GREEN BAY – Free agency is off and running in the NFL.
Here's the latest as it relates to the Packers:
S Raven Greene
Details: Signed with Tampa Bay on May 5.
Instant reaction: The former undrafted free agent played in 20 games with the Packers, recording 56 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. He served as a hybrid safety in the dime subpackage the past two years but missed 20 regular-season games due to ankle and shoulder injuries over that span.
Details: Signed restricted tender with Packers, April 23.
Instant reaction: The 24-year-old Sullivan emerged as the Packers' nickel cornerback last season, recording 38 tackles, six passes defensed and returning his lone interception for a touchdown. Sullivan's return ensures Green Bay keeps its entire cornerback room intact from last season's group that contributed to the Packers' sixth-place finish in pass defense.
G Lane Taylor
Details: Signed with Houston Texans, April 16.
Instant reaction: Taylor, one of the longest-tenured players on the Packers' roster, will have a new home in 2021 after signing with the Texans. An undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State in 2013, Taylor started 50 of the 79 regular-season games he played in Green Bay. The 6-foot-3, 324-pound guard was the understudy to Pro Bowlers Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang before graduating to the starting lineup in 2016. Taylor suffered a season-ending biceps injury two games into the 2019 season but won his starting job back last summer. Unfortunately, Taylor sustained another setback when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the Packers' regular-season opener in Minnesota. The Packers have lost two starters to free agency in Taylor and All-Pro center Corey Linsley, but return Pro Bowl guard Elgton Jenkins, veterans Billy Turner and Lucas Patrick, and a trio of 2020 sixth-round picks: Jon Runyan, Simon Stepaniak and Jake Hanson. Meanwhile, Taylor will be reuniting with former Packers offensive line coach James Campen and guard Justin McCray in Houston.
DB Will Redmond
Details: Re-signed with Packers, April 2.
Instant analysis: While serving as the primary backup to starting safeties Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage, Redmond also has been one of the Packers' top contributors on special teams over the past three seasons. His 238 special-team snaps in 2020 were third on the team behind Oren Burks (335) and Ty Summers (327). Redmond played in 13 games with one start last season, logging 24 tackles (18 solo), two quarterback hits, one pass defensed and four special teams tackles.
Details: Re-signed with Packers, March 30
Instant Analysis: Lewis will be back for a 16th NFL season and fourth in Green Bay, as he hinted late in the 2020 campaign. He's a respected veteran who's become a mentor to the Packers' young stable of tight ends as well as a locker-room leader whose voice is heard whenever he speaks. QB Aaron Rodgers has called him the best blocking tight end of this generation, and while his pass-catching numbers have been modest over the last three years (28 catches, 302 yards), the "Big Dog" did have three TD receptions in 2020. Green Bay's coaches have repeatedly said his value to the team cannot be overstated.
Details: Re-signed with Packers, March 30
Instant Analysis: Lancaster, who joined the Packers as an undrafted rookie in 2018, did not receive a restricted free agent tender following his third season but agreed to return at a lower salary than the tender offer. The run-stuffer from Northwestern has played in 43 games with 18 starts over his three seasons, working mostly as a rotational lineman on early downs. His 23 total tackles last season ranked third among the Packers' interior defensive linemen, behind Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry.
RB Aaron Jones
Details: Re-signed with Packers, March 26.
Instant analysis: By retaining Aaron Jones, the Packers keep one of their biggest offensive playmakers in the fold. Coming off his first Pro Bowl season in 2020, Jones and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown are the only two players in league history to post 3,000-plus rushing yards (3,364) and 35-plus rushing TDs (37) with an average of 5.00-plus yards per carry (5.17) in their first four seasons in the NFL. In 2021, Jones will look to become the first Green Bay running back to register three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons since Ahman Green (2002-04).
CB Kevin King
Details: Re-signed with Packers, March 26
Instant analysis: King's return positions the Packers to return their top three cornerbacks and starting safety tandem from a secondary that ranked seventh in pass defense in 2020. The 6-foot-3 cornerback started all 11 regular-season games he played in this past season, finishing with 57 tackles (second most of his career), five passes defensed, a QB hit, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
LS Joe Fortunato
Details: Signed with Packers, March 24
Instant analysis: Fortunato (6-4, 240) has spent time with the Indianapolis Colts (2017) and Dallas Cowboys (2020) after seeing action in 46 games for Delaware from 2012-15. He served as the snapper on punts for four seasons with the Blue Hens and the snapper on placements for his final two years. He's slated to compete with fourth-year veteran Hunter Bradley for the Packers' snapping job this summer.
QB Tim Boyle
Details: Signed with Detroit, March 22
Instant analysis: The laser show is staying in the NFC North. Shortly after the Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff trade was made official on Wednesday, the Lions announced the signing of Boyle. The 6-foot-4, 232-pound quarterback heads to Detroit after serving as Aaron Rodgers' primary backup for the past two seasons. A popular fixture in the locker room, Boyle impressed on the field during his three summers in Green Bay. In eight preseason games, the former undrafted free agent completed 60-of-110 passes for 650 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions for a 91.2 passer rating. The Packers did not tender Boyle a contract as a restricted free agent, opening the door for 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love to serve as Rodgers' primary backup this season.
C Corey Linsley
Details: Signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, March 19
Instant analysis: While Corey