A fascinating few months await the Green Bay Packers. General manager Brian Gutekunst said they need to show more urgency without providing specifics on what he meant.
Is he talking about the players? The coaching staff? His upcoming offseason work?
In all likelihood, the answer is yes to all of the above. It starts in the offseason. Green Bay repeatedly failed to defeat one of the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Philadelphia Eagles, who ended the regular season with the NFC's top three records. The Packers lost twice to each of them.
They need to close the gap.
Detroit may take a slight step back next season after losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, especially if the latter takes other Lions coaches with him. That said, Johnson's arrival in Chicago could make the NFC North even more competitive.
It's down to the Packers to hit a home run this offseason and ensure they are poised to regain control of the NFC North in 2025. What can we expect in the months ahead?
4 bold predictions for the Packers in the 2025 offseason
Packers move on from Jaire Alexander
Sure, trading an All-Pro cornerback doesn't exactly scream urgency, just as the Packers couldn't claim to go all-in with Aaron Rodgers after trading away Davante Adams. But this feels different to the Adams situation.
They traded Adams before an all-or-nothing year with Rodgers. Alexander's departure has felt inevitable for some time, only heightened by his end-of-season comments.
The former first-rounder has played just seven games in each of the past two years. Add in his big contract, and the Packers are unlikely to have other teams start a bidding war to trade for him. Green Bay may be forced to release Alexander or accept a Day 3 pick.
It's likely the only way to go. Parting ways before June 1 would only gain the Packers $6.8 million this offseason, but crucially, his entire $27.4 million cap hit in 2026 would come off the books. Gutekunst likely won't land a premium pick, but the Packers can take some cap savings and move on.
Packers sign at least three players in the opening week of free agency
Green Bay's track record seems to suggest it will dip into the free agency pool cautiously and sparingly. Ted Thompson rarely opened the checkbook for a veteran player, but many assume Gutekunst follows the same approach.
That's not true. The key is looking at when the Packers have had salary cap flexibility. They had that in 2019, and Gutekunst went on a first-wave spending spree, hitting a home run with the signings of Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Adrian Amos, and Billy Turner.
Then came the empty stadiums and a halt to the annual salary cap rise, putting every team, including the Packers, in a tough spot. That coincided with the end of the Aaron Rodgers era, with Green Bay absorbing significant dead cap hits to transition to Jordan Love becoming the starter alongside the league's youngest team.
With the salary-cap pain finally gone, the Packers are in their best financial position since 2019. They showed signs of their aggressiveness by signing Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney last year, and Gutekunst has all the resources he needs to make a few big-time additions in free agency.
Packers make a big move for a pass-rusher
If we're talking about showing urgency, how about adding a game-changer to the defensive line? Trading for four-time Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby is top of Packers fans' wishlist, but the team would likely have to part ways with significant draft capital while taking on his massive salary. Still, it's hard to deny the impact he could make alongside Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark in this defense.
Failing a blockbuster trade of that magnitude, the Packers could turn to free agency. Philadelphia Eagles pass-rusher Josh Sweat registered eight sacks and 57 pressures (per PFF) this season. Other options include Azeez Ojulari and Khalil Mack.
Whether via free agency or a trade, the Packers will make a big move to upgrade their pass rush.
Packers finally draft a wide receiver in the first round
We often hear about the Packers' deep and talented wide receiver room. It's true, although this group collectively fell short of expectations. There were far too many unforced errors and not enough big-time moments. Per PFF, Jayden Reed (10) and Dontayvion Wicks (9) ranked third and seventh in the NFL for drops, respectively.
Christian Watson is out indefinitely with a torn ACL and could miss most of next season. He only has one year left on his deal, as does Romeo Doubs.
The Packers need another wide receiver, especially if Watson is out for a while, both for the present and for the future.
Ted Thompson was among the best at recognizing when it was time to prioritize the position, like when he selected Davante Adams in 2014 despite knowing he would sit behind Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb in target share early on.
It's time to add another wide receiver. While the Packers could turn to free agency for a star player like Tee Higgins or make a move for DK Metcalf, it's not really their style. They are far more likely to spend big money on an edge-rusher or cornerback.
They do their best work at wide receiver in the draft and could have the perfect opportunity in the early rounds.