Grading the Green Bay Packers Offseason Free Agents from 2025

The Green Bay Packers prioritize building through the draft but that doesn’t mean the team won’t sign free agents. After having great success in free agency in 2024, GM Brian Gutekunst signed two big ticket free agents and spent a sizeable sum to improve the Packers at two important positions last offseason. Today, we are grading the Packers 2025 free agent signees and how they did this past season with the team.

Grades are based on a combination of expectations and performance. Only players signed during the offseason are considered here so free agents signed after the season started, like Trevon Diggs are not considered. Also, players the Packers re-signed like Christian Watson, are not included in this list.

Here is a look at the free agents the Packers signed prior to the 2025 season and how they impacted the team.

Grading the Packers Offseason Free Agents from 2025: CB Nate Hobbs

The Packers knew that they were likely to part ways with their top cover corner, Jaire Alexander, last offseason. So, Gutekunst knew he needed to address the cornerback position over the offseason either in free agency or the draft.

In free agency, Gute signed former Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs to a four-year, $48 million deal. Hobbs primarily played in the slot with the Raiders, but the Packers added him with the belief he could also play effectively on the boundary.

Unfortunately, injuries and inconsistency plagued Hobbs in his first season in Green Bay. He suffered a knee injury during the preseason and opted for surgery. The goal was a return in time for the season opener. Unfortunately, Hobbs took longer to recover, and Hobbs missed the season opener and was on a play count in Week 2.

Hobbs played through injuries all season. He appeared in 11 games and started five. He recorded 27 tackles including two tackles for loss and broke up two passes. Hobbs is not a ball hawk. He did not intercept any passes and has just three picks total in his first five NFL seasons.

According to pro-football-reference.com, opposing quarterbacks completed 65.5 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Hobbs and had a quarterback rating of 111.1.

The plan to move Hobbs to the boundary never really panned out. What remains unclear is whether that was primarily due to the injuries Hobbs played through or his lack of ideal skills to play on the boundary. The Packers already have Javon Bullard starting in the slot. Keisean Nixon also has extensive experience there as well. If Hobbs cannot play on the boundary, he will not have a major role on the 2026 Packers barring injuries. There have even been whispers that the Packers could part ways with Hobbs this offseason although they wouldn’t save much cap space by doing so unless they designate him a post-June 1^st release.

Grade: C-

Second Free Agent: G Aaron Banks

Gutekunst also knew he had a hole to fill along the offensive line last offseason. Center Josh Myers left as an unrestricted free agent after four disappointing seasons in Green Bay. The plan was to move Elgton Jenkins, who played left guard in 2024, to center. So, Gutekunst knew he had to add a new player at left guard.

The Packers had an overall plan to make the offensive line bigger and more physical to address the team’s run blocking struggles. So, first Gutekunst signed former 49ers guard Aaron Banks and then drafted big offensive tackle Anthony Belton in the second round of the draft.

Banks stands 6’5” and weighs 325 pounds. He had a reputation as a mauler, a strong guard who would improve the team’s run blocking.

Like Hobbs, however, Banks struggled with injuries in his first season in Green Bay. While he only missed two full games all season, he played through injuries in several games.

According to Pro Football Focus, Banks graded out slightly higher as a run blocker than a pass protector, but his overall marks placed him in the bottom third among starting NFL guards.

Grade C+

Grading the Packers Offseason Free Agents from 2025: Overall

After a strong free agent class of 2024, the 2025 class became a disappointment. Injuries played a role in the disappointing performance of both Banks and Hobbs, but questions remain about both players and their future roles on the team.

Banks remains in a better position than Hobbs. He played more often and provided starting-quality play at left guard, even if it was average play at best.

The hope is that both players remain healthy next season and come closer to the expectations the Packers had when they signed them. So far, the return on these major free agent signings has been disappointing, especially when comparing them to Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs who both had such a big impact on the team the previous season.