Big week ahead for Packers as free agency set to begin

Green Bay Packers, Brian Gutekunst (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) *** Local Capture *** Brian Gutekunst
Green Bay Packers, Brian Gutekunst (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) *** Local Capture *** Brian Gutekunst /
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With free agency set to begin, a big week is ahead for the Green Bay Packers.

Free agency is set to get underway.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday that the new league year will begin on schedule, which means free agency will effectively begin on Monday.

While any deals agreed won’t become official until 3 p.m. CT on Wednesday when the 2020 NFL league year begins, Monday marks the start of the two-day negotiating period, otherwise known as the “legal tampering” window.

And it will be an important week for the Packers. The NFC Championship defeat to the San Francisco 49ers feels like a decade ago but it’s now time for general manager Brian Gutekunst to get to work on improving the roster.

So, when does it all begin?

According to Rapoport, decisions on the franchise tag must be made before 10:59 a.m. CT on Monday, with the negotiating window beginning at 11 a.m. That’s when the Packers, and the other 31 teams, will be able to negotiate with free agents from other teams.

Of course, that also means that the Packers’ own free agents like Bryan Bulaga, Blake Martinez and Tramon Williams will be able to negotiate with other teams tomorrow if they aren’t re-signed between now and then, which would seem highly unlikely at this stage.

The Packers didn’t waste any time in free agency last year with Gutekunst agreeing to deals with four players during the negotiating period. Will we see the same approach from the Packers this week?

Roster cuts will also be something to watch. The Packers already freed up $8 million by releasing Jimmy Graham earlier this week, and they could decide to create more room later on with other roster moves.

Which free agents are you hoping the team agrees to deals with in the next few days?