The 2024 free-agent period figures to be particularly interesting for the Green Bay Packers, who will enter their first complete offseason without QB Aaron Rodgers under contract. With Jordan Love entrenched as the Packers’ starting quarterback through at least next year, will Green Bay try to supplement its existing talent base with external signings?
The odds are against it. While the Packers could create more cap room through releases, restructures, and extensions, they’ll enter the offseason with just $22.8 million in cap space — the 24th-most in the NFL.
If Green Bay uses that limited space on new contracts, they’ll likely go to internal free agents. Entering Week 1, 73% of the Packers’ roster was homegrown, the third-highest rate in the league, per Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap. In an ideal world, Green Bay prefers to draft, develop, and extend its players.
Will that be the case in 2024? Let’s run through all of the Packers’ pending free agents.
Who Are the Green Bay Packers’ Upcoming Free Agents?
RB AJ Dillon
While AJ Dillon posted at least 750 yards in 2021 and 2022 and cracked 600 this past season, it’s difficult to get too excited about his production.
Even when fellow RB Aaron Jones was out of the lineup with injuries, Dillon failed to take complete control of Green Bay’s backfield.
None of Dillon’s underlying rushing metrics are encouraging. He ranked in the bottom quartile of NFL RBs in broken tackle rate and rushing yards over contact per attempt, suggesting he doesn’t provide much more than what’s blocked.
Dillon might have more to offer as a pass catcher. While his role as a receiver has dwindled in recent seasons, he finished top-12 in receiving DVOA in 2021 and 2023. He also earned plaudits from Packers HC Matt LaFleur for his work in pass protection.
MORE: Green Bay Packers Depth Chart
Still, Green Bay will have the opportunity to remake its backfield this offseason. Dillon is a free agent, while Jones — who turns 29 in December — is a release candidate.
The Packers could theoretically dip into an impressive free-agent running back pool that includes Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard, and others, replacing Dillon and Jones in one fell swoop.
OL Jon Runyan Jr. and Yosh Nijman
While Green Bay projects to spend the third-most cap space in the NFL on offensive linemen in 2024, that figure could — and likely will — change. Stalwart LT David Bakhtiari is unlikely to return to the Packers next season. Whether he retires or is released, Bakhtiari’s departure should halve his $40 million cap charge.
If GM Brian Gutekunst wants to re-sign his top two free-agent linemen, he should have the cap space to do so.
RG Jon Runyan Jr. is the likelier extension candidate. Although injuries up front forced Green Bay to reshuffle its front five last year, Runyan was a constant, playing nearly every offensive snap.
Runyan doesn’t have the track record to reach the $17 million salary the Packers gave LG Elgton Jenkins last December, but he could match the three-year, $30 million free-agent deal Nate Davis signed with the Chicago Bears this offseason.
Meanwhile, Yosh Nijman played just 231 snaps in 2023 after starting 13 games for the Packers a year ago.
However, he’s displayed competence at both tackle spots. In an OL-starved NFL, that’s an incredibly valuable skill. Green Bay has settled on Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom as its OTs, but Nijman should grab a starting job elsewhere.
DBs Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford, and Keisean Nixon
Darnell Savage, who put up the worst season of his career and was briefly benched in 2022, had played better in 2023 before suffering a calf injury in Week 6. He missed four weeks before going down with another injury in Week 14. Missing time in a contract year can often tank a player’s value.
Meanwhile, fellow safety Rudy Ford was also been sidelined for multiple games. A first-time starter in his seventh NFL campaign, Ford proved capable of playing center field. Still, he’s 29, so a multi-year deal might be out of the question. Next year’s safety market is full of options, but a reunion with Ford could make sense if the Packers strike out.
Keisean Nixon was a first-team All-Pro returner in 2022 but still only garnered $4 million on a one-year deal with Green Bay. He was far more involved on defense last season, playing 73% of the Packers’ snaps after hitting just a 28% rate the year prior. Nixon is in line for a pay bump if Green Bay wants him to return as its slot corner.
Other Packers 2024 Free Agents
- RB Patrick Taylor (restricted free agent)
- TE Josiah Deguara
- TE Tyler Davis
- LB Eric Wilson
- LB Kristian Welch
- CB Corey Ballentine
- CB Robert Rochell (RFA)
- S Jonathan Owens
Miss football? The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here, boss. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!