Five ideal free agent targets for the Packers, including Chase Young and Tee Higgins

The Green Bay Packers are ready to be spenders. General manager Brian Gutekunst said that the plan is to ramp up the sense of urgency to win in 2025, and the team will have this offseason a much more comfortable cap situation compared to the four previous years.

With $42 million in open cap space, more than $20 million in available space, there's more than enough room to make big moves.

If the Packers don't like to give up picks for veterans, free agency is the most natural route—especially after two successful signings in 2024 with safety Xavier McKinney and running back Josh Jacobs making the Pro Bowl in their first seasons in Green Bay.

"Every offseason, we have to attack aggressively. The opportunities that present themselves, whether that be free agency, trade, are different every year," Gutekunst said. "Every year there's not gonna be a Josh Jacobs and a Xavier McKinney out there to go get. So we'll see what transpires with the free agency class, who gets re-signed, who doesn't, if there's salary cap casualties, if there's trade opportunities, all those. But we always operate under the kind of aggressive mindset. But we have a process that we go through and we'll see what's available. If it's right for us, we're gonna attack it. But if it's not there, it's not there."

From the several players that could potentially make sense for the Packers, five in particular would be especially helpful and fit what Gutekunst is trying to build.

Disclaimer: I know you will miss Davante Adams on this list, but he is not a free agent. He is, though, a good trade target.

EDGE Chase Young, New Orleans Saints

• Spotrac contract projection: 4 years, $70.1 million ($17.5 million APY)

There's a lot of talk on social media about Young not having a high motor, but that's more narrative than reality. In 2024, he had 66 pressures for the Saints, which would have comfortably led the Packers. While the projection is high, so is Young's ceiling as a former second overall pick.

He signed a short-term deal with the Saints as a prove-it deal, but a longer-term contract would give the Packers more flexibility—and based on his market, it's realistic to think that Young would accept an incentive-heavy deal.

EDGE Josh Sweat, Philadelphia Eagles

• Spotrac contract projection: 3 years, $56.4 million ($18.8 million APY)

The Packers had multiple shots at drafting Sweat in 2018, but he fell to the fourth round. He was a Pro Bowler in 2021 and, even though he's not a star edge rusher, he generated more pressures than Rashan Gary (54-47) in 2024. It would certainly be a lot of money tied to the position, but Gutekunst has mentioned (and proved by his actions) how much he values it.

CB Paulson Adebo, New Orleans Saints

• Spotrac contract projection: 2 years, $22.2 million ($11.1 million APY)

If the Packers are going to sign only one external free agent, Adebo is probably the player who makes the most sense. He'll be only 26 by the start of next season, has a solid track record of performance in the NFL, and is entering his second deal—something the Packers like. He suffered a broken fêmur this past season, but that's more bad luck than any injury-prone tendency.

His contract projection is also pretty fair for a veteran from a premium position, and the Packers desperately need another starting-caliber cornerback, especially if they won't keep Jaire Alexander.

G Teven Jenkins, Chicago Bears

• Spotrac contract projection: 3 years, $31 million ($10.3 million APY)

In 2021, it would be realistic for the Packers to draft Jenkins in the first round, but they went with Eric Stokes. When the Packers made their second-round pick, Jenkins was long gone—and to a divisional rival. In his four years with the Bears, Jenkins was initially perceived as a bust at tackle, but he found himself as a good left guard.

The Bears are not a great example of offensive line development, and he played with quarterbacks that put a lot of stress on the line in Justin Fields and Caleb Williams. So, it's fair to expect that the Packers could take more out of him than Chicago did.

The Packers have a clear need at the interior of the offensive line, and Teven would allow Elgton Jenkins to move to center—Josh Myers is hitting free agency.

WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

• Spotrac contract projection: 4 years, $101.7 million ($25.4 million APY)

This is a cliché, and it's hard to predict that the Bengals will ultimately allow him to hit free agency. But well, while he is slated to hit free agency, we are officially allowed to put him on this list. Spotrac's projection is pretty fair, even though a player from that caliber, that position, and that age might make more in the open market. Plus, the Packers are not that high on the wide receiver position as the rest of the world.

But if that's the price for that type of player, the Packers have to explore the scenario.