Here are the top fifty free agents. The list only includes the Packers’ most needed positions. Gutekunst’s forays into free agency have focused on in-their-prime talent, so the list is slanted toward players in their mid-20s rather than the considerable number of veterans who have celebrated 30 trips around the sun. No. 1 – DT Milton Williams, Eagles (26): A third-round pick in 2021, there’s a decent chance that Williams will get the biggest contract of any non-quarterback in free agency. That’s the worth of mayhem-causing defensive lineman. He had five sacks, seven tackles for losses and 10 quarterback hits during the regular season, then added two sacks in the Super Bowl. In 2024, 93 interior defensive linemen participated at least 200 pass-rushing snaps. According to PFF, Williams ranked second in pass-rush productivity, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-rushing snap, and fourth in pass-rush win rate.
No. 2 – Edge Josh Sweat, Eagles (28): In seven seasons, Sweat has 43 sacks, including a career-high 11 in 2022. That’s his only season of more than eight. And yet, he’s going to get a top-of-market contract. In 2024, he had eight sacks, nine tackles for losses and 15 quarterback hits. By PFF’s metrics, he was 19th in pass-rush productivity and 14th in pass-rush win rate. He dominated in the Super Bowl with 2.5 sacks. No. 3 – CB Charvarius Ward, 49ers (29): Ward was second-team All-Pro in 2023, when he intercepted five passes and led the NFL with 23 passes defensed. In 2024, he played in 12 games with zero interceptions and five passes defensed. The death of his daughter was the major reason for his daughter was the major reason for his dropoff. According to PFF, he ranked 36th in completion percentage, 34th in snaps per completion and in 99th passer rating (119.1 with five touchdowns allowed). He was 16th in completion percentage and sixth in rating in 2023.
No. 4 – WR Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (28): After three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, Godwin caught 50 passes for 576 yards and five touchdowns in seven games before a season-ending ankle injury. He ranked No. 1 among receivers in catch rate (83.3 percent) and drop rate (zero) and was eighth in average YAC (6.9), but his average target was second-shortest. Godwin ranked 20th among receivers with 9.3 yards per target. That was No. 1 among the free agents. He played mostly from the slot in 2022 and 2024 but mostly wide in 2023. He is not a deep threat.
No. 5 – CB Paulson Adebo, Saints (26): A third-round pick in 2021, Adebo has 10 interceptions and 43 passes defensed in four seasons, including three interceptions and 10 passes defensed in seven games in 2024, a season ruined by a broken leg. He ranked 28th in completion percentage, 101st in snaps per completion, and seventh in passer rating (67.0 with one touchdown allowed), but he was also guilty of nine penalties in those seven games.
No. 6: CB D.J. Reed, Jets (28) Reed is not a wild card in the NFL. He’s going to get a hefty paycheck. Reed, who has had catch rates below 60 percent in three of the last four years, will be in high demand. Reed, a fifth-round pick in 2018, has six career interceptions and 42 pass breakups over the last four seasons. In 2024, he made all 14 appearances. While he did not intercept any passes, he did break up eleven. According to PFF, he finished 20th in completion percentage, 26th in snaps per completion, and 50th in passer rating (91.7 with two touchdowns allowed). He was guilty of 11 penalties, ranking fourth among all corners.
No. 7 – DE Joey Bosa, Chargers (30): The 2016 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and five-time Pro Bowler’s career has been hampered by injury. Over the last three years, Bosa has recorded 13.5 sacks, 27 quarterback hits, and 13 tackles for loss in 28 games (18 starts). In 2019, Bosa recorded 31 quarterback hits and 18 tackles for loss. In 2024, Bosa played in the Pro Bowl in the Rashan Gary style. In 14 games (nine starts), he had five sacks, five TFLs and 13 quarterback hits. Of 80 edge rushers with at least 240 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked 40th in pass-rush productivity and 24th in pass-rush win rate.
No. 7 – DE Joey Bosa, Chargers (30): The 2016 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and five-time Pro Bowler’s career has been hampered by injury. Over the last three years, Bosa has recorded 13.5 sacks, 27 quarterback hits, and 13 tackles for loss in 28 games (18 starts). In 2019, Bosa recorded 31 quarterback hits and 18 tackles for loss. In 2024, Bosa played in the Pro Bowl in the Rashan Gary style. In 14 games (nine starts), he had five sacks, five TFLs and 13 quarterback hits. Of 80 edge rushers with at least 240 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked 40th in pass-rush productivity and 24th in pass-rush win rate.No. 8 – C Drew Dalman (26), Falcons: Dalman is the belle of the ball among this year’s centers. That’s a byproduct of his talent but also the lack of quality centers available this offseason. Of 32 centers who played at least 500 snaps, he ranked 19th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency, which measures sacks, hits and hurries allowed per pass-blocking snap. He allowed two sacks. He is tailor-made for a zone scheme because of his elite athleticism. He started all 17 games in 2022 but missed three games in 2023 and eight games in 2024.
No. 9 – RE-SIGNED. Edge Khalil Mack, Chargers (34): Mack is the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the NFL’s all-2010s team. In 11 seasons, he has recorded 107.5 sacks and 32 forced fumbles. He tallied a career-high 17 sacks for the Chargers in 2023 but fell back to six sacks, six tackles for losses and 15 quarterback hits in 2024. PFF’s metrics show a larger impact, as he finished 25th in pass-rush productivity and 16th in pass-rush win rate.
No. 10: CB Byron Murphy, Vikings (27) Murphy, the first choice in the second round of the 2019 draft, had five interceptions in four seasons with the Cardinals but nine in the last two with Minnesota, including a position-high six in 2024. He added 14 pass defenses to become a first-time Pro Bowler. According to PFF, he was 90th in completion %, 87th in snaps per completion, and 22nd in passer rating (80.9, four touchdowns allowed). Only two cornerback in the whole NFL allowed more yards.
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