Depending on what the Green Bay Packers do in free agency, several players could find themselves on thin ice regarding their roles on the team.

The legal tampering period of free agency begins on March 10, with teams officially able to enter contracts with outside free agents on March 12. The Packers will have about $24 million in spending power, with mechanisms to create even more cap space if they choose.

General manager Brian Gutekunst has emphasized the need for increased urgency to win a Super Bowl, and that process begins in free agency.

Gutekunst has several holes to address this offseason, including cornerback, pass rusher, and pass catcher. How he approaches free agency could put these five Packers on thin ice.

Sean Rhyan

The Packers’ interior offensive line was serviceable last season, and Sean Rhyan is a prime example of that.

By almost every metric, he was a middle-of-the-road starting right guard—PFF ranked him as the 46th-highest guard among 77 qualified players at the position. Among the 58 guards who played at least 417 pass-blocking snaps, he ranked 26th in total pressures allowed and 21st in sacks allowed.

That marked a solid improvement after not playing during his rookie campaign, but it won’t be enough in 2025 and beyond. The Packers are already likely to seek a replacement for Josh Myers at center and may not have the resources to upgrade Rhyan’s position as well.

However, they could add a veteran to bolster their interior offensive line depth and push Rhyan for snaps if he continues to deliver mediocre play. Right now, he’s holding his ground, but if he doesn’t take another step forward, he could find himself pancaked out of the starting lineup.

Jaire Alexander

Regardless of whether Jaire Alexander is on the Packers, another team, or a free agent when the new league year begins, he’ll be on thin ice.

Alexander’s growing injury history—having played seven or fewer games in three of the past four seasons—makes him a prime target for scrutiny. Whether it’s Green Bay or another team, they’ll want their investment to be on the field, not on the injury report.

If he’s traded or signs elsewhere, expectations will follow him. He has the potential to be one of the top corners in the NFL, and that potential carries the weight of responsibility. Teams don’t pay for what a player could be—they pay for what they consistently are.

Right now, Alexander is a high-ceiling player with major durability concerns, a paradox that makes his future uncertain.

If he remains in Green Bay, the spotlight will follow his every move. He’s currently set to carry the third-highest cap hit on the team in 2025 at $25 million, a hefty price tag for a player who has struggled to stay on the field. For that number, the Packers need a lockdown corner, not an occasional contributor.

The Packers also need a true CB1 to contend with the NFC’s elite. While Keisean Nixon declared himself the team’s top corner following the season, he lacks the sustained high-level play that Alexander has showcased in the past.

One of Green Bay’s biggest problems last season was that their best players didn’t consistently perform at their best. Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, and Jordan Love had stretches where they failed to meet expectations.

Alexander belongs in that group as well. If the Packers want to reach their full potential as a team, they need him to return to his healthy, Pro Bowl form. Right now, his career is like a high-wire act—one wrong step, and he could find himself tumbling from the ranks of the league’s elite.

Carrington Valentine

One of the ripple effects of Green Bay’s decision regarding Jaire Alexander will be its impact on fellow cornerback Carrington Valentine.

Valentine, a 2023 seventh-round pick out of Kentucky, had a surprisingly solid rookie campaign. Thrust into action due to injuries, he logged 846 total defensive snaps and held his own in coverage, allowing 40 receptions for 470 yards on 72 targets.

His role changed in 2024 as the Packers shifted Keisean Nixon to the outside. When Alexander went down with an injury, Valentine rotated with former first-rounder Eric Stokes. His play showed improvement from his rookie year—he allowed a higher completion percentage but recorded his first two career interceptions and three pass breakups.

Still, it’s unlikely Green Bay is content with Nixon and Valentine as their starting corners if they move on from Alexander. The Packers should look to strengthen the position through free agency, and they have plenty of options to consider.

If they want to make a splash, D.J. Reed or Byron Murphy could be prime targets. Murphy is expected to have a hot market, meaning Green Bay would need to open the checkbook to land him.

A more cost-effective approach could be pursuing a veteran like Darius Slay Jr. The seasoned cornerback has expressed interest in playing one more season and could serve as a reliable stopgap for the Packers.

Other options include Paulson Adebo, Asante Samuel Jr., and Nate Hobbs. If Green Bay adds a veteran, Valentine will once again find himself in a fight for snaps—a test to see whether he can truly hold his own or if he’ll be left playing catch-up.

Lukas Van Ness

Another position the Packers should target is defensive end with a bonafide pass rusher.

Green Bay’s pass rush was too inconsistent last season, disappearing when the team needed it most. The Packers failed to generate steady pressure against the Eagles in the playoffs, continuing a season-long trend of struggles against elite teams.

Despite boasting a defensive line full of first-round talent—Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, and Lukas Van Ness—the unit underperformed. Their position coach paid the price, getting fired at the end of the season.

The Packers are searching for a starting defensive end to pair with Gary. Van Ness should be first in line for the opportunity, but Kingsley Enagbare and Brenton Cox Jr. could push him in camp as internal options.

However, Green Bay should also explore external options to solidify the position.

The trade market presents some intriguing possibilities.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson is the most available option. While he’s on the older side at 30, his production remains elite—he’s racked up 35 sacks in the last two seasons. For context, Gary has 39 sacks across his entire six-year career.

Free agency offers additional high-profile names, including Josh Sweat, Khalil Mack, and Chase Young. Green Bay has also been linked to Dayo Odeyingbo.

Adding a veteran would put Van Ness on notice, potentially pushing him down the pecking order. If he doesn’t step up soon, he could find himself skating on thin ice—one slip away from losing his role in the Packers’ long-term plans.

Dontayvion Wicks

The Packers will likely address the wide receiver position in some way, shape, or form this offseason.

Green Bay was optimistic about this group a year ago. Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks all showed promise in 2023 and seemed poised to take the next step.

There were endless debates about which one would emerge as the Packers’ number one receiver in 2024. Unfortunately, the answer turned out to be none of them.

Green Bay’s passing attack regressed, struggling to generate consistent production. A major culprit was drops. And a major reason for the drops was Dontayvion Wicks.

Wicks has no trouble getting open. He’s lightning-quick in and out of his breaks, creating separation from defensive backs with ease.

But when it comes to actually securing the ball, he’s been about as reliable as a cell signal in the middle of nowhere. He had a whopping nine drops last season—the seventh-most in the NFL. Of the six players with more drops, five had at least 55 more targets than he did (the lone exception being Jayden Reed, who had 10 drops on 79 targets).

Packers fans would love to see Davante Adams return. While he may not be the same “top two, not two” receiver he was when he left, he’s still better than anyone they have now.

If Adams isn’t an option, the Packers should look to add a proven veteran via free agency or trade. Even if it’s not a Tier 1 receiver, any addition would push Wicks down the depth chart.

How Green Bay approaches free agency will reveal a lot about what they think of Wicks.

If they’re truly worried about his hands, they’ll swing for the fences. If not, they might wait until the draft to make a move. Either way, the pressure is on Wicks to prove he can be more than just a guy who gets open—he has to be a guy who finishes the play.