The Green Bay Packers have it relatively easy this offseason when it comes to their own free agents. Or at least, as easy as it ever gets in the NFL.
There are no headline names set to hit the market, no franchise-altering decisions looming. That’s a luxury most teams don’t have.
It also gives Green Bay something just as valuable as cap space—flexibility. Instead of scrambling to retain stars, the front office can focus its limited resources on upgrading key areas and taking this roster from a frisky playoff team to a real Super Bowl threat.
But just because there are no big names doesn’t mean there are no important names. Letting the wrong role players walk can be just as costly as losing a star, and Green Bay still has some critical decisions to make.
Here are three players the Packers can’t afford to let hit free agency in 2025.
Daniel Whelan
At this point, Daniel Whelan might be a little overrated. He ranked 27th in punting average (46.1 yards per punt), 28th in net yards per punt (39.6), and 25th in punts inside the 20 (39.3 percent).
But he’s still a quality punter with room to grow.
Whelan has only been in the NFL for two years and has already shown progress. The booming leg was never in question—he’s always had the power. The improvement in accuracy and touch was the bigger storyline in 2024. He was much better at pinning opponents deep and limiting return opportunities, a critical skill in tight games.
He’s also not going anywhere anytime soon. As an exclusive rights free agent, Green Bay holds all the leverage. But instead of rolling year to year, the Packers should at least consider locking him into a multi-year deal at a discount.
Punter might not be a premium position, but a steady, improving one is worth keeping around.
Brandon McManus
The Packers went through absolute chaos trying to replace Mason Crosby.
They tried patience. They tried a rookie. They tried shuffling kickers midseason. None of it worked—until Brandon McManus walked through the door.
It all started when Green Bay used a sixth-round pick on Anders Carlson in 2023 and committed to him for far too long.
Carlson never showed enough consistency to justify the belief the Packers had in him. He hit just 81.8 percent of his field goals (27-for-33) and missed five extra points as a rookie.
Even as he struggled, the front office refused to bring in competition during the season, holding onto the hope that he’d figure things out.
When the Packers finally opened up the job in the offseason, Carlson lost the battle. Green Bay cut him at the end of the preseason, opting instead for Brayden Narveson, a rookie who lasted just six games before the team hit the reset button again.
Then came McManus.
Signed midseason, McManus immediately stabilized the position, drilling a game-winner in his very first game with the Packers.
From there, he was automatic, hitting 20 of 21 field goals (95.2 percent) and all 30 extra point attempts. In a year where special teams had been a weekly adventure, McManus was exactly what Green Bay needed—reliable, battle-tested, clutch.
At 33, McManus isn’t a long-term answer, but the Packers have already spent too much time on the kicker carousel. Now that they’ve found stability, they should make sure he doesn’t hit the open market.
Emanuel Wilson
Emanuel Wilson has quietly carved out a role in the Packers’ backfield.
Undrafted out of Fort Valley State in 2023, Wilson initially signed with Denver, but his stay there lasted three days before he was waived.
Green Bay scooped him up, and after a strong preseason where he flashed big-play ability, he earned a spot on the 53-man roster—where he has stuck for two seasons.
Wilson barely saw the field as a rookie, logging just 14 carries for 85 yards. But in 2024, when the Packers needed someone to step up, he delivered.
AJ Dillon suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason, and rookie third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd played just one game before injuries derailed his season.
Suddenly, Green Bay needed a reliable backup behind Josh Jacobs. Wilson answered the call, rushing 103 times for 502 yards (4.9 yards per carry) and four touchdowns while adding 11 catches for 48 yards and a touchdown as a receiver.
The Packers expect Lloyd to be fully healthy in 2025. They also found Chris Brooks, an intriguing young back, midway through the season. But depth matters at running back, and Wilson has proven he can contribute.
As an exclusive rights free agent, Wilson isn’t going anywhere unless Green Bay lets him walk—and there’s no reason to do that.
He has improved each year, runs hard, and provides stability at a physically demanding position. Bringing him back is an easy decision for the Packers.
