The Green Bay Packers spent the offseason trying to patch up a defense that still has one obvious hole staring back at them: takeaways.
That was the problem last year, when Green Bay finished in a four-way tie for the fourth-fewest turnovers forced in the 2025 season with just 14. The league average sat at 19.7, and the Packers were nowhere near the pace set by the league leader and NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who forced almost 2.5 times as many.
That kind of gap matters. Turnovers can flip a game in a hurry, and Green Bay’s ability to protect the ball kept the team afloat enough to finish with a net-positive turnover differential. But the margin was thin, and a few more giveaways on the other side could have changed the entire picture - even to the point of costing the Packers a playoff spot.
The front office did make moves to strengthen the defense. Rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse has looked extremely promising early on, and the trade for Zaire Franklin should give the Packers a veteran presence at linebacker who can help set the tone. Add in Defensive Coordinator Jonathan Gannon, and Green Bay is clearly betting that a new approach can push the unit forward.
Still, none of those additions screams “turnover machine.” And with star edge rusher Micah Parsons expected to miss the early stretch of the regular season, there’s a real chance the defense starts slowly again.
That said, the season ahead is not locked into that script. Green Bay’s strength of schedule is projected to land in the middle of the pack, and turnovers can swing wildly from year to year. A little luck could move the Packers up the rankings faster than anyone expects.
The bigger question is whether the offseason plan reflected enough urgency. Green Bay clearly added pieces, but the moves don’t suggest turnover creation was a top priority.
Maybe that’s confidence in the group they’ve built. Maybe it’s a warning sign.
Either way, it leaves the Packers with the same lingering issue they had before the offseason began.
In Other News...
Josh Jacobs Situation Is Becoming A Real Packers Camp Concern
Josh Jacobs return to Packers camp has put an uncomfortable off-field issue back in the middle of the football conversation. The veteran running back was arrested in Wisconsin in late May, and while the team has kept its public stance quiet, the situation has lingered long enough to become part of the backdrop as Green Bay tries to get through the early stages of camp with its roster intact and its focus on the field.
Matt LaFleur and the Packers have been careful not to rush into public judgments, and some teammates have acknowledged the matter without offering much detail. For a team that is trying to build momentum heading into the season, the uncertainty around Jacobs adds another layer of unease, especially with the legal process still unfolding and the organization waiting for more clarity before deciding what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Still Have One Obvious Move Left Before Camp
The Packers still have room to make a meaningful move before training camp, and the front office does not have to wait for the season to tell it where the roster needs help. Green Bay has enough salary cap flexibility to chase another veteran if it wants one, and the conversation around that possibility is being driven by a few familiar pressure points: depth, health and whether the current group is ready to hold up over a full season.
Tight end and edge rusher remain the clearest places to look, especially with Tucker Kraft working back from an ACL injury and Luke Musgrave still not someone the Packers can fully bank on. On the other side of the ball, Lukas Van Ness is another player Green Bay needs to stay healthy and take a noticeable step forward, which is why names like Jonnu Smith, Leonard Floyd, Joey Bosa and Nick Chubb keep surfacing as possible fits, even if some of those options come with obvious complications. [Read more 🡒]
Benjamin St-Juste May Decide How Far Packers Secondary Can Go
Benjamin St-Juste arrived in Green Bay on a two-year deal and quickly became one of the more interesting names in a cornerback room that has drawn plenty of attention for other reasons. Rookie Brandon Cisse may have generated the draft buzz, but St-Juste brings something the Packers can use right away: real starting experience and a track record that suggests he can help stabilize the depth chart.
The bigger question is whether he ends up doing more than that. St-Juste was graded as one of the better corners in the league last season by Pro Football Focus, and his ability to line up in coverage gives Green Bay another veteran option as it sorts through the competition behind its top corners. If he pushes his way into the mix for a starting role, the Packers secondary could look a lot different than the early offseason chatter suggested. [Read more 🡒]