We’re just a few days away from the start of the new league year and a slight overhaul of the Green Bay Packers roster. The Packers have a reputation for being quiet in free agency. But Brian Gutekunst has proven that isn’t the case this year by re-signing their guys and filling in the blanks.
David Bakhtiari already bade his farewell, and all eyes are on running back Aaron Jones over the next few days. It also seems like a given Gutekunst will dive into this crowded safety market. The first bit of big-name news came Sunday night when it was revealed linebacker De’Vondre Campbell will be released with a post-June 1 designation.
Part of the significance of that news, reported by Milwaukee Sentinel Journal’s Tom Silverstein, is that Green Bay would love to bring back some of their own key free agents, including CB Keisean Nixon, LB Eric Wilson, and TE Tyler Davis. In fact, Davis was quickly re-signed within the first hour of the “legal tampering” period. They might not be the biggest-name players, but all three are important contributors on special teams. In fact, most of Green Bay’s free-agent dealings last season were with special teams in mind. What would these re-signings mean for Rich Bisaccia’s unit, and what will need to come next?
Last season, the Packers brought back eight players on new deals, six of whom played major roles on special teams: S Dallin Leavitt, LB Eric Wilson, S Rudy Ford, CB Corey Ballentine, CB/KR Keisean Nixon, and TE Tyler Davis.
Ford, Ballentine, and Nixon saw many snaps on defense due to positional need, but all three continued to be important special teamers.
The Packers also signed S Jonathan Owens for safety depth and to play on special teams.
Most of those were short deals, so the Packers must make decisions again a year later.
The three players mentioned by Silverstein — Nixon, Wilson, and Davis — all make sense. Nixon has been the team’s lone All-Pro for the past two seasons and fills an important niche on defense as a slot corner. Even if the team prioritizes adding a dedicated slot corner for new DC Jeff Hafley, Nixon has tremendous value as a backup.
Wilson has been a stud on special teams, playing the most snaps and having the second-most tackles. He saved a game-changing play against the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round. With Campbell’s release and the team already needing more inside linebackers, Wilson can also provide depth on defense.
Tyler Davis lost his 2023 season thanks to a torn ACL, and his absence on teams was noted. The Packers never found a solid replacement for Davis last season, who is arguably the unit’s best blocker and a player willing to do it all. His 2022 contributions surely meant a lot, as Davis was quickly re-signed.
Ideally, all three can be brought back as proven contributors, but they aren’t the only teamers on expiring deals. Owens, Josiah Deguara, Kristian Welch, and Daniel Whelan are also free agents. We’ll see what happens with this next group, though I’d expect Whelan to return.
But special teams was simply not good enough last season. After a significant uptick in production in 2022, Bisaccia’s group was again near the bottom of the barrel in 2023. That’s unacceptable for the highest-paid special teams coach in the league.
Ideally, Bisaccia can turn things around by finding the right men for the job. Blocking, tackling, and not committing penalties all need to be improved. Nixon, Wilson, and Davis are proven stars in that role. A healthy Davis may elevate the whole group.
Certainly, the team will use some combination of their 11 draft picks on special teams roles, but special teams haven’t been just for late-round rookies or fringe roster players under Bisaccia. I’d expect the Packers to make a series of one-year deals like last season as rosters churn.
The Packers have an excellent pro-scouting department, and Bisaccia should have a clear idea of what his unit is missing. Gutekunst proved he was willing to invest money in primary special teams players last season, and that should continue this offseason.
Of course, many of these deals likely won’t be made immediately. The first few days of free agency are for re-signings or bringing in big-name options. Potential teamers will become available as rosters churn, especially after the draft.
Still, we’ll better understand the unit’s needs when we find out whether Nixon and Wilson are brought back into the fold. The group needs experienced and proven leaders and playmakers, and getting the core back together is vital if Green Bay wants to start trending back upward.
