The first half of the 2025 season has been up and down for the Green Bay Packers, but despite some of the unwanted chaos, they're right in the thick of it at the top of the NFC. But as they begin the road down the back stretch of the campaign, reality will soon set in on the future of several players on the roster.
The Packers have 20 players who are finishing up their contracts this season, though not all will be gone in 2026. Guys like Romeo Doubs and Quay Walker are almost certain to get new deals. Many others, like Sean Rhyan and Emanuel Wilson, are playing well enough to retain their roles should Green Bay opt to bring them back.
Still, there are a few players who are likely in their final seasons with the franchise, and not all are for overwhelmingly negative reasons. Nonetheless, Packers fans know they may well be counting down the days until these three players are no longer in Green Bay.
These Packers don't appear to be in the team's long-term plans
K Brandon McManus
Last season, Brandon McManus revived his career, making 95.2 percent of his kicks and all of his extra points. The Packers thought their kicking woes were finished, signing the veteran to a three-year, $15.3 million deal.
But the Packers were wrong. McManus went 1-2 in the postseason and began this season nine-of-13 on his field goals and missed an extra point against Dallas, though blocks played a factor. He then missed two games with a quad injury, and upon his return, went 2-3 in a game Green Bay lost by three.
McManus hasn't lost his job, at least not yet, even though Lucas Havrisik was perfect in relief, and even set a franchise record to boot. It may be frustrating, but given his contract status, it's understandable that McManus would get an extended opportunity to preserve his spot. The NFL is a business and all that.
But once the offseason rolls around, short of perfection and full availability the rest of the way, Green Bay might look to cut its losses. McManus is having the worst season of his career at 34 years old, and while cutting him would result in a few million in dead cap money, it might be best to move on and give someone else a shot.
Edge Kingsley Enagbare
Kingsley Enagbare was rumored to have drawn interest at the trade deadline, and that's really the only reason he's included here. The Packers have great depth on the edge, but with Micah Parsons now on the books, reserves like Enagbare, who show promise, will likely find their starting opportunities elsewhere.
Enagbare has played about a third of the defensive snaps and has been productive with his limited opportunities. He has six pressures, three QB hits, and half a sack on just 172 snaps in eight games. While his sack count is a bit low, his 19 tackles and two tackles for loss are still in line with his career averages.
A former fifth-round pick with 10 career sacks, he'll be an interesting name to see hit the market at 26 years old. He might not get the biggest deal, but if he lands with the right team, he could cash in on a big contract soon enough.
It's worth noting that Brenton Cox Jr. will also be a free agent at the end of the season. Green Bay could opt to keep either player for depth, but finding the flexibility and need for both players seems unlikely. Cox would likely be a touch cheaper, and the Packers already having turned down interested teams points to his departure being the most likely outcome.
WR Malik Heath
Like Enagbare, Malik Heath's inclusion is circumstantial to depth rather than him playing himself out of Titletown. Heath has just six catches for 86 yards this season, but he's playing roughly a third of the offensive snaps due to injuries at the top of the depth chart.
With Christian Watson's return to the lineup, Matthew Golden's steady growth, and Jayden Reed's eventual return, Heath's opportunities will only dwindle as the season progresses. Heath could still have a small role if the wide receiver room does get and stay healthy, but it may be small enough to remind him that the free agent market could hold new, and more expansive, opportunities.
Heath provides great depth, and appears to be a great locker room fit, too. Green Bay would be wholly justified in bringing him back to keep familiarity in the receiver corps, especially if they expect to keep the room relatively intact. At the same time, Heath would be just as justified in exploring the free agent market to see if he can find more targets in another offense.
Heath will be 26 when the new league year rolls over. An undrafted player out of Ole Miss, he'll probably have a home in Green Bay if he wants it, but it wouldn't be too surprising if he pursues potential opportunities elsewhere, either.