The Green Bay Packers roll into the 2025 offseason with roughly $24 million in effective cap space and a hunger to build on their playoff grit.
Free agency kicks off March 10 with the tampering window, then roars open March 12. The first deals are usually bloated contracts, but the longer free agency is open, the more prime the opportunity gets for general manager Brian Gutekunst to snag bargains.
After locking down linebacker Isaiah McDuffie and kicker Brandon McManus, the focus shifts to bolstering key spots without draining the bank.
Christian Watson’s ACL tear leaves the wide receiver room wobbly, the cornerback depth looks shakier than a rookie’s nerves, and the defensive line needs a kick to match its first-round pedigree.
These five under-the-radar free agents would bring skills, speed, and sneaky value to the Packers. They won’t demand top dollar, but they could plug holes and push Green Bay closer to a Super Bowl run.
Mecole Hardman Jr., Wide Receiver
The Packers’ wide receiver corps stumbled in 2024—Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, and Watson couldn’t find a top dog. To make matters worse, Watson’s ACL injury will now sideline him for most of 2025, leaving a gaping void for a deep threat.
Mecole Hardman Jr. could zip onto the scene as the speedster Green Bay needs.
At 27, he’s no stranger to big stages—his jet sweep touchdown sealed Kansas City’s repeat in the 2024 Super Bowl. That experience would be extremely helpful in the locker room.
He’s not a stat-sheet stuffer, peaking at 693 receiving yards in 2021, but his wheels can create vertical chaos. Green Bay craves that juice to stretch defenses, letting Reed and Doubs feast underneath while Jordan Love airs it out.
The Packers could snag him on a one-year, minimum deal, which is a steal for a guy who’s been there and done that. He fits the bill as a playoff-savvy receiver with the speed the Packers need. Hardman’s not the full fix, but he’s a patch to help the offense in 2025.
Diontae Johnson, Wide Receiver
Sticking with wide receiver, the clock’s ticking for the Packers with free agency looming for their core four. Watson and Doubs are set to become unrestricted free agents in 2026, with Reed and Wicks following them in 2027.
Someone like Diontae Johnson isn’t a long-term fix to replace the current receivers. However, he can be a stopgap to help elevate them in the present.
Johnson runs twitchy routes which make him a nightmare for defenders. When he’s at his best, he can put up big numbers, such as in 2021, when he caught 107 receptions for 1161 yards and eight touchdowns.
Unfortunately, he’s not always locked in, which is why he’s bounced from Pittsburgh to Carolina to Baltimore to Houston since 2023 alone.
Green Bay needs a spark to replace Watson, and Johnson could become a guy who shows out in big games. His hands are gold—only five drops since 2023—and his wiggle keeps defenses guessing.
After a bumpy year, he’s not fetching top wide receiver cash; a one-year pact should land him. The Packers’ receiver room lacks a vet voice—Johnson’s six seasons bring that, plus a knack for clutch grabs.
He’s not a pure burner, but his quickness stretches the field enough to keep Love’s options wide. Gutekunst could pair him with a draft pick, blending now and later. The biggest question Green Bay will have to decide on is whether they want a voice like Johnson influencing their locker room.
If they feel they have a strong group of players to absorb Johnson’s volatility, this could be a move they make.
Nate Hobbs, Cornerback
Jaire Alexander’s future wobbles—trade and release rumors swirl—and Eric Stokes, Robert Rochell, and Corey Ballentine are set to hit unrestricted free agency. That leaves Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine to hold the fort. That’s not exactly inspiring confidence if you’re a Packers fan.
Green Bay could very well target a boundary cornerback in free agency. However, if they are confident in Nixon and Valentine, they could also look to add a slot corner like Nate Hobbs.
Hobbs is a slot maestro from the Raiders who’s tougher than a frozen tundra wind. At 25, he logged 49 tackles and a pick in 11 games in 2024, thriving inside where Green Bay’s shaky secondary needs grit.
