Packers Unlikely to Make Splash in 2026 NFL Free Agency

Green Bay's roster needs and cap constraints will limit their ability to pursue top free agents.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Green Bay Packers have several key in-house free agents to re-sign, including wide receiver Romeo Doubs, linebacker Quay Walker, and others. However, the team's limited salary cap flexibility will make it difficult for them to be major players in the 2026 NFL free agency period, despite their roster needs.

Why it matters

The Packers have reached the playoffs the last three seasons but gone one-and-done the last two years. Their ability to improve the roster through free agency will be crucial to their chances of making a deeper postseason run in 2026.

The details

The Packers rank 25th in salary cap flexibility for 2026 and can only generate around $52 million through restructures, a fraction of what other teams will have available. This will force the team to prioritize re-signing their own free agents over pursuing marquee outside free agents.

  • The 2026 NFL free agency period begins on March 18, 2026.

The players

Romeo Doubs

A wide receiver who is one of the Packers' top in-house free agents.

Quay Walker

A linebacker who is one of the Packers' top in-house free agents.

Brian Gutekunst

The general manager of the Green Bay Packers.

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What they’re saying

“Now you may not be sad to see the backside of a handful of these players, but the fact is that GM Brian Gutekunst has his work cut out for him.”

— Zach Rapport (Acme Packing Company)

“There are other levers that general manager Brian Gutekunst can pull if he needs to create cap space to build upon a roster that has reached the playoffs the last three years but went one-and-done the last two.”

— Bill Huber (Sports Illustrated)

What’s next

The Packers will need to prioritize re-signing their own free agents like Romeo Doubs and Quay Walker before the start of free agency on March 18, 2026.

The takeaway

Despite their roster needs, the Packers' limited salary cap flexibility will make it difficult for them to be major players in the 2026 NFL free agency period. The team will need to get creative with contract restructures and other cap-saving measures if they hope to improve the roster through free agency.