The 2019 offseason was a busy one for Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst. For now, all of his hard work is paying off as the Packers go into their bye week with an 8-2 record and sitting atop the NFC North. Aside from the new hires and free-agent signings, Gutekunst also decided who would no longer be in the team’s future plans.

We’ll take a look at those players and how they’re doing with their new teams:

WR Randall Cobb

If the Packers miss anyone on this list, it might be Randall Cobb. The ninth year wideout compiled 41 receiving touchdowns and 5,876 yards from scrimmage over his eight-year career with the Packers. He was one of Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets, especially in the clutch. Cobb provided Packers fans with many memorable moments. 

Cobb’s production and health had waned over the past few seasons and the Packers front office must have had enough confidence in the current group of receivers to not make an offer. He quickly found a new home as Cole Beasley’s slot replacement in Dallas. The Cowboys signed Cobb to a one-year contract worth up to $5 million.

Cobb has serviceable numbers through eight games and three starts in 2019. He’s caught 31 of his 46 targets for 380 yards and two touchdowns. His best game so far came recently in Week 10 against the Vikings. Cobb caught six passes for 108 yards and a score in the Cowboys’ loss.

Randall Cobb hangs on! Touchdown, @DallasCowboys! @rcobb18

📺: #MINvsDAL on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/RXk10jUojC pic.twitter.com/k77Rb6YSIp

— NFL (@NFL) November 11, 2019

If Green Bay had any regrets about letting Cobb walk, Gutekunst may have an opportunity to make a move for him in once the 2020 free agency period rolls around. 

DT Mike Daniels (released)

Perhaps the most surprising departure this offseason was the sudden release of Mike Daniels. After missing the latter part of 2018 with a foot injury, the Packers decided to part ways with Daniels. The move came on the eve of training camp and a day after the team signed fellow defensive lineman Dean Lowry a three-year extension worth $20.3 million in new money.

Like Cobb’s situation, the Packers liked what they saw in the younger players and viewed Daniels as expendable. Daniels played a meager 40 percent of defensive snaps in 2018 and his making as a player didn’t fit in the Gutekunst’s vision of a rebuilt defense. Perhaps neither did his leadership style. 

They had attempted to trade him earlier, but received no offers. Releasing Daniels saved the Packers an estimated $8.3 million in cap space.

Only two days after being released, Daniels signed a one-year, $9.1 million deal with the Detroit Lions. He turned down other offers so he could stay in the NFC North and have a couple chances for revenge.

So far Daniels’ 2019 season has been unspectacular and marred by injuries. He’s appeared in only four games (started one), has three tackles and one sack. He suffered sprain in his right foot against the Eagles in Week 3 and missed time up until Week 10 at Chicago. His return was short-lived, as he left the game after having that same right foot stepped on.

Daniels was been ruled out for the first matchup against the Packers at Lambeau Field, so he’ll have to wait until Week 17 until he potentially faces his old team. For now, it looks like the Packers made a tough choice, but the correct one, with Daniels.

OLB Clay Matthews

Even before the Packers signed the Smiths, the writing was on the wall for Matthews. The 32-year-old linebacker had just turned in a 16-game season and logged only 3.5 sacks. Matthews hadn’t recorded a double-digit sack season since 2014 and the Packers weren’t going to pay millions for a backup pass rusher (assuming he would play behind the Smiths) with dwindling production and lengthy injury history. It was better for both sides to move on, and so they did.

Matthews signed with the Los Angeles Rams about a week after the beginning of free agency; a deal worth $9.25 over two years. Minus a broken jaw, Matthews has had a renaissance year in LA. He started all the six games he’s played in, logging 22 tackles, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles. If it wasn’t for the freak jaw injury in Week 5, Matthews could be in the running for the league’s sack leader today. He has recorded at least one in each game he’s played.

🙏 SAFETY

😳 Aaron Donald + Clay Matthews#LARvsPIT

(via @RamsNFL)

pic.twitter.com/M8su60BYCx

— PFF (@PFF) November 11, 2019

CB Bashaud Breeland

Breeland was a solid pickup for the Packers in 2018. He was originally projected to hit the market as a top free agent, but an injury and failed physical scared teams off. Green Bay eventually signed him to a one-year deal in September to replace injured cornerback Davon House. Breeland played in seven games, recording two interceptions and a touchdown. He was also active on special teams as a kick returner.

The veteran was not re-signed by the Packers in the offseason. He likely wasn’t part of their future plans. The emergence of Jaire Alexander and the returns of Tramon Williams and Kevin King made Breeland the odd man out. He left and signed another one-year deal with Kansas City. With the Chiefs, Breeland has started nine out of his ten games, recording one interception. His highlight of the season came in Week 4 at Detroit when he scooped up a Kerryon Johnson goal-line fumble and took it 100 yards to the house.

LB Jake Ryan

Ryan was the last of the epic failure of the Packers’ 2015 draft class. He started 27 games for the team and was a solid defender against the run, although his main liability was in coverage. Ryan tore his ACL before the 2018 season and remained on injured reserve until the Packers chose not to re-sign him.

The Jacksonville Jaguars picked him up in March for a two-year, $6 million deal and later placed him on the reserve/NFI (non-football injury) list in August. Jaguars coach Doug Marrone announced Ryan will practice this week and may be activated sometime soon. If he plays this year, it will be the first time Ryan has been on the field since Week 17 of the 2017 season.

