The new league year in the NFL in 2025 is now a week old. The Green Bay Packers were active early in the legal tampering period, saw a handful of players depart for new teams and then made a surprising signing during this second wave.
Here’s a quick look at what the Packers have added and lost so far in free agency:
Added (3)
G Aaron Banks: A new starter at left guard. Expect Banks, who has played almost 3,000 career snaps at left guard, to stay in his natural position. Elgton Jenkins, a plus starter at left guard for multiple years, is expected to move inside to center, a position he’s played as recently as last season. The Packers will hope swapping out Josh Myers for Aaron Banks will be a net positive for the starting offensive line.
CB Nate Hobbs: A new starter at cornerback, likely on the perimeter opposite Keisean Nixon. Hobbs has slot versatility, and his greatest impact might come when he moves inside and disrupts from the slot. The Packers could use him as a perimeter corner in the base defense and a slot corner in certain subpackages/matchups.
WR Mecole Hardman: A speedy gadget weapon and returner, or Tyler Ervin 2.0. Hardman has elite speed and experience both handling designed touches behind the line of scrimmage and returning punts and kicks. An All-Pro returner in 2019, Hardman could free up Jayden Reed and Keisean Nixon on special teams.
Lost (6)
DL TJ Slaton (Bengals): A key run stuffer. The Packers were a terrific run defending defense with Slaton on the field in 2024. The problem? He lacked pass-rushing ability, and the Packers want to be far more disruptive as a four-man pass-rushing unit in 2025. Veteran Kenny Clark could play more traditional nose tackle snaps this season.
CB Eric Stokes (Raiders): A disappointing top pick. Stokes played in all 17 games in 2024 after two injury-plagued seasons but wasn’t a preferred option at cornerback by the end of the year. He needed a fresh start. The Packers did, too. Maybe he can rekindle the flame of his impressive rookie season while in Las Vegas.
C Josh Myers (Jets): Another disappointing pick. The Packers quickly moved to replace Myers as a starter up front, and the NFL rightfully saw Myers as a replacement level player on the open market. He was the preferred starter at center for the Packers for four seasons but never improved in a meaningful way. His departure gives the Packers a chance to improve up front.
LB Eric Wilson (Vikings): A special teams stud and serviceable veteran linebacker. One could easily argue Wilson has been the team’s best special teams player since arriving in 2022. He also started 12 games at linebacker for Jeff Hafley last season. He’ll be missed.
RB A.J. Dillon (Eagles): A nice player, in theory, who no longer had a chance to contribute in Green Bay. Dillon is a big, versatile back, but he declined in 2023 and then missed the 2024 season with a neck injury. The Packers have Emanuel Wilson, MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks as capable options behind Pro Bowler Josh Jacobs.
CB Corey Ballentine (Colts): A serviceable backup corner and strong special teamer. Ballentine played at a surprisingly high level as a replacement starter in 2023, and he’s always been a strong special teams option. The Packers are rebuilding the cornerback position, but Ballentine was a strong backup option.
Are the Packers any better?
The question everyone wants answered. The Packers added three young, experienced players at need positions in Banks, Hobbs and Hardman, although no one on Earth could have predicted that trio of players to be signed by Green Bay. It’s possible swapping out Myers for Banks will create real improvement along the offensive line, and the team now has at least six legitimate starting caliber players up front. Winning the line of scrimmage is so important, and the Packers made a big investment in the process. Hobbs was excellent as a rookie in a similar defensive system, but injuries have derailed him in recent seasons. The Packers probably still need another investment at corner, a premium position. Hardman isn’t close to a No. 1 receiver, but he’ll fit a unique and potentially important role on offense and special teams. Last year, the Packers were so clearly better after signing Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs. It’s much harder to say the same a year later. More work must be done, and more and more it appears the draft will be an important part of pushing the Packers from good to great in 2025.