Nixon’s a jack-of-all-trades, but he shone outside late last year—Hobbs could lock down the nickel, letting Nixon move to the outside full time.
Hobbs’ tackling gets called into question, as he sometimes struggles to finish bringing ball-carriers down. However, his five passes defended show he’s no pushover in coverage.
Hobbs won’t break the bank- PFF predicts him to receive a one-year, $4 million contract- after flying under the radar in Vegas. He’s not a shutdown star, but his instincts fit Jeff Hafley’s aggressive scheme, blitzing and stuffing runs like a linebacker lite.
Green Bay needs bodies who can hang with NFC North receivers. Hobbs brings that without the diva price tag. His youth meshes with Valentine’s upside, and his slot savvy stretches coverage, giving safeties room to breathe.
Gutekunst has a nose for steals—Hobbs echoes Rasul Douglas’ sneaky impact. He’s not rewriting the depth chart, but he’s a cheap cog to keep the secondary from crumbling while the Packers chase bigger fish or draft a stud.
Derek Barnett, Defensive End
The Packers have a ton of first-round picks on their defensive line. Like, a lot. Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, and Lukas Van Ness—again, all first-rounders—line the D-front, but they’ve been more fizzle than sizzle.
Green Bay desperately needs to add some production, and Derek Barnett could be a low-key addition to help move the needle.
Barnett can be a 6-foot-3, 259-pound wrecker. At 28, this ex-Eagle turned Texan notched five sacks and 19 total QB pressures in 2014.
He’s no Khalil Mack, but he does have a non-stop motor that allows him to put relentless pressure on opposing offensive lines.
Green Bay’s D-line boasts talent, yet it’s coughed up one-sack clunkers against the Lions and Vikings too often. Barnett’s a rotational rusher who could jolt that crew, pairing with Gary to crank the heat.
He has some pep in his pass-rushing step, and his run-stopping chops add beef where Van Ness still lags. At a projected $4-5 million a year, he’s a steal in free agency, as playoff teams like Houston loved his late surge.
The Packers need edge depth to spell Gary and push Van Ness; Barnett’s a lunch-pail guy who won’t sulk on the bench. He’s not rewriting the stat book, but he’s a cheap spark to stretch the pass rush, letting Clark feast inside.
Gutekunst could snag him to bridge the youth-to-impact gap, turning a pricey front into a fearsome one without busting the cap.
D.J. Jones, Defensive Tackle
Clark anchors the Packers’ interior defensive line, flanked by Wyatt and others. However, depth is somewhat of a concern.
Sure, Clark, Wyatt, Colby Wooden, and Karl Brooks all return next season, with TJ Slaton the only player not currently under contract. But, again, this was an underwhelming unit in 2024.
That’s where D.J. Jones can help.
Jones rumbles in at a stout six-foot and 305 pounds, with a bulldozer style. At 30 years old, this ex-Bronco logged 39 total tackles and two sacks last season, playing 510 snaps on a stingy Denver defense.
He won’t command nearly the amount of money he did on his previous contract, as he was unable to live up to the hype. However, he should still be available for a one-year deal at a low cost for the Packers.
Jones is a run-stuffer who clogs running lanes and has the occasional ability to get after a quarterback. Green Bay’s interior needs a bruiser to spell Clark and Wyatt; Jones fits, eating double teams so others can hunt.
He’s not a sack machine, but he’s a bargain after Denver’s overpay. The Packers’ D-line has the names—Jones adds the grunt, stretching the front’s stamina and keeping runners bottled.
Hafley’s scheme loves chaos up front; Jones delivers that without the flash, letting Clark and Gary shine. He’s a rotational rock, not a star, but Green Bay’s had too many games where the middle sagged—Jones stiffens it up.
Gutekunst could grab him to round out a unit that’s tantalizingly close to dominant, all while keeping cash for a splash elsewhere. He’s the quiet muscle this D needs to grind out wins.
