Between the time the free-agent negotiation window opened on Monday morning and 8:00 p.m. Eastern that night, NFL teams had dished out an incredible $2.3 billion in new contracts. But the Green Bay Packers, of course, were one of only five clubs not to contribute to that total during that stretch, joining the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Denver Broncos, and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Packers did make a big move that day, but it involved losing a player, as they acquired a fourth-round pick in the 2027 draft from the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for veteran edge rusher Rashan Gary, who is one of several players the team said goodbye to this week, whether by cutting them or just flat-out losing them to another club, a list that includes Romeo Doubs, Kingsley Enagbare, Elgton Jenkins, Nate Hobbs, and Malik Willis.
Green Bay did eventually bring in some external help, signing cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, and wide receiver/return specialist Skyy Moore, while also engaging in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts to acquire veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin.
Now, given the Packers' overall lack of movement during this first wave of free agency, combined with the moves some other teams have made, one might think Green Bay's odds to win Super Bowl 61 would have taken a big dip. But that's actually not the case. Yes, they did drop a touch, but the Green & Gold now rank among the top five favorites to hoist the Lombardi Trophy next season.
Packers rank among the top five favorites to win Super Bowl 61
Not long after the Seattle Seahawks lifted the Lombardi for the second time in team history with a Super Bowl 60 win over the New England Patriots, we took a look at the way-too-early odds for Super Bowl 61, which will be played next Valentine's Day at SoFi Stadium.
At that time, the Packers were tied with the Detroit Lions for the seventh-best odds among all teams at +1400. And while their odds have taken a slight dip to +1500, they're now tied with the Kansas City Chiefs for fifth, trailing only the Los Angeles Rams (+750), the defending champion Seahawks (+900), the Baltimore Ravens (+900), and the Buffalo Bills (+900).
Team | Super Bowl 61 | AFC | NFC |
|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles Rams | +750 | — | +400 |
Seattle Seahawks | +900 | — | +475 |
Baltimore Ravens | +900 | +450 | — |
Buffalo Bills | +900 | +475 | — |
Green Bay Packers | +1500 | — | +750 |
Kansas City Chiefs | +1500 | +750 | — |
Philadelphia Eagles | +1600 | — | +800 |
San Francisco 49ers | +1700 | — | +800 |
Los Angeles Chargers | +1700 | +850 | — |
Detroit Lions | +1700 | — | +850 |
Houston Texans | +1800 | +900 | — |
New England Patriots | +1800 | +950 | — |
Denver Broncos | +1900 | +1000 | — |
Jacksonville Jaguars | +2500 | +1200 | — |
Chicago Bears | +2500 | — | +1300 |
Dallas Cowboys | +3000 | — | +1600 |
Cincinnati Bengals | +3000 | +1400 | — |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +4000 | — | +1900 |
Pittsburgh Steelers | +5000 | +2200 | — |
Minnesota Vikings | +5500 | — | +2800 |
Washington Commanders | +6500 | — | +3500 |
Indianapolis Colts | +6500 | +3000 | — |
New York Giants | +7000 | — | +4500 |
New Orleans Saints | +7500 | — | +4000 |
Carolina Panthers | +9000 | — | +4500 |
Tennessee Titans | +10000 | +4500 | — |
Atlanta Falcons | +10000 | — | +4500 |
New York Jets | +16000 | +7500 | — |
Miami Dolphins | +16000 | +7500 | — |
Las Vegas Raiders | +16000 | +7500 | — |
Cleveland Browns | +16000 | +7500 | — |
Arizona Cardinals | +30000 | — | +15000 |
As you can see, the Packers have the third-best odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl 61 at +750, sitting behind only the Rams (+400) and Seahawks (+475).
What isn't shown above are the divisional breakdowns. And what's a little wild in that regard is that Green Bay is not currently favored to win the NFC North. That honor belongs to the Detroit Lions at +175, with the Packers in close second at +185. The defending division champion Chicago Bears sit in third at +330, while the Minnesota Vikings bring up the rear at +600.
All betting odds courtesy of DraftKings. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. The content in this article should not be considered betting advice. Gambling involves risk, and one should only gamble with funds that one can comfortably afford to lose. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.