The Green Bay Packers are preparing for a playoff run, and anything can happen once the postseason begins. Matt LaFleur's team has a chance to win it all this year, but things could get even better in 2025.
Green Bay has the league's youngest roster, which is developing and growing together, and it is finally about to unload significant dead money off the salary cap.
As the Packers turned the page to the Jordan Love era, they also parted ways with several veterans. Trading Aaron Rodgers saved the team money in the long run, but not before eating a $40.3 million dead cap hit in 2023.
The Packers paid almost $60 million in dead cap last year and a further $65.9 million this season. Per Over The Cap, Green Bay's biggest dead cap hits include $18.1 million for David Bakhtiari, $12.4 million for Aaron Jones, and $12.1 million for Preston Smith.
The good news? That all changes in 2025.
Packers could become big spenders in free agency next offseason
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst isn't afraid to spend money in free agency. The biggest problem in recent years is the team hasn't had the salary cap flexibility to make moves.
In 2019, they had the cap space to sign players, and Gutekunst went big by bringing in Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Adrian Amos, and Billy Turner. With more cap space to use this year, he signed Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney.
Green Bay is set to have $62.8 million in cap space in the offseason, the 12th-most in the NFL (per Over The Cap).
The team may also move on from several of its top free agents, including Eric Stokes, AJ Dillon, and Josh Myers. There are no obvious free agents who they must re-sign, although they may want to bring back T.J. Slaton, Eric Wilson, and Brandon McManus.
READ MORE: The 10 best quarterbacks in the history of the Green Bay Packers
In terms of extensions, the Packers may have one eye on 2026. Players heading into contract years include Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, and Sean Rhyan. They may look to get an extension or two figured out, but it shouldn't prevent them from being active in free agency.
The Packers should be in position to spend, and that's a worrying sign for the rest of the league.
Imagine taking this young, talented team and adding a few veterans to the mix. We're already seeing the impact Jacobs and McKinney have had.
The Packers could target upgrades at edge-rusher and cornerback. One player to watch is McKinney's former teammate, Azeez Ojulari, who the team was rumored to have interest in trading for before November's deadline. Another player who would make sense is New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed, who could start opposite Jaire Alexander.
Gutekunst has made bold moves in free agency before and will have the resources to do it again in 2025.