The Green Bay Packers came into this season riding a wave of optimism. After years of watching Jordan Love develop behind the scenes, the organization finally felt ready to make a serious push.
The headline move-trading for All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons-signaled that Green Bay wasn’t just hoping to compete; they were aiming to contend. But as is often the case in the NFL, things can unravel quickly.
And for the Packers, they did-painfully and publicly.
Parsons’ season-ending ACL tear midway through the year was the first major blow. It didn’t just hurt the defense-it exposed the depth issues across the roster.
Injuries started to pile up, and while the Packers managed to limp into the playoffs as the NFC’s seventh seed, they never looked like the team fans envisioned back in August. Their Wild Card loss to the rival Chicago Bears was the final gut punch, especially after blowing a 21-3 halftime lead.
That’s the kind of collapse that forces a front office to take a long, hard look at the roster-and make tough decisions.
Brandon McManus: The Kicker Conundrum
Let’s start with the most obvious move staring Green Bay in the face. Brandon McManus was brought in to stabilize the kicking game after the departure of longtime mainstay Mason Crosby.
And for a while, it looked like the Packers had struck gold. Just two seasons ago, McManus was automatic-perfect on extra points and nearly flawless on field goals.
But Year 2 in Green Bay told a different story. McManus missed six field goals and an extra point during the regular season.
He even lost his job midseason to Lukas Havrisik before being reinserted into the lineup. To his credit, he found some rhythm late in the year, which gave the team hope heading into the postseason.
Then came the Wild Card game-and McManus’ worst performance of the year. Two missed field goals.
One missed extra point. Seven points left on the field in a game the Packers lost by a razor-thin margin.
In the playoffs, those misses aren’t just frustrating-they’re fatal.
Kickers are notoriously hard to replace, but Green Bay can’t afford to roll the dice again with a veteran whose reliability is clearly trending in the wrong direction. If the front office can find even a league-average replacement, expect them to move on from McManus.
Rashan Gary: A Costly Regression
This one’s going to hurt for Packers fans. Rashan Gary has been a homegrown success story since being drafted in the first round back in 2019.
He’s been a consistent presence on the edge and was expected to take another leap this year playing alongside Parsons. On paper, that duo looked like a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
But Gary never found his stride. His 7.5 sacks on the year don’t tell the full story-he didn’t register a single sack after Week 9.
Even more concerning, his motor seemed to run cold at times. Plays where he used to chase down quarterbacks or fight through double teams now ended with Gary disengaging early.
Whether it's a confidence issue or a physical one, he hasn’t looked like the same player.
There’s also a financial angle here that can’t be ignored. Cutting Gary after June 1 would free up $19.5 million in cap space for 2026.
Even an earlier release would net around $10 million in savings. That’s significant flexibility for a team that has some big roster decisions ahead.
If the Packers believe Gary’s best football is behind him, this might be the offseason to make a clean break.
Elgton Jenkins: A Tough Call Up Front
Then there’s Elgton Jenkins, another 2019 draft pick who’s been a key part of Green Bay’s offensive line. Jenkins has always been versatile-capable of playing multiple positions-and when healthy, he’s been one of the league’s more reliable interior linemen. But staying healthy has been the issue.
After battling injuries over the last few seasons, Jenkins was moved to center this year following the signing of Aaron Banks at left guard. Early returns were promising.
Jenkins ranked seventh out of 40 centers in pass-blocking efficiency, according to PFF. But his season was cut short in Week 10 by a lower-leg fracture.
He was placed on injured reserve and never returned.
At this point, it’s fair to ask whether Jenkins can return to form. He’s already come back from a torn ACL earlier in his career, and now he’s dealing with another significant injury. With Banks locking down left guard and Jenkins’ athleticism showing signs of decline, the Packers have a decision to make.
Financially, the numbers point toward a potential move. Cutting or trading Jenkins this offseason would save the team over $19 million, even if the transaction happens before June 1. For a franchise trying to reshape its roster and build around a young quarterback, that kind of cap space is hard to ignore.
The Packers entered this season with championship aspirations. They’re ending it with more questions than answers.
But this is the reality of the NFL-teams rise and fall quickly, and success is often built on knowing when to move on. For Green Bay, that means making some painful but necessary roster decisions.
The road back to contention starts with tough calls, and the next few months will reveal just how bold this front office is willing to be.