NEWSLETTER
The 2022 NFL season was disappointing for the Green Bay Packers. After going 8-9, they missed the playoffs and plenty of drama has surrounded QB Aaron Rodgers. The team has plenty of decisions to make during the 2023 offseason. Here’s a look at Green Bay Packers free agency.
Green Bay Packers 2023 NFL Free Agents
Allen Lazard is entering the free agent market after having 788 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season. He’s a reliable wideout that should draw some interest across the league. Wide receiver Randall Cobb seems to be tied to Aaron Rodgers. If Rodgers is around, Cobb seems like he will be one of Green Bay’s receivers.
Tight end Marcedes Lewis will also be available. He’s a solid blocker and was a key part of the team’s run game. The Packers could bring him back for 2023. Robert Tonyan was reliable in a tight end role as well for the team. With that being said, Tonyan’s yards per catch ranked just 35th out of 43 tight ends.
Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry from the defensive line also see their contracts expire. Reed showed his pass-rush skills down the stretch with eight pressures in the final three games. He had 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble last season.
The Packers also have a few players that had crucial special teams snaps entering the market such as kicker Mason Crosby. Also, one of the best kick returners in the league, Keisean Nixon, will get some buzz. He led the league in kickoff return yards.
Unrestricted Packers Free Agents
To be an unrestricted free agent, there are a few qualifications a player must hit. They must have four or more years of experience. Also, their contract has to have expired. They can negotiate with any team without any restrictions or draft-choice compensation. Here’s a list of impending free agents for the Packers who are unrestricted.
Quarterbacks
None.
Running Backs
None.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Randall Cobb – WR
Allen Lazard – WR
Marcedes Lewis – TE
Robert Tonyan Jr. – TE
Centers, Guards, and Tackles
Yosh Nijman – T
Defensive Tackles, Defensive Ends, Edge Rushers
Dean Lowry – DE
Jarran Reed – DE
Linebackers
Justin Hollins – OLB
Eric Wilson – OLB
Cornerbacks and Safeties
Adrian Amos – FS
Johnathan Ford – S
Dallin Leavitt – S
Keisean Nixon – CB
Special Teams
Mason Crosby – K
Restricted Free Agents
A restricted free agent is a player who has played for three or fewer accrued seasons and has an expiring contract. The team can assign a tender to the player, which allows them to match any offer the player receives from other teams. The team receives draft compensation if the player signs elsewhere.
2023 NFL restricted free agents for the Packers:
None.
Salary Cap and Roster
The Packers missed the postseason and they have some work to do to clear salary cap space. They restructured the contract of DL Kenny Clark to free up $11 million. They can lower the cap hit of veterans David Bakhtiari, Rasul Douglas, and De’Vondre Campbell. The league cap is $224.8 million for the 2023 season.
Aaron Rodgers is a Packer for now, and he has a cap hit of $31.6 million. The highest number on the active roster followed by left tackle Bakhtiari. Questions surround if the team will trade Rodgers after a disappointing 2022 season. He has been one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks for well over a decade.
Packers Free Agency 2023 FAQs
NFL free agency will commence on March 15, 2023. It begins at 4 p.m. eastern time. The date signifies the start of the new league year and the end of all player contracts. Many players are set to hit the market and gain free agency status.
An unrestricted free agent is a player whose contract has expired, and they have no ties to their former team. Starting on March 15, they are free to negotiate with any team in the league without restrictions.
A restricted free agent can be extended what is called a qualifying offer. If offered, they are still allowed to negotiate with other teams around the league. Their current team is allowed to match any contract offer.
There is a “legal tampering” period that begins on March 13. Teams can talk to certified agents but no signings can be made until free agency is official.
