Five Potential Players the Green Bay Packers Could Realistically Target in Free Agency
By GilMartin
Free agency will start this week as the new league year gets under way. The Green Bay Packers have some clear needs which they could address in the opening stages of free agency. While I don’t expect a huge, top of the market signing, the Packers could add a few moderately priced players during the first few days of free agency. Here are five players the Packers could realistically target in free agency at positions of need.
Cornerback Roger McCreary, Los Angeles Rams
The Packers have a need at cornerback. They currently lack a number one cover corner and need more depth and talent at the position.
Roger McCreary was a second-round pick by the Titans in 2022. The former Auburn star stands 5’11” and weighs 190 pounds, so he does still fit the Packers usual parameters at the position.
He started as a rookie but was sent to the Rams midway through the 2025 season. He played primarily in the slot in Tennessee but played the boundary with the Rams. The Packers always value versatility and McCreary would give them that.
He also plays the run well and tackles well. He can blitz the quarterback and has recorded four career sacks. McCreary just turned 26 last month so his age fits in the range the Packers prefer for free agents. He will likely earn $10-13 million per year on the market.
Center Cade Mays, Carolina Panthers
With Elgton Jenkins looking like a cap casualty and Sean Rhyan about to hit free agency, a starting center is a big need for the Packers.
Cade Mays would fit with the Packers move to bigger and stronger offensive linemen that started last season with the additions of Anthony Belton and Aaron Banks.
Mays stands 6’6” and weighs 325 pounds. He is a better pass blocker than run blocker. The Tennessee alum is strong but struggles to get to the second level on run blocks.
Mays started 27 games over four seasons with the Panthers since they drafted him in the sixth round in 2022. He will turn 27 in April.
Center Luke Fortner, New Orleans Saints
Luke Fortner wouldn’t provide as much size up front, but he’s more athletic and able to run block better than Mays. Fortner stands 6’4” and 307 pounds. The Jaguars selected him in the third round in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The former Kentucky star started for Jacksonville for his first two NFL campaigns. In 2025, he was traded to the Saints and started 10 games for them.
Fortner will turn 28 in May. He will likely cost more to sign than Mays but may be a better all-around center.
Linebacker Nakobe Dean, Philadelphia Eagles
If Quay Walker departs as a free agent, the Packers will need a new starting linebacker to replace him. Nakobe Dean would be an interesting gamble for the Packers.
The former Georgia star is undersized at 5’11” and 231 pounds. He also has trouble staying on the field, having missed significant time in two of the three years he’s been a starter with the Eagles.
But when he’s on the field, Dean can be very effective. He recorded four sacks in 10 games for the Eagles in 2025 and recorded seven tackles for loss.
The 25-year-old has good speed and is adequate in coverage, but boy can he get after the passer and make plays.
Would the Packers take a chance on Dean at an expected $10 million AAV? If it works, Dean and Edgerrin Cooper could give the Pack two very dynamic playmakers at linebacker. If he misses significant time due to injury, this could be wasted cap space.
Cornerback Montaric Brown, Jacksonville Jaguars
Montaric Brown would be a lower-cost option at cornerback for the Packers. The former Arkansas star started his NFL career as a seventh-round pick but became a starter in 2024, his third NFL season.
Brown has good size and broke up a total of 20 passes in the last two seasons combined. Opposing quarterbacks completed just 55.9 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Brown last season according to pro-football-reference.com and had a quarterback rating of just 74.3.
He would also cost the Packers an estimated $6 or $7 million per year to sign. He also excels in zone coverage which new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon emphasizes.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
__________________________
Comments (19)
splitpea1
March 07, 2026 at 11:18 am
The big daddy at center is Tyler Linderbaum, but I suppose there is no way we could sign him. A) We would get a great all-around center that could anchor our line for years, and B) We keep away from the Bears, who will surely make a strong pitch to sign him after Dalman's retirement...As for the centers mentioned here, yes, we'd get better pass blocking, but we really need someone who can also do a better job of paving the way for Jacobs. I would just as soon try to draft someone who is close as possible to being ready to start.
No to Dean. The only reason he enters into the affordability discussion is his injury history--too risky to lay out big bucks.
McCreary: I don't know if the potential value was misinterpreted, but I'm reading his likely value is a little over $6 million per year, not $10-13 million. But signing him to a two-year contract may to the the Packers benefit as we draft and develop a higher quality replacement for what we have now.
Oxymoron 3339
March 07, 2026 at 11:28 am
I agree Linderbaum would be great. He’s only 25 too.
Thegreatreynoldo
March 07, 2026 at 11:52 am
McCreary got a 69 grade from PFF but in a part time role (345 snaps). He has a 10% missed tackle rate over 4 years. I don't know him at all. Looks like another Hobbs. He is 5'11" and 190 pounds.
I am more interested in spending limited cap space on a center or a NT. That is just me, though. God made more 5'11" guys who can run than he made good big men. I've read that there are some CBs and defensive linemen in this draft (and some Edge guys at the top). I am waiting for the draft guide to get a better handle on the permutations.
