The Green Bay Packers are officially out of the NFL playoffs and must turn their attention to the offseason. They surprised many pundits in 2023, and with Jordan Love starting to show off his prodigious physical gifts, the Pack became a great team. However, your choice requires some modifications.The Packers are expected to have about $8 million in cap space this offseason. Certain contract restructurings and cap adjustments will definitely increase this number. Still, some tough decisions will have to be made, some free agents will be allowed to travel and cuts will be made. Here’s a look at five Packers who won’t be with the team in 2024.
Darnell Savage
Savage has looked like a potential All-Pro since his rookie season in 2019. He had a good 2020, but hasn’t been the same player since. The 26-year-old is set to become a free agent this offseason and hasn’t performed well enough for the Packers to make signing him a priority. It was decent for 2023, but a little below what Green Bay was hoping for. Pro Football Focus gave him a 66.3 grade this year.The Packers need to address their safety issues this offseason. Fortunately, there are many options on the market. A spot for rookie Anthony Johnson Jr. may be the answer, but Green Bay still needs to find another starter. Savage hasn’t played well enough to come back unless he’s a cheap, proven deal. Will probably get more elsewhere.
Josiah Deguara
The Packers drafted Deguara in the third round in 2020 and it didn’t go the way they wanted. He would be a good tight end/H-back like Kyle Juszczyk in San Francisco. It did not happen. Deguara caught 25 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns in 2021, a highlight of his short career. He had eight catches for 65 yards in 2023 and his playing time declined quickly. Green Bay wasted their pick on Deguara. That’s because Matt LaFleur hasn’t been able to make him a useful and versatile part of the offense. Perhaps Deguara could land a permanent end role elsewhere, but a change of scenery is needed.
John Runyan Jr
A 2020 sixth-round pick, Runyan has been a starting quarterback for the Packers the last three seasons, making 50 starts in that span. Over the years, the situation has worsened. He had a PFF grade of 65.1 in 2021, dropping to 62.6 in 2022 and 54.7 in 2023. His contract expires this season and the Packers need to find a better option.Runyan is only 26 years old and has the size and blood to be a good point guard. But he’s not particularly athletic, doesn’t find defenders well in the secondary, and has gotten stronger as his career has progressed. Getting 50 starts out of a sixth-round pick is a great return on investment for the Packers, but Runyan has to go.
A.J. Dillon
The Packers shocked the NFL by selecting Dillon in the 2020 second round. It was Aaron Jones, who signed a huge contract in early 2021. Dillon has been the backup ever since. His best season came in 2021, when he rushed for 803 yards and five touchdowns, averaged 4.3 yards per carry and added 313 yards and two touchdowns on 34 receptions. However, difficulties were encountered in 2023. He finished the regular season with 613 yards and 2 touchdowns while averaging 3.4 yards per carry. There are also 22 lounges spread over 233 meters. Dillon will be a free agent and could be traded for a cheap free agent or a finals pick. It will probably find a home elsewhere. There might be a team that uses a guy who wears a helmet and drives like a dump truck.
Lois Newman
Newman was a fourth-round pick in the 2021 draft and started 16 games at right guard that year. He averaged just 55.7 points per PFF, but showed promise. Then the Packers put him on the swing and he wasn’t blocked. He started eight games over the next two years, six in 2022 and two this season. His PFF grade was 57.5 in 2022 and a low of 44.3 in 2023. Not sure if there’s any value left here.Newman is under contract through next season, and his $124,836 signing bonus would be his only cap hit if the Packers waive him. If you send it, it will be over $1 million. Seems like a smart move.
