2023 NFL Offseason report: Green Bay Packers

• Free agency recap: The Packers stayed quiet in free agency, losing far more players than they signed.

• Best move of the offseason: It was a hefty 2023 draft class for Green Bay, and sixth-round interior defender Karl Brooks was their best selection.

• Outlook for 2023: With uncertainty at quarterback and less talent overall, the Packers could struggle this season.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

As the dust settles on the 2023 NFL offseason, it's time to assess how each team fared in the quest to improve their rosters.

Recapping blockbuster trades and high-profile signings to shrewd draft selections, PFF offers an in-depth assessment of all 32 NFL teams, shedding light on the potential impact these moves may have on their fortunes in the upcoming campaign.

For more information on each team's draft selections and offseason moves, download the PFF draft guide today!

GREEN BAY PACKERS OFFSEASON GRADE: B-

2023 NFL Free Agency

Free agency recap

A tradition unlike any other: The Packers once again faded free agency. With long-time quarterback Aaron Rodgers being traded to the Jets, this is clearly a team in transition. Wide receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb followed Rodgers to New York, while tight ends Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis also left the team. Safety Jonathan Owens signed with the Packers on May 12 and is the lone signing to date with significant recent playing time. He started every game for the Texans in 2022, earning a 48.3 overall grade.

2023 Draft class

R1 (13): EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
R2 (42): TE Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
R2 (50): WR Jayden Reed, Michigan State
R3 (78): TE Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
R4 (116): EDGE Colby Wooden, Auburn
R5 (149): QB Sean Clifford, Penn State
R5 (159): WR Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia Tech
R6 (179): DI Karl Brooks, Bowling Green
R6 (207): K Anders Carlson, Auburn
R7 (232): CB Carrington Valentine, Kentucky
R7 (235): RB Lew Nichols III, Central Michigan
R7 (242): S Anthony Johnson Jr., Iowa State
R7 (256): WR Grant DuBose, Charlotte

2023 NFL Draft recap

After spending their first-round pick on Iowa edge defender Lukas Van Ness, the Packers focused on replenishing their offensive skill player talent. Tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft are both intriguing athletes capable of stressing defenses with their size and athleticism, and Jayden Reed is an underrated receiving prospect. While Reed lacks a huge frame and possesses good but not great athleticism, he is a solid route runner who hauled in an impressive 34 contested catches over the course of his three seasons at Michigan State.

Best move of the offseason: Drafting DI Karl Brooks

Interior defender was one of the Packers' bigger needs heading into the draft. Thus, the underrated Brooks could play a key role in 2023. He was among the most productive players in all of college football at his position in 2022, as he posted 12 sacks and 74 total pressures to go with 25 run stops.

Remaining team needs: CB

Without a solid timetable on Eric Stokes’ return, the Packers are very thin at cornerback. Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas should have starting spots locked down, but slot cornerback could be a point of weakness if Stokes is slow to return to action.

The listed starter, Keisean Nixon, played 169 coverage snaps last year and allowed a catch on 78.6% of passes into his coverage. Beyond him, Shemar Jean-Charles primarily played on special teams in 2022, which could mean seventh-round rookie Carrington Valentine will get a chance to win the role. Regardless, the Packers are paper thin at cornerback right now and should look to bring in another player of significance before the start of the season.

Early position battle to watch: TE Luke Musgrave and TE Tucker Kraft

With a Day 2 investment in both players, the Packers will be looking for at least one of their two new tight ends to play a big role in 2023. Musgrave looked poised for a monster 2022 season for Oregon State before a knee injury in Week 2 ended his college career prematurely. He amassed 12 catches for 171 yards in those two games, with seven of those catches resulting in first downs.

Kraft, meanwhile, had his own injury issues early last year, as he suffered a high-ankle sprain two snaps into the season that caused him to miss the next six games. He went on to be a key cog in South Dakota State’s national championship squad but wasn’t as productive as he was in 2021, when he racked up 65 catches and caught an incredible nine of 12 contested targets while also forcing 16 missed tackles after the catch.

2023 Outlook

It’s been more than 30 years since the Packers had this kind of uncertainty at quarterback. The keys have been handed over to Jordan Love, at least for now, and he inherits an equally young offense with talent on both the line and at the skill positions, but significant growing pains could be in store. With so many young and unproven players on both sides of the ball, the Packers don’t have the look of a contender in 2023 and could find themselves with a very high draft pick in 2024.