Oxymoron 3339
March 07, 2026 at 11:31 am
Good List I would love to get a good center in free agency since I’m hearing this draft is weak at that position. Might need a Tackle and Guard too.
TKWorldWide
March 07, 2026 at 11:36 am
Oddly, just yesterday I heard there are several good center candidates…?
But are they Creed Humphrey or Josh Myers?
WestCoastPackerBacker
March 07, 2026 at 02:15 pm
Brock Hoffman was told he wouldn’t be tendered by the Cowboys and he can play all 3 interior spots. I don’t think he’d count against them in comp pick calculations if he’s not tendered.
dobber
March 07, 2026 at 02:30 pm
I think they sign a C. That's the linchpin of the whole OL. Whatever happens, they're going to need to draft the OL pretty heavily because--even if they sign a C--they're likely to lose four regulars from '25 from the depth chart (Jenkins, Walker, Rhyan, Kinnard) and not get much back in terms of proven depth. Jennings? Glover? Monk? Williams? I think they bring in, through FA and draft, at least 3 guys.
RobinsonDavis
March 07, 2026 at 04:14 pm
In the UFA market Cade Mays is the interesting one to watch, outside of Linderbaum. IMO, the dominoes will stop tipping fast once he is signed.
dobber
March 08, 2026 at 07:11 pm
Of the available C who have started, Rhyan, Mays, and Cushenberry all seem to have the bigger body types the Packers are moving toward. I liked the idea of Mays, but if Biadasz and Rhyan got $10-12M AAV, what's Mays going to get?
dobber
March 07, 2026 at 03:04 pm
Packers just dealt Colby Wooden to Indy for Zaire Franklin:
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2026/03/packers-trade-dt-colby-wooden-...
The Packers are responsible for a $6.4M cap hit in '26, so they're back under water. They'll need to make a move or two in pretty short order, which might include a restructure/extension for Franklin.
I think this indicates Quay's time is done.
stockholder
March 07, 2026 at 03:08 pm
Doubt it; the move to the 3-4-4 is on again.
RobinsonDavis
March 07, 2026 at 04:54 pm
What are you doubting, Stockholder? I am also keeping an eye on the 3-4-4 potential again, though having 5 LBs now entrenched on the roster with the Niemann signing, it appears as a 4-3-4 or 4-2-5 nickel, again.
stockholder
March 08, 2026 at 09:35 am
I doubt this was a good move.
(Losing another starter on the DL)
And paying a guy who is a liability
in the passing game.
Just doesn't sound like a all in move.
dobber
March 08, 2026 at 07:12 pm
"And paying a guy who is a liability
in the passing game."
Doesn't that description fit paying Quay?
You can't weigh it in a vacuum. Player procurement goes on and on and really hasn't gotten going, yet...the question is, what are they going to do with the extra money they didn't use in resigning Walker?
stockholder
March 08, 2026 at 07:38 pm
I don't feel pff graded him right.
per passing game -
He did have some great coverage against the bears.
There was chemistry with quay.
You've seen what happened with the money.
It not only went to Zaire.
It also went to Rhyan.
Didn't they have a chance to sign him before the play-offs?
Which would have saved millions.
dobber
March 08, 2026 at 09:47 pm
"Didn't they have a chance to sign him before the play-offs?
Which would have saved millions."
Who can tell?
Maybe Rhyan wanted to get to the open market and didn't want to talk at that point.
Maybe he was overestimating his value relative to the market.
See...I can make stuff up and sell it like it's real, too.
RobinsonDavis
March 07, 2026 at 04:44 pm
Thank you for the article, Gil! If this was the draft, UFA-CBs meeting Packer standards would be St. Juste, Dean, Taylor-Britt (falls on the border line for height for them), Woolen, Taylor, and Watson. Montaric Brown falls short on measurables with the 3-cone, and shuttle, but so does Nixon. So...? And, I would rather take a 70+ PFF (Montaric Brown) vs. a 60+ on most days
I do believe the Packers at least double up at this position through free agency and the draft....OR, maybe the proper term is "I HOPE...."
TKWorldWide
March 08, 2026 at 03:26 pm
No centers. Rhyan re-signed.
No linebackers. (Zaire in exchange for Colby.)
Does this mean Tyron is on the back burner?
skydancer506
March 09, 2026 at 12:13 am
No centers as Rhyan re-signed, so we'll probably draft one and he'll be ready to take over as the long-term starter when Rhyan's contract is up in three years. Rhyan will hit free agency then and the Packers will (hopefully) get a compensatory for him while moving this year's draft pick into the starting role. (This was probably the plan when they drafted Jacob Monk, who didn't pan out.)
No linebackers due to Zaire trade. I expect we'll probably get a late-round LB draft pick in there as well.
Because Gutey is not going to mess with the compensatory pick formula (why would he if he gets two 3rd rounders and two fourth rounders next year), then if there is going to be a big splash, it will be in a trade, not in a free agent signing. (Could we see Jayden Reed moving over to Philadelphia for Jalen Carter?) Otherwise, we'll get one free agent signing, perhaps Javon Hargrave, and that will be about it until after the draft.