5 players the Packers were right to move on from in 2023

3. Dean Lowry

Similar to tight end, the Packers needed to get better along the defensive line. By moving on from Dean Lowry in free agency, they forced themselves to draft a replacement and look for an upgrade.

Lowry was a solid player on defense for Green Bay over seven seasons, playing in 111 games with 80 starts. His best year was in 2021, when he started all 17 games and made a career-best five sacks and nine quarterback hits.

However, he was unable to build on that this past season. Playing in 15 games with 12 starts, Lowry made only half a sack and five quarterback hits, and he struggled for consistency.

The time was right for the Packers to move on. Second-year Devonte Wyatt needs more snaps. He outplayed Lowry when he got opportunities in his rookie season. Wyatt can now take on a full-time role in the Packers' defense.

Green Bay also needed to upgrade its defensive line, which it did in the 2023 NFL Draft by selecting Auburn's Colby Wooden and Bowling Green's Karl Brooks. They will provide plenty of interior pass rush. Wooden and Brooks will likely begin as backups, but moving on from Lowry allows the Packers to get more snaps to their young players, including Wyatt.