If you're expecting the Green Bay Packers to make a number of high-profile signings this offseason, think again.
As Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst stated, Green Bay will have “restrictions” heading into the 2020 offseason. The Packers currently have 13 unrestricted free agents. Needless to say, they have to devote a lot of their remaining salary cap space to those free agents.
“(We will have) a little bit more restrictions (in free agency) if we're going to do everything we want with the guys who are here,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said Friday, via the team's website. “I have a lot of optimism going forward. We have a lot of work to do. Excited to get there. We've got a lot of decisions to make coming up.”
Gutekunst echoed a desire to retain most of Green Bay's core from the 2019 season. The Packers exceeded expectations and finished with a 13-3 record and an NFC Championship Game appearance.
Key free agency decisions obviously need to be made to continue the Packers' success into 2020. Long-time players such as Mason Crosby, Tramon Williams and Bryan Bulaga will be free agents. Furthermore, decisions need to be made on Blake Martinez, Kyler Fackrell and Jimmy Graham.
While key decisions need to be made, Gutekunst understands the nature of the business. He remarked that it's just not realistic to bring everyone back.
“I've got a lot of Ted Thompson in me,” Gutekunst said. “I'd like to keep them all. I wish our roster size could be a lot bigger than what it is. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.”
