3 players the Packers gave up on way too soon

1. Micah Hyde

Letting Hayward walk proved to be a mistake in hindsight, but few were complaining at the time it happened. The Packers believed they already had good depth and felt Hayward wasn't needed. The outcome was wrong, but few questioned their process when it happened.

Not re-signing Micah Hyde never made any sense. He did it all for the Packers. Hyde played safety, cornerback, and returned three punts for touchdowns.

He was the only positive in a disastrous 2016 season for the pass defense, but the Packers effectively booted him out the door by not even offering him a new contract.

And Hyde made them pay for that mistake.

He played slot corner regularly for the Packers, but the Buffalo Bills signed him to play safety. And he delivered, being named a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro in his first season in Buffalo.

Hyde has spent the past six seasons with the Bills, starting 81 games and making 35 pass defenses, 14 interceptions, and 363 tackles.

Despite only playing two games due to injury last year and now entering his age-33 season, Hyde is still PFF's fifth-best safety in their 2023 rankings. No Packers safety makes their top 32.

Hyde has dominated in the Bills' secondary. Not re-signing him seemed like a massive mistake at the time, but it has proven to be far worse for the Packers, with Hyde becoming one of the league's best safeties in Buffalo.

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