With 2026 free agency in full swing for the NFL, experts are already making assessments about teams. Of course, a ton of moves will still be made before the start of the season, but more than enough have already been made for grades to be handed out. Unfortunately for the Green Bay Packers, they aren't looking at a good progress report.
In a recent PFF piece by Gordon McGuinness, the analyst gave a grade to every NFL team after the early wave of free agency.
For the Packers, McGuinness graded the team the letter D, arguing that the majority of the team's early moves were average at best.
PFF criticizes Packers for average start to free agency
McGuinness went through Green Bay's four moves, including trades, and assessed each one. For the trade sending defensive lineman Colby Wooden to the Indianapolis Colts for linebacker Zaire Franklin, the analyst said it was just an average move. The same thing was said for the signings of cornerback Benjamin St-Juste and defensive lineman Javon Hargrave.
The lone move that received a grade other than average was the trade that sent Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick. McGuinness said it was a good move for the Packers, pointing out that the team was on its way to releasing Gary, so getting anything for the veteran defender is a win. The 2019 first-round pick and 2024 Pro Bowler had declined in recent years with Green Bay, so it made sense to part ways.
Ultimately, McGuinness was underwhelmed by Green Bay's early moves in free agency, and it's hard to disagree with that assessment.
That reflects on Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst, who is responsible for building the roster into a contending roster. It's hard to say Gutekunst has done a good job of that so far this offseason, considering the players the Packers lost and the very few they added.
The good thing, though, is that Green Bay is already a solid team after making the playoffs last season. However, the Packers only won nine games last year, and have suffered losses in the Wild Card round the last two postseasons. If the franchise is going to improve and make a serious push towards winning a Super Bowl, Gutekunst needs to do more.