Three Under-the-Radar Free Agents the Packers Should Target This Offseason
After a season that began with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, the Green Bay Packers are staring down another pivotal offseason. The postseason exit stung, no doubt-but this is still a roster with plenty of talent and a quarterback in Jordan Love who showed real flashes of taking the next step.
The window is open. Now it’s about pushing through.
And while the big names will dominate headlines, it’s the smart, targeted moves that could quietly turn the Packers from playoff hopefuls to true contenders. Here are three sneaky-good free agents Green Bay should seriously consider this offseason.
1. Tyler Linderbaum - Center
If the Packers want to get serious about shoring up the trenches, Linderbaum should be near the top of their list. The 25-year-old center is coming off a breakout 2025 campaign and has become one of the league’s premier run blockers. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked as the fifth-highest graded center in the NFL last season-and he’s only gotten better each year since entering the league.
Let’s talk numbers. Linderbaum has posted run-blocking grades north of 80.0 in three of his four NFL seasons, and he’s been solid enough in pass protection with three straight years above a 60.0 grade. That kind of consistency, especially in the run game, is hard to find at the center position.
He’s expected to command a contract in the ballpark of four years, $80 million-with $53 million guaranteed. That’s no small investment, but it’s one Green Bay should at least consider. The offensive line finished 19th in the NFL last season, per PFF, and the pass protection was especially shaky-ranking 26th in pass-blocking efficiency after allowing 173 pressures and 15 sacks on 561 dropbacks.
While Linderbaum may not be a massive upgrade over Elgton Jenkins in pass protection, his impact in the run game is where he really moves the needle. He’s graded in the 85th percentile or better in both gap and zone blocking schemes, which fits nicely with what the Packers want to do on the ground.
If Green Bay is truly in win-now mode, investing in a young, elite-level interior lineman like Linderbaum could be the kind of foundational move that pays dividends deep into January.
2. Mike Evans - Wide Receiver
The Packers’ wide receiver room has shown flashes, but it’s still missing that true alpha. Christian Watson has the tools but hasn’t put it all together.
Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed have been inconsistent and banged up. Matthew Golden didn’t pop as a rookie.
Enter Mike Evans.
Yes, he’s older. Yes, there are durability concerns.
But when he’s on the field, Evans is still one of the most reliable and productive receivers in the game. He’s earned a PFF grade of 70.0 or better in every full season since his 2014 debut-clearing 80.0 seven times-and in 2024, he posted a career-best 90.4 grade with 1,096 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Even with some missed time last season, Evans still ranked 16th in contested-catch rate (55.4%) among receivers with 100+ targets since 2023. That’s the kind of physical, dependable presence Green Bay has been lacking on the outside.
Evans wouldn’t just give Jordan Love a veteran target-he’d give him a security blanket. A guy who can win on third down, in the red zone, and late in playoff games when the stakes are highest. If the Packers want to take the next step, Evans could be the missing piece that elevates the offense from promising to potent.
3. Gardner Minshew - Quarterback
The Packers are set at QB1 with Jordan Love, but the backup spot is suddenly a question mark. With Malik Willis likely headed elsewhere in free agency, Green Bay will need a steady veteran presence behind Love-and Gardner Minshew fits the bill.
Minshew may not be flashy, but he’s proven he can step in and keep a team afloat. Just ask the Colts, who stayed in playoff contention in 2023 thanks to Minshew filling in for an injured Anthony Richardson. He’s a gamer, a locker-room favorite, and the kind of experienced hand you want in case things go sideways.
He’s also coming off a knee injury, though it wasn’t an ACL tear. Reports suggest he should be ready to go sooner rather than later, and with Kansas City potentially needing a short-term replacement for Patrick Mahomes, Minshew’s market could heat up quickly.
But if the Packers can get in the mix, he’d be an ideal insurance policy for Love. In a season where the margin for error could be razor-thin, having a capable backup could make all the difference.
Final Thoughts
The Packers aren’t in rebuild mode-they’re in reload mode. With a young quarterback trending upward, a defense that can cause problems, and a fanbase hungry for another Lombardi, the time to strike is now.
Adding a dominant run-blocking center like Linderbaum, a proven playmaker like Evans, and a reliable backup like Minshew won’t grab the same headlines as blockbuster trades or splashy signings. But these are the kinds of moves that build championship-caliber depth and balance.
Green Bay has the foundation. Now it’s about finding the final pieces.