The Green Bay Packers and the rest of the NFL will begin signing free agents shortly as the new league year begins. We still don’t know who the Pack will re-sign and what new players, if any, GM Brian Gutekunst will bring in. Cornerback, defensive line, wide receiver and center are potential positions the Packers could add this offseason. But one thing is certain, Gutekunst did well last offseason when choosing which players to retain and which to let test the market. Here we analyze the decisions the Packers made on free agents in 2024.
Packers Free Agents from 2024, Number One: RB Aaron Jones
The Packers surprised a lot of people when they decided to move on from running back Aaron Jones. Jones spent seven seasons with the Packers and gained more than 1,000 yards rushing in three of them. He was also a leader in the locker room who younger players looked up to and a big part of the community.
The Packers initially asked Jones to take a pay cut for the second consecutive year. He refused and the team decided to release the running back.
Jones signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings. The former UTEP star stayed healthy and played all 17 games for Minnesota. He carried the ball 255 yards for 1,138 yards and five rushing touchdowns. He also caught 51 passes for 408 yards and two touchdowns.
While Jones enjoyed a productive season, the Packers replaced him with Josh Jacobs who was even more productive. Jacobs gained more rushing yards, scored more touchdowns and was capable of carrying the ball more frequently. He is also younger than Jones and should have several more productive seasons ahead of him. Jacobs also provided leadership and brought a hunger for winning to the Packers locker room.
Jacobs also brought a different running style to the team that was better suited to the way the team’s offensive line likes to block for the run. By primarily running between the tackles, the Packers offensive line was able to open holes for their runners in the middle of the field. Jacobs also made defenders miss tackles in close quarters.
This one was close, but the Packers did upgrade the running back position by moving on from Jones and adding Jacobs.
Number Two: OT David Bakhtiari
The Packers sadly had little choice with former Pro Bowl tackle David Bakhtiari. The University of Colorado alum carried a large cap hit and his injured knees kept him off the football field.
Bakhtiari started the Packers season opener in 2023, but swelling in his knee forced him to have another surgical procedure and he missed the rest of the season.
Unfortunately, Bakhtiari hadn’t been the same since suffering the knee injury before the 2020 season finale. He played just one game in 2021, 11 in 2022 and one more in 2023.
After the Packers let him go, Bakhtiari became an unrestricted free agent and could sign with any team. No team signed him, and he was not active on any NFL roster in 2024.
While a return is theoretically possible, Bakhtiari has most likely played his final down in the NFL. He will likely retire if his knee cannot recover sufficiently for him to resume his football career.
The Packers replaced Bakhtiari with Rasheed Walker. While Walker has not matched the level of play Bakhtiari achieved in his prime, he has developed into a quality starting left tackle. Walker enters the final year of his entry-level contract in 2025, so he cost the team a lot less money than Bakhtiari would.
Like Jones, the Packers had a difficult and emotional decision to make about Bakhtiari. But Gutekunst made the right decision as Bakhtiari’s career appears to be over.
Packers Free Agents from 2024, Number Three: LB De’Vondre Campbell
Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell earned All Pro honors in his first season with the Packers back in 2021. Unfortunately, he couldn’t sustain that level of play in the two seasons after that.
With the hiring of Jeff Hafley and the switch to a 4-3 base defense, Campbell wasn’t a good fit for the Packers. He also didn’t seem happy any longer in Green Bay.
Campbell signed with the 49ers and started 12 games for them while playing in 13. But, by the end of the season, the former University of Minnesota star wore out his welcome in San Francisco and left the team on bad terms. His level of play on the field continued to fall off. Campbell did not record any sacks, make any interceptions, or play consistently well on defense.
The Packers added speed at linebacker with draft pick Edgerrin Cooper who appears to have star potential. Campbell saw his play decline and the end of his career may be near.
