Brian Gutekunst explains why Packers went all-in on 305-pound defensive lineman 3 Oct 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (97) gets pressure on Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Brian Gutekunst raves about ‘exceptional’ Packers free agent addition

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated Apr 8, 2026 11:50 AM ET

The Packers‘ offseason additions were more targeted than bombastic, as they had been in recent years.

There weren’t any marquee additions such as Micah Parsons or Josh Jacobs or Xavier McKinney, that stole the headlines, but general manager Brian Gutekunst and Green Bay went shopping for upgrades at key positions who fit new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s vision for that side of the ball.

Packers’ Brian Gutekunst bullish on Javon Hargrave’s impact

One of those signings was veteran defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, who has plenty of big-game experience throughout his career, so far.

“He’s been an exceptional player in his career,” Gutekunst told reporters during the NFL Annual Meeting. “He’s been one of those guys that’s excelled as a run stopper and a pass rusher. He’s a complete player and I just think as again, we’ve lost a few guys in the defensive interior there. We just needed to add something and I think particularly because he was released, it was not part of the compensatory formula. He just fit really well.”

Hargrave, 33, appeared in a Super Bowl with the Eagles, back in 2022, and another the following year with the 49ers, reunites with Gannon from their time in Philadelphia and infuses a strong veteran leadership presence into the locker room in addition to his impact on the field.