – quite frankly back when he was not starting in Indy in his first few years,” Gutekunst shared.

He emphasized the need for veteran presence at middle linebacker after the potential loss of Walker. Franklin, a former special teams standout and team captain, was seen as the ideal veteran answer for the position.

Signing Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste

Following a less successful cornerback signing with Nate Hobbs last year, the Packers released Hobbs and secured Benjamin St-Juste for a lower cost. St-Juste played primarily as a reserve for the Chargers in 2023 but performed at a high level when given opportunities.

Gutekunst highlighted St-Juste’s health and performance in his 16 games, two of which were starts. PFF data showed St-Juste ranked 10th among corners with at least 350 snaps, allowing only a 50.0 percent completion rate. The GM noted St-Juste’s size and length were desirable traits the team lacked.

Addressing Special Teams with a New Returner

The Packers struggled significantly with their return game last season, contrasting with Skyy Moore’s emergence as an elite returner for the 49ers after being traded by the Chiefs. Gutekunst confirmed the team targeted a player to bolster this area.

“Last year was one of the first years he really had an expanded role as a returner and he did an outstanding job,” Gutekunst said of the new acquisition. Adding this player was deemed necessary to improve special teams performance from the previous year.

Defensive Line Reinforcement: The Return of Fletcher Hargrave

The trade of Wooden and the shift back to a 3-4 defensive scheme necessitated adding depth at defensive tackle. Fletcher Hargrave, who previously excelled under new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon in Philadelphia, was signed as a street free agent.

Gutekunst praised Hargrave as an “exceptional player” who is complete, excelling as both a run stopper and pass rusher. Critically, signing Hargrave as a street free agent meant his addition did not negatively affect the team's compensatory pick calculations related to losing players like Willis, Doubs, Walker, and Enagbare.

Securing the Interior Offensive Line with Sean Rhyan

The largest financial commitment this offseason was the three-year, $33 million contract to re-sign center Sean Rhyan. Rhyan earned the deal after stepping in for seven starts for Elgton Jenkins, ranking seventh in the league in annual pay for the position.

Gutekunst observed Rhyan’s consistent improvement throughout the latter half of the season. “He’s such a stout, powerful man in there,” the GM stated, noting Rhyan’s professionalism and growth at center. Securing Rhyan is viewed as vital for providing quarterback Jordan consistency up front.