For the Green Bay Packers, the beginning of the legal tampering period has already been crazy. Stars with experience leaving. Stunning signings. and free agents landing lucrative contracts elsewhere.
There will be more. The Packers need to fix gaps in their roster and have money to spend.
Below is a summary of every action the Packers took to begin their free agency:
Packers release RB Aaron Jones
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is the source.
The negative aspect of signing Josh Jacobs. One of the finest offensive performers in franchise history and a valued member of the Green Bay Packers, Jones is being released. In 2024, his cap amount exceeded $17 million, and attempts to reach a compromise while lowering the amount were unsuccessful. Although Jones is entering his 30th season and coming off an injury-plagued 2023 season, his release from the team is a surprise decision for one in a competitive window. With Jacobs, who is nearly four years younger than the average player, the Packers obviously believe they are upgrading in terms of talent-to-cost ratio. If they are correct, time will tell.
OL Jon Runyan Jr. to sign with Giants
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is the source.
The negative aspect of signing Josh Jacobs. One of the finest offensive performers in franchise history and a valued member of the Green Bay Packers, Jones is being released. In 2024, his cap amount exceeded $17 million, and attempts to reach a compromise while lowering the amount were unsuccessful. Although Jones is entering his 30th season and coming off an injury-plagued 2023 season, his release from the team is a surprise decision for one in a competitive window. With Jacobs, who is nearly four years younger than the average player, the Packers obviously believe they are upgrading in terms of talent-to-cost ratio. If they are correct, time will tell.
Packers sign RB Josh Jacobs
Source: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport
A rather surprising action. The new No. 1 running back in Green Bay will be Jacobs, the NFL’s 2022 rushing champion. After amassing over 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2022—an All-Pro season—he regressed during a dismal 2023 campaign. The Packers are optimistic that they can return him to his former glory. At 26 years old, with 1,305 career carries and 1,502 total touches, Jacobs is a first-round choice in 2019. Since 2019, his lifetime rushing success percentage of 51.2 ranks him ninth among running backs.
Darnell Savage to sign with Jaguars
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is the source.
In Jacksonville, Savage, a first-round selection of the Packers in 2019, will try to rekindle his career. Savage will receive a three-year contract for $7 million annually and $12.5 million in guarantees from the Jaguars. For a guy who was inconsistent and had a diminishing influence following his first two successful seasons, it’s a good contract. Savage still has some meat on the bone, but the Packers probably wouldn’t have paid to keep him. In Green Bay, the rebuilding at safety starts.
Packers release LT David Bakhtiari
David Bakhtiari as a source
The Packers were obliged to act because the five-time All-Pro required a fifth operation to repair his severely injured knee, and because his 2024 salary cap would exceed $40 million. The outcome was a release that will save the Packers more than $20 million this year under the cap. Additionally, the change increases the cap’s dead money by almost $19 million. A 2013 fourth-round selection, Bakhtiari spent 11 seasons with the Green Bay Packers. At least six of the eleven were really good. In just 13 games between 2021 and 2023 did he play. What could have been a Hall of Fame career as a Packer was wrecked by injuries.
Packers re-sign TE Tyler Davis
Source: ESPN’s Rob Demovsky
Davis is going to be returning to push for a spot on the roster as a special teamer and backup tight end. Forget he’s a tight end for a moment. Davis participated in around 600 special teams snaps between 2021 and 2022, made 15 tackles, and avoided penalties. He is useful throughout the third stage. If Davis reaches the 53, he can again serve Rich Bisaccia a core special team player after missing the whole 2023 campaign due to a preseason knee injury.