S Kentrell Brice

Brice was unsurprisingly non-tendered by the Packers as a restricted free agent. He was a major liability in pass coverage and not great against the run. Brice caught on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the offseason and did not make it through camp. He’s now a member of the XFL’s Seattle Dragons.

TE Lance Kendricks

The team’s tight end room was a full one even before the Packers drafted Jace Sternberger in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft. Kendricks made little impact during his two seasons with the Packers and it was time to move on. Having been handed a six month probation period for marijuana possession and a one-game suspension didn’t boost his stock. He landed with the Patriots in July and was cut in early September to help make room for Antonio Brown. He’s now on the Los Angeles Chargers.

Kendricks has appeared in seven games for the Chargers and started one. He’s caught three receptions for 50 yards and no scores in 2019.

Other notables not signed

LB Nick Perry (released), OL Byron Bell, CB Davon House, S Eddie Pleasant, DE Muhammad Wilkerson, LB Antonio Morrison (waived)

The Green Bay Packers are entering the bye week after an impressive 8-2 start to the 2019 season.

Matt LaFleur’s team has found different ways to win every week, and they are getting meaningful contributions from all sorts of players on the roster.

Here are the five most surprising players from the first 10 games:

RB Jamaal Williams

Williams is averaging right around 50 total yards per game this season, which tracks with the first two years of his NFL career. But his efficiency with the ball and value as a legitimate No. 2 back has skyrocketed in 2019. Williams is averaging a career-high 4.5 yards per carry, and he leads the team with five receiving touchdowns. He caught touchdown passes in four straight games between Weeks 6-9, including an incredible catch of an Aaron Rodgers pass to the corner of the end zone in Kansas City. His versatility is being maximized by Matt LaFleur, who has found the right balance between Williams and Aaron Jones.

LG Elgton Jenkins

Huge credit goes to GM Brian Gutekunst. He had a bunch of flashy players still on the board at No. 44 overall, but he stuck to his guns and took Jenkins, who since taking over as a starter at left guard, looks like a future Pro Bowler. He hasn’t allowed a single sack or quarterback hit in eight starts, and his weekly improvement in the run game has provided the foundation of a complete player. The Packers clearly thought highly of Jenkins, but did they really know he’d be this good this early? Teammates have raved about his ability, intelligence and maturity.

OLB Preston Smith

The Packers paid $66 million for Za’Darius Smith, an ascending rusher who looked like a blossoming star during the summer and has since delivered in a big way (8.5 sacks, 57 pressures). They also paid $52 million for Preston Smith, the far less sexy signing who wasn’t nearly as hyped as Za’Darius was leading into the season. Preston currently ranks third in the NFL in sacks with 10.0, two more than his previous career-high. He’s been an impact player in high leverage situations and a versatile weapon for Mike Pettine. It was clear right away that Za’Darius was going to be a difference-maker, but the Packers never could have imagined getting career-years from both edge rushers.

WR Allen Lazard

Lazard had a big summer, but who could have envisioned him entering the bye week as a legitimate candidate to be the team’s No. 2 receiver? Maybe that says something more about the team’s receiving talent, but Lazard has certainly taken advantage of opportunities, and it’s clear chemistry is forming between him and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Lazard has produced at least three catches in five straight games, and he’s been a standout as a perimeter blocker in the run game.

CB Tramon Williams

The 36-year-old cornerback came back after a hectic return to Green Bay in 2018 and has fully locked down the nickel role for Mike Pettine, who appreciates his football intelligence and movement ability in the slot. Covering inside isn’t an easy task in the NFL. It requires a high level of quickness and coverage IQ on every snap, but Williams has been up to the task. Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating under 70.0 when targeting Williams in 2019. Overall, he’s the highest-graded cornerback on the Packers roster and the No. 15 cornerback in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.

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The Green Bay Packers’ disappointing performance against the Chargers in Los Angeles had roots in an uncharacteristically unfocused afternoon from the five starters along the offensive line.

That group bounced back in a major way on Sunday against the talented defensive front of the Carolina Panthers.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked just twice, including once for a short loss after an extended passing play, and he was rarely under pressure despite dropping back to pass 30 times in slippery conditions. The offensive line also dominated the line of scrimmage in the run game, opening gaping holes for running backs Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams – who rushed 26 times for 156 yards and three scores.

According to Field Yates of ESPN, Rodgers was pressured on just four total dropbacks and running backs were provided 3.6 yards before contact per rush against the Panthers.

“I think offensively the line deserves a lot of credit,” Rodgers said Sunday. “They were obviously frustrated by their performance last week and you look at today, we had a coverage sack and then one of those phantom minus half-yard sacks when I ran around there too long. Overall, the protection was really good and they controlled the line of scrimmage.”

In Los Angeles, the Packers committed four pre-snap penalties and gave up three sacks, including two on early third downs in the first half. The offense never got going, and many along the offensive line took the blame for the struggles.

They also took it on themselves to bounce back against a Panthers team that led the NFL in sacks entering Week 10.

Mission accomplished.

David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga largely handled the Panthers’ edge rushers, while Elgton Jenkins, Corey Linsley and Billy Turner were highly effective moving people in the run game.

The Packers knew they had to bounce back from a poor performance, play better across the board and get to the bye week at 8-2. The offensive line led the way back on Sunday, protecting Rodgers against a terrific pass-rush and helping Jones and Williams out-rush Christian McCaffrey in an important win for Matt LaFleur’s team.

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