The Green Bay Packers are knocking on the door of Super Bowl contention-but to kick that door down, they’ll need more than just good vibes and better injury luck. This offseason is going to be pivotal. Even without a first-round pick in hand, general manager Brian Gutekunst has to get creative and aggressive in addressing the roster’s most glaring needs.
There’s no denying Gutekunst has had some recent draft hits. Edgerrin Cooper and Evan Williams are trending upward, and Matthew Golden has the tools to join them if he gets a bigger role. But if Green Bay wants to move from playoff hopefuls to legitimate title threats, they need to fix the cracks in the foundation-starting with these four key positions.
1. Offensive Line: The Engine Needs an Overhaul
Let’s start with the obvious. The Packers' playoff run came to a screeching halt at Soldier Field, and you can pin a lot of that on the offensive line.
Green Bay went into halftime with an 18-point lead, but the Bears flipped the script by dominating the trenches. The Packers managed just one second-half run longer than two yards-and that one only went for six.
Jordan Love barely had time to blink in the pocket, let alone make reads.
That’s not a one-off. That’s a red flag.
Now, with Rasheed Walker and Sean Rhyan hitting free agency, and Elgton Jenkins and Aaron Banks potentially on the chopping block, the Packers are staring down a full-blown rebuild up front. We’ve seen what happens when a team can't protect its quarterback-just ask the Patriots. If Green Bay doesn’t address this group in a serious way, all the talent in the world at skill positions won’t matter.
2. Cornerback: It's Time to Stop Ignoring the Obvious
It’s become something of a tradition in Green Bay: the offseason arrives, and the cornerback position gets overlooked. Gutekunst recently said the team doesn’t need “wholesale changes” in the secondary-a comment that raised more than a few eyebrows. Maybe it was just offseason speak, but history tells us it could be more than that.
Let’s rewind. In 2023, the Packers passed on Christian Gonzalez.
He’s now a Pro Bowler and All-Pro in New England. In 2024, they had a shot at Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean-both now stars in Philly.
They passed again.
And the numbers? They’re brutal.
Keisean Nixon gave up a passer rating of 105.1. Carrington Valentine?
121.2. Nate Hobbs?
111.1. That’s not just below average-that’s a liability.
If the Packers are serious about making a deep playoff run, they need to prioritize cornerback like it actually matters. Because right now, opposing quarterbacks are treating this secondary like a seven-on-seven drill.
3. Defensive Line: Reinforcements Needed-Urgently
Trading Kenny Clark before the season was a bold move. When a player like Micah Parsons becomes available, you swing big.
No complaints there. But letting T.J.
Slaton walk in free agency and not doing much else to shore up the interior? That’s where the plan fell apart.
Devonte Wyatt stepped up in a big way. He became the anchor inside.
But once he and Parsons were lost for the season, the run defense collapsed. The Ravens gashed them for 307 yards and four touchdowns.
That’s not just a bad day-that’s a meltdown.
Interior pass rush? Also a problem.
Wyatt had four sacks in 10 games, but the rest of the group barely made a dent. Warren Brinson and Karl Brooks combined for just one sack-total.
With new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon expected to bring a Cover 4-heavy scheme, the front four has to be able to hold their own. That means adding bodies-and not just depth pieces. They need impact players who can stop the run and collapse the pocket.
4. Edge-Rusher: Parsons Needs a Partner
The trade for Micah Parsons was a game-changer. But even a generational talent like him can’t carry the pass rush alone-especially with the expectation that he’ll miss the start of the 2026 season.
Kingsley Enagbare is hitting free agency, and Rashan Gary’s future is murky after a sack-less second half of the season. That’s not the kind of production you can build a defense around.
Lukas Van Ness flashed potential, but he hasn’t quite hit that next gear yet. Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver could take second-year leaps, but expectations should be measured-they were Day 3 picks for a reason.
Championship defenses don’t just have one elite pass rusher. They have waves.
They have guys who can win one-on-one matchups and force quarterbacks into mistakes. Right now, the Packers don’t have that second guy.
They need to find him.
The Bottom Line
The Packers are close. You can see it in the young talent, in the flashes of dominance, in the way Jordan Love has grown into the role. But close doesn’t cut it in February.
This offseason isn’t about tweaks-it’s about transformation. Offensive line, cornerback, defensive line, edge-rusher.
These aren’t luxury upgrades. They’re necessities.
If Gutekunst can hit on a few more moves like he has in recent drafts-and if the front office finally addresses the long-standing soft spots-this team won’t just be in the playoff mix. They’ll be in the Super Bowl conversation.