The Green Bay Packers were busy in the opening week of free agency, signing running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney.
Green Bay also re-signed AJ Dillon, Keisean Nixon, and Eric Wilson, helping them earn high grades early in free agency.
However, there were also departures. The Packers released David Bakhtiari, Aaron Jones, and De'Vondre Campbell. Jones and Campbell have already signed elsewhere, along with Packers free agents Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, and Jon Runyan Jr.
Last offseason, the New York Jets signed several former Packers, including a move they already regret. Which departing free agents won't live up to their new contracts elsewhere in 2024?
3. De'Vondre Campbell
The Packers released De'Vondre Campbell before the start of free agency last week, a decision that was expected. Campbell took a shot at the Packers, saying he was "badly misused." We didn't hear similar comments when he earned first-team All-Pro honors in the same system.
Campbell signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, who need cover at linebacker after Dre Greenlaw suffered a torn Achilles in the Super Bowl.
However, Campbell has missed 10 games due to injury over the past two seasons. In 2023, he finished with zero sacks, two quarterback hits, one pass defense, and zero interceptions. Per Pro Football Reference, he allowed a career-worst passer rating of 111.2 in his coverage.
Campbell struggled as the Packers' starting inside linebacker in 2023. It remains to be seen whether he can bounce back in San Francisco.
2. Jon Runyan Jr.
Packers fans had to double-take when they saw the contract Jon Runyan Jr. landed with the New York Giants. Fans wish Runyan nothing but the best after his Packers departure, but it was still surprising to see him sign a three-year deal worth $30 million, with $17 million guaranteed.
While the former sixth-round pick is a solid player with the versatility to play across the interior offensive line, he was under pressure from Sean Rhyan for the starting right guard job in the second half of last season.
Runyan played every snap in the Packers' opening seven games, but that number decreased as the year went on. He played fewer than 57 percent of the snaps in the final four games, with second-year Rhyan earning more opportunities.
Matt LaFleur created a similar in-season positional battle at left tackle between Rasheed Walker and Yosh Nijman, but Walker stepped up and proved why he should be the full-time starter. Before long, Walker was back to playing the majority of the snaps, including 100 percent in the final three games of the season. Runyan failed to do the same at right guard.
From playing only a little over half of the Packers' snaps late last season to landing a $30 million deal with the Giants is surprising, and it may not work out.
1. Darnell Savage
It didn't take long for Darnell Savage to find a new team. He signed a three-year, $21.8 million deal with $12.5 million fully guaranteed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Savage was a frustrating player to watch throughout his time in Green Bay. There were flashes of Pro Bowl potential, particularly early on, but these moments were few and far between.
In the final six games of the 2020 season, Savage defended seven passes and intercepted four while making one sack and two tackles for loss. Packers fans had high expectations the following season, but he was unable to get back to that level consistently.
Savage was outstanding in the Packers' wild-card win over the Dallas Cowboys last season, making a crucial pick-six in the first half. But his performance the following week was the complete opposite. Savage dropped an interception, got beaten in coverage by George Kittle for a touchdown, and then missed a tackle on Christian McCaffrey to allow another score.
According to Pro Football Reference, Savage missed 13.6 percent of his tackles in 2023 and 13.7 percent in 2021.
The former first-round pick will make some plays for the Jaguars, but his lack of consistency, especially when it comes to tackling, could become an issue.