The Green Bay Packers’ offseason is officially underway - a little earlier than fans hoped, but here we are. With the 2025 campaign in the rearview mirror, the front office turns the page to 2026, and there’s no shortage of key dates, decisions, and evaluations coming up. From potential player extensions to draft prep and free agency strategy, the next few months will shape the Packers’ trajectory heading into next season.
Let’s break it all down.
Extension Window Opens for 2023 Draft Class
As of January 5th, the Packers are now eligible to negotiate contract extensions with players from their 2023 draft class, along with undrafted rookies from the 2024 group. That includes a promising crop of young talent: tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft, wide receivers Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, and defensive linemen Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks.
One name not in that mix? First-round pick Lukas Van Ness.
That’s because his contract includes a fifth-year option - a decision Green Bay doesn’t have to make until May 1st. So while it’s on the radar, there’s no immediate pressure to act.
As for potential extensions, don’t expect a flurry of activity. If the Packers do move early, Tucker Kraft might be the most likely candidate. But even that could wait until training camp, when contract talks tend to pick up steam.
Scouting Season: Senior Bowl and NFL Combine on Deck
Green Bay enters the 2026 NFL Draft without a first-round pick, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be sitting on their hands. In fact, this is where the front office’s scouting acumen gets tested. Without a top-tier selection, the pressure is on to uncover value in the middle and later rounds - and that starts with pre-draft events.
Historically, the Senior Bowl has been a goldmine for the Packers. Brian Gutekunst has leaned heavily on talent showcased in Mobile, with Green Bay drafting or signing nearly 50 players who participated in the event prior to last year’s draft. The practices and game offer a unique chance to see prospects compete in NFL-style systems, often against top-tier competition.
The Senior Bowl kicks off this week, with the game set for January 31st.
Then comes the NFL Combine, running from February 23rd through March 2nd in Indianapolis. This is where the Packers’ love for athleticism takes center stage.
The team consistently targets players with high Relative Athletic Scores (RAS), and the Combine provides the data and context to support those evaluations. But beyond the numbers, this is also a critical time for medical checks and in-person interviews - two areas that heavily influence Green Bay’s draft board.
Free Agency: Strategic, Not Splashy
March 9th marks the start of the NFL’s “legal tampering” period, when teams can begin negotiating with unrestricted free agents. The new league year - and the official start of free agency - begins March 11th at 4:00 PM Eastern.
Don’t expect the Packers to be major players in the open market this year. With no first-round pick in 2026 and an eye toward stockpiling compensatory picks for 2027, Green Bay is likely to play it conservative. Signing unrestricted free agents could cancel out potential comp picks, and that’s not a price the front office seems eager to pay.
However, there’s a key distinction to keep in mind: players released by their teams for salary cap reasons don’t count against the comp pick formula. That’s where the Packers could look to add value - smart, targeted signings that don’t compromise future draft capital.
The Draft (and Beyond)
April is when things really start to ramp up. The Packers can begin offseason workouts on April 20th, but all eyes will be on the NFL Draft, which takes place April 23rd through 25th in Pittsburgh.
Green Bay won’t be on the clock in Round 1, but that might not be such a bad thing. This year’s draft class is shaping up to be deeper than it is top-heavy, which could play right into the Packers’ hands. With a solid track record of finding contributors in the middle rounds, this could be a chance to double down on that approach.
After the draft, the NFL calendar starts to settle down. The league typically releases the full regular season schedule in May - last year it dropped on May 14th, so expect something in that ballpark again.
Then comes June’s mandatory minicamp, followed by the calm before the storm. Training camp usually kicks off in mid-to-late July, setting the stage for preseason action and, before long, the real thing.
And while nothing’s official yet, don’t be surprised if Green Bay opens the 2026 season under the lights - perhaps even against a familiar rival.
The offseason may be long, but it’s never quiet. For the Packers, every move from now until September will be about building on the foundation they’ve laid - and making sure they’re ready to contend when the lights come back on.
Stay tuned.