The Green Bay Packers enter a significant yet exciting offseason.
Many will play down Jordan Love's potential after a frustrating, injury-hit season while seemingly forgetting all the great play he has delivered. In the past two seasons, Love has thrown for 7,548 yards, 57 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions with a 96.3 rating. The Packers have gone 20-14 and reached the playoffs both seasons.
They achieved this with the youngest roster in the NFL. Now, it's time to level up. General manager Brian Gutekunst made his intentions clear by stressing the need for "urgency" in 2025.
Gutekunst has the resources to upgrade the roster. The Packers are in their healthiest salary-cap position since 2019, when they were aggressive in free agency.
Green Bay must improve its roster to take that next step, but where are the most pressing positions of need?
Every Packers position group, ranked in order of need
10. Quarterback
The Packers don't need to make any changes at quarterback. Love is the starter, and they finally solved their backup conundrum this year.
Malik Willis threw for 550 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Packers to two victories in the games he started before coming off the bench to help beat the Jacksonville Jaguars.
9. Running back
Green Bay has one of the deepest backfields in football, led by Pro Bowler Josh Jacobs, who rushed for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Emanuel Wilson provided quality backup with 502 rushing yards and four scores, while Chris Brooks added solid depth.
The Packers will get MarShawn Lloyd back in 2025. His speed and explosiveness could take the run game to another level.
8. Safety
Gutekunst fixed last season's biggest position of need. Xavier McKinney earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, while Evan Williams is basically a lock to make the All-Rookie Team. Javon Bullard found his best position in the slot but provides backup behind McKinney and Williams.
7. Tight end
While adding another depth piece at tight end is not out of the question, it's far from a priority. Tucker Kraft is an emerging star, catching 50 passes for 707 yards and a team-best seven touchdowns.
The Packers will hope to see more from Luke Musgrave, who was limited to only seven games in his second season.
6. Linebacker
Edgerrin Cooper is a future All-Pro. He had an outstanding rookie season, taking home two NFC Defensive Player of the Week awards before being named the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Month in December.
Quay Walker is a solid starter, but the Packers must decide whether to exercise his fifth-year option. Gutekunst should add more depth this offseason, but he can feel confident in Cooper and Walker leading the way.
5. Offensive line
Starting center Josh Myers is a free agent, and Green Bay may need to reshuffle its starting five if he departs. Matt LaFleur needs to figure out how to incorporate first-round pick Jordan Morgan into his plans, whether at tackle or guard.
The Packers' starting five barely missed time during the regular season, but their lack of depth was exposed at the worst time following Elgton Jenkins' shoulder injury in the NFC Wild Card Round.
It won't be surprising if Gutekunst invests multiple draft picks along the offensive line, searching for versatile players who can line up at different spots.
4. Defensive line
The Packers need better play up front, including from their interior linemen. LaFleur fired defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich last week, highlighting the need for change.
Kenny Clark had a surprisingly quiet year, making just one sack after posting a career-best 7.5 in 2023. Devonte Wyatt provided five sacks but lacked consistency. Gutekunst has to decide whether to pick up Wyatt's fifth-year option, but he will remain a starter alongside Clark for at least one more season.
Gutekunst should continue to add talent to the defensive line.
3. Wide receiver
The Packers hoped at least one of their young wide receivers would break out in 2024. None of them did.
Christian Watson could miss a significant chunk of the 2025 season as he recovers from a torn ACL. It's also important to note that Watson and Romeo Doubs only have one year remaining on their rookie deals. At least one of them likely won't be back after next season.
Love needs a reliable go-to target he can lean on at crucial moments. Maybe that player is already on the roster, but we didn't see enough consistency from this group. Factor in that uncertainty along with the upcoming contract decisions, and it's clear the Packers need to add another wide receiver.
The question is how. Will they bring back Davante Adams? Sign a free agent like Tee Higgins? The most realistic path comes through the draft, where the Packers could have great options on Day 2.
2. Cornerback
It's a close call between the top two position groups, but cornerback will move to No. 1 if Jaire Alexander departs this offseason — it sounds like a real possibility.
Alexander's future is uncertain, and Eric Stokes and Corey Ballentine have expiring contracts. It could leave the Packers with only Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine on the outside. The Philadelphia Eagles proved how quickly a team can upgrade their talent at corner by drafting Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
The Packers need to prioritize cornerback this offseason.
1. Edge-rusher
It doesn't matter how well your offense plays or if your secondary holds good coverage. It's hard to win playoff games without a strong pass rush. According to ESPN, the Packers finished 26th in pass rush win rate this season.
Per Pro Football Focus, Rashan Gary only had two more pressures (47) than Aidan Hutchinson (45) despite playing 12 more games. Hutchinson had more than any other Packers edge-rusher — he only played in five games for the Detroit Lions.
Jeff Hafley found other ways to generate pressure, but he couldn't rely on his defense to win with four rushers.
The pass rush is the priority. Gutekunst tends to take an aggressive approach when trying to strengthen areas of need. He went strong at safety last season and tight end in 2023. Don't be surprised if he spends big on a pass-rusher in free agency before doubling down early in the draft.