The Green Bay Packers are heading into the 2026 offseason with a very different playbook than the one they used the last two years. After back-to-back offseasons where they were surprisingly aggressive - signing names like Xavier McKinney, Josh Jacobs, Nate Hobbs, and Aaron Banks - the front office looks poised to pivot.
This time, the focus is likely shifting from splashy signings to strategic roster building. And at the heart of that strategy?
Draft capital.
Let’s rewind for a second. Last offseason, Green Bay made a blockbuster move to acquire Micah Parsons, a game-changing addition to their defense.
But that trade came at a price: the Packers gave up their first-round picks in both the 2026 and 2027 NFL Drafts. That’s a steep cost, and now GM Brian Gutekunst and company are looking for ways to restock the cupboard.
One of the most reliable methods? Compensatory picks.
The Comp Pick Game
For those unfamiliar with how compensatory picks work, here’s the short version: when a team loses more qualifying unrestricted free agents than it signs, the NFL awards them additional draft picks - up to four per year - based on the value of those departing players. It’s a formula that rewards patience and smart roster management, and it’s one the Packers could lean into heavily this offseason.
Green Bay has a handful of players set to hit the open market, and several of them carry potential compensatory value. Here's a look at the notable names and what kind of compensation they could bring:
- Rasheed Walker (LT): High-end value, possibly netting a 3rd- or 4th-round pick.
- Quay Walker (LB): Solid value, likely around a 5th-round pick.
- Romeo Doubs (WR): Similar to Quay, projected in the 5th-round range.
- Malik Willis (QB): A wild card.
Currently pegged for a 5th- or 6th-round pick, but if he lands a big deal elsewhere, that could jump.
- Sean Rhyan (G/C): Mid-to-late round value, potentially a 6th.
- Kingsley Enagbare (EDGE): Lower-end compensation.
- John FitzPatrick (TE): Minimal value, unlikely to factor into the comp pick equation.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The NFL only awards four compensatory picks per team per year, and only the top four in value count.
So if Green Bay loses five or six qualifying players, only the best four will translate into picks. That means the front office has to be selective about who they let walk - and who they bring in.
Strategic Decisions Ahead
Let’s take Quay Walker as a case study. He’s a starting-caliber linebacker with upside, but re-signing him would cancel out a potential 5th-round comp pick.
On paper, keeping Quay seems like a no-brainer - but it’s not quite that simple. Bringing him back means committing cap space and losing a valuable draft asset.
That cap space could instead be used on lower-cost "street free agents" - players who were cut by other teams and don’t affect the comp pick formula at all.
The same logic applies across the board. If the Packers let their top four value free agents walk - say, Rasheed Walker, Quay Walker, Romeo Doubs, and Malik Willis - then they’d likely max out their four comp picks. At that point, someone like Sean Rhyan wouldn’t factor into the formula, so re-signing him becomes a much easier decision.
And yes, Packers fans may find themselves in the unusual position of rooting for former players to cash in elsewhere. That’s especially true for Malik Willis.
If he lands a big-money deal and a starting job - and there’s chatter that he could - his comp value could skyrocket to a third-round pick. That would be a huge win for Green Bay, especially with those first-round selections off the table.
Street Free Agents: The Sweet Spot
So if Green Bay isn’t likely to be a big player in traditional free agency, where will they turn? The answer: street free agents.
These are players who were released by their previous teams, often for cap reasons. Because they’re not unrestricted free agents in the traditional sense, signing them doesn’t hurt the compensatory formula. That makes them ideal targets for a team like the Packers, who are trying to thread the needle between staying competitive and restocking their draft assets.
Here are a few names that could be on Green Bay’s radar:
- Sean Murphy-Bunting (CB): Coming off a knee injury and entering the final year of his deal with Arizona, Murphy-Bunting could be a cap casualty. If defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon had a good rapport with him in Arizona, there’s a natural connection here.
- Marlon Humphrey (CB): Yes, he’s 30 and had some struggles with deep coverage last season, but he’s still a savvy, ball-hawking corner.
If Baltimore cuts him post-June 1, they save over $19 million in cap space - making him a very real possibility.
- Davon Hamilton (NT): Not flashy, but effective. He was the anchor of Jacksonville’s top-ranked run defense.
With the Jaguars tight on cap space, a post-June 1 release could save them over $8 million. For a Packers team that needs help up front, he’d be a strong addition.
- Jaylon Johnson (CB): Another cornerback? Yep - and for good reason.
The Packers need depth at the position, and Johnson carries a massive cap hit for the Bears. If Chicago lets him go, Green Bay could swoop in and bolster their secondary.
- Jonathan Greenard (EDGE): His sack numbers may have dipped, but Greenard still ranked fifth in pass rush pressures. With the Vikings possibly looking to make room for Dallas Turner, Greenard could be a cap casualty - and a sneaky-good pickup for the Packers.
Final Thoughts
This offseason may not come with the headline-grabbing moves of years past, but don’t mistake that for inactivity. The Packers are playing the long game - and playing it smart. With no first-round picks in the next two drafts, every compensatory selection and every street free agent matters that much more.
Green Bay’s front office has a plan. It’s not flashy, but it’s calculated. And if they execute it well, the Packers could quietly build one of the league’s deepest rosters - without ever making a big splash.
Stay tuned. The offseason chess match has just begun.
Go Pack Go.