10 biggest offseason questions for the Packers

It's offseason time for the Green Bay Packers. After a promising season for such a young team, the next few months will be an imperative period to adjust the roster and build a new version of the team around quarterback Jordan Love.

They have already replaced defensive coordinator Joe Barry with former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley, making additional staff changes as well, and hired a new strength and conditioning coordinator. But there are also a lot of questions left to answer, and we will know a lot more about the destiny of the franchise after that.

So, let's discuss the 10 biggest offseason questions about the Packers.

1) What will Jordan Love's contract look like?

General manager Brian Gutekunst was clear when he said they intend to find a long-term deal with Jordan Love after a strong first season as a starter.

"I think we'll go down that road," Gutekunst said. "I think certainly, that'll be important for our football team to have some stability there. Jordan and his representation, I think they're really good people. So, we'll start working toward that sometime in the next couple of months."

Now, the remaining topics are when it will happen, for how much, and the structure of the new deal. The total value will probably average something around $50 million per season, and big related questions are the length of the deal — a longer contract would give the team more flexibility — and details like incentives and guarantees.

2) What will happen to David Bakhtiari?

It sure feels like the Packers and Bakhtiari are heading to a divorce. Gutekunst was clear about his intentions to extend Love and to keep Aaron Jones, but when the topic was Bakhtiari, the general manager was vague.

That's because it's hard to know how healthy Bakhtiari will be. Additionally, the left tackle hasn't been cooperative over the last few years to add void years and to negotiate better structures for the team, so it's not certain that he would accept a paycut. His $21.4 million salary, with something close to a $40 million cap hit, is basically a non-starter for the conversation, and the Packers can't reduce that without Bakhtiari's collaboration.

3) What will be their draft approach

The Packers don't tend to use first-round picks on offensive players. And since Gutekunst became the GM in 2018, the team has spent much more draft capital on defense. Will they keep that approach now, though, since the executive has the opportunity to build something special around Love? The alternative is to keep adding pieces to the defense and expect that it finally takes off under new coordinator Jeff Hafley.

4) Will the Packers be active in free agency?

Last year, the Packers didn't sign any significant free agent — just a couple of minimum salary veterans to compete for roster spots. This year, the cap situation is healthier, though, and Gutekunst might make some impactful moves.

"I don't think we'll shy away from adding any impact players if we'll have to push things down the road," Gutekunst mentioned.

The Packers haven't been avid free agency spenders, but a couple of moves here and there could certainly be a consideration.

5) How much does the new defensive coordinator impact the personnel?

The Packers are switching to a 4-3 front and to a single-high heavy scheme. That changes a lot of what the defense needs in terms of personnel — especially the single-high part. Off-ball linebackers become more relevant, Green Bay will need a center-fielder and a box safety (the position is not so interchangeable as it was in the old scheme), and cornerbacks will be asked to play more man coverage. Which type of player the Packers target will tell us a lot about what they will run.

6) Which free agents will be gone?

Running back AJ Dillon, offensive linemen Jon Runyan and Yosh Nijman, and most of the safety room are free agents. How they act there, and how Gutekunst replaces eventual players that go away in free agency will be interesting propositions.

7) What will the Packers do to Aaron Jones' contract?

The Packers have already indicated that Aaron Jones is a part of their plans. But it's hard to keep the situation as it is, with a $17.575 million cap hit. Maybe they just restructure the deal, moving money to the future, but an extension could also make some sense. Last year, Jones took a $5 million paycut, but it's impossible to say if he would accept something like that again.

8) How much will the Packers kick the can down the road?

Since 2020, the Packers have been forced to restructure contracts and add void years to operate a tough salary cap situation. Everything is better this year after the Packers were one of the cheapest rosters in football in 2023. They still have to restructure some deals to operate, but the situation is not as complicated. Now, the team has two paths. The first is starting to do everything again, moving money around to spend more in 2024. The other is to keep a patient approach, respecting the cap.

The first indications are more inclined to the second scenario, as the Packers let Darnell Savage, Keisean Nixon, and Yosh Nijman's deals void instead of re-signing them to keep the money stretched.

9) Do the Packers think their wide receiver room is enough?

The Packers have Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, Malik Heath, Samori Toure. Wide receiver depth is certainly not a problem. But does Gutekunst think this is enough? Green Bay could add a true X receiver type, something the roster doesn't have at this point, and/or someone with the potential to be a clear WR1, since Watson hasn't been established in that role as his rookie season indicated he could.

10) Will there be a real kicker competition?

Anders Carlson's rookie season was tough, with a lot of mistakes, and he was one of the main responsibles for the playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, missing an important fourth-quarter field goal. The Packers tend to be patient with drafted players, but the team has already added competition, signing former Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny. Will Podlesny have a real shot at taking Carlson's job away?