The Green Bay Packers don’t have as many needs and won’t have as much spending money as last year’s lead up to free agency, but GM Brian Gutekunst still has areas that need fortification and just enough cap space to get a few deals done.
Over the next month, we’ll go position by position previewing free agency for Gutekunst and the Packers.
The quarterback position is up first:
Under contract
Aaron Rodgers (36 years old, signed through 2023)
Tim Boyle (25 years old, signed through 2020)
Manny Wilkins (24 years old, signed through 2020)
Cap hits in 2020
Rodgers: $21,642,000 ($51,148,000 dead cap)
Boyle: $572,000 ($2,000 dead cap)
Wilkins: $510,000 ($0 dead cap)
Free agents
None
Need
Rodgers turned 36 years old in December but still has four years left on the deal he signed during the summer of 2018. The dead money included in his contract ensures he’ll be in Green Bay for at least the next two years and most likely three.
Rodgers’ age and contract make for a tricky evaluation of need. Finding a successor is important, and the need for one is coming up fast, but the timing also has to be right, so it’s possible Gutekunst and the Packers will look to provide a capable veteran or a mid-round pick instead of going all-in and investing a top pick into acquiring the future at quarterback.
The depth chart behind Rodgers has no sure-fire answers.
Boyle and Wilkins are both undrafted free agents with little to no meaningful NFL experience. They both have a year of work in Matt LaFleur’s offense, but neither is so loaded with potential as to prevent the Packers from adding another quarterback this offseason.
Possible free agent options
Marcus Mariota: The second overall pick in the 2015 draft played one season under Packers coach Matt LaFleur in Tennessee. Athletic and accurate, he’s talented enough to blossom in the right situation. Interest from around the NFL could be high.
Blake Bortles: Spent the 2019 season backing up Jared Goff for Sean McVay and the Rams. Started five seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Sean Mannion: The backup for Goff during LaFleur’s one season in Los Angeles. He backed up Kirk Cousins in Minnesota in 2018. Completed 12 passes for 126 yards and two interceptions in a loss to the Bears in Week 17.
Blaine Gabbert: Backed up Mariota for LaFleur’s offense during the 2018 season. Spent most of the 2019 season on injured reserve.