Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst spoke highly of new signing Javon Hargrave, but a hidden line in his comments confirmed what fans have wondered all offseason.
The Packers played a smart game in free agency, acquiring talent without impacting the compensatory draft pick formula. It explained their decision to trade for Zaire Franklin instead of signing a linebacker, and why Javon Hargrave, whom the Minnesota Vikings had released, immediately hit their radar.
We'll break down the why in a moment, but first, here's Gutekunst on the Hargrave signing.
"He's a complete player. We've lost a few guys in the defensive interior there, and we just needed to add something. Particularly because he was released, it was not part of the compensatory formula, he just fit really well," said Gutekunst.
Why the Packers played the compensatory draft pick game to perfection in free agency
From the outside looking in, it seemed as though Gutekunst had this strategy in mind, and his comments at the NFL Annual Meeting this week confirmed it.
So, what does it mean and why does it matter?
Each year, the NFL hands out a limited number of compensatory draft picks from Rounds 3-7. Who receives these selections, and when, is determined largely by the previous year's free-agent spending.
Teams that lose more talent than they sign (like the Packers this year) receive compensatory picks to, as the name suggests, compensate for those departures.
Gutekunst knew the Packers would lose several starters in free agency. Quarterback Malik Willis, wide receiver Romeo Doubs, and linebacker Quay Walker signed big-money deals elsewhere. Green Bay also lost left tackle Rasheed Walker, edge-rusher Kingsley Enagbare, running back Emanuel Wilson, and safety Zayne Anderson.
It's not just about the talent you lose, but also who you sign. If the Packers had spent wildly in free agency, it likely would've cost them future draft picks. Instead, Gutekunst played it smart, signing cornerback Benjamin St-Juste and wide receiver Skyy Moore to bargain deals.
Trading for Franklin? Doesn't impact the compensatory pick formula. Signing Hargrave? The same applies, as the Vikings released him.
Over The Cap has tracked every free-agency move this offseason and provided up-to-date projections on the 2027 compensatory picks. They predict the Packers will receive the maximum four extra picks next year.
As things stand, the Packers will likely land two 2027 fourth-round picks (to compensate for the loss of Willis and Doubs), a fifth-rounder (Quay Walker), and a sixth-rounder (Enagbare).
The St-Juste signing ($4.9 million average salary) cancels out the loss of Rasheed Walker ($4 million). However, that's a moot point anyway, as teams can't receive more than four compensatory picks, so they never would've received a selection for losing Walker.
In other words, Gutekunst played it perfectly. He knew what he was doing. The Packers found ways to address needs at linebacker, cornerback, and defensive tackle, while also adding a return specialist, and they did so without hurting their chances of landing four compensatory picks.
Well played.