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The Green Bay Packers are entering the 2025 offseason with high expectations and a mandate for urgency from General Manager Brian Gutekunst. After an 11-6 season that ended in a disappointing Wild Card round loss to the Philadelphia Eagle, Gutekunst has made it clear the time to compete for a championship is now.
“We need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency,” Gutekunst stated in a postseason press conference. “These opportunities don’t come [very often]. The life of a player in the NFL is not very long. We got a bunch of good and talented guys in that locker room. I think it’s time we start competing for championships.”
Navigating the Salary Cap
A significant storyline for the Packers this offseason is their improved salary cap situation. With an estimated $42 million in cap space, per Over the Cap, Green Bay has the flexibility to add impactful talent throughout the roster. After several years of managing deferred charges and limited spending power, the Packers now have the ability to address weakness and secure a higher level of talent.
“I feel really good about our ability to go do what we need to do to field a championship-level team,” Gutekunst said. However, he tempered expectations, explaining that the team’s financial health must also account for looming contract decisions for core players.
Focus then shifted to two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jair Alexander. After missing most of the season with a torn PCL, Alexander made his frustrations known after refusing to speak to the media.
Gutekunst admitted the frustrations are mutual and kept the door open to possibly releasing Alexander during the offseason. If the Packers choose to release Alexander before June 1st, they would take on a $18.1 million dead cap hit but free up $6.8 million of cap space. Cutting Alexander with a post-June 1st designation would free up $17 million and only force Green Bay to take a $7.8 million dead cap hit.
Developing the Roster
While the Packers boast one of the youngest rosters in the league, Gutekunst believes the team’s inexperience is no longer an excuse. “From an experience perspective, I don’t think we’re young at all. Many of these guys have played in playoff games now,” he said.
Still, Gutekunst acknowledged the need for growth in specific areas, such as wide receiver and edge rusher. Though Christian Watson and Jayden Reed have shown flashes of brilliance, consistency remains a problem. Similarly, the pass rush lacked game-changing impact late in the season.
The Packers have already been rumored to re-acquire Davante Adams this offseason. Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Dane Brulger is predicting they will double-dip on the defensive line during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Brian Gutekunst Championship Mindset
Gutekunst’s offseason mantra is clear: the Packers must approach 2025 with a heightened sense of urgency. “The life of a player in the NFL is not very long,” he reminded reporters, underscoring the importance of capitalizing on the team’s current talent.
This offseason will test the front office’s ability to balance short-term goals with long-term sustainability. Whether it is navigating potential coaching changes, releasing former Pro Bowlers, or targeting upgrades at key positions, every decision will be measured against Gutekunst’s championship aspirations.
The Green Bay Packers are at a pivotal juncture, and Gutekunst’s call for urgency signals a clear shift in expectations — a move from building for the future to demanding results in the present.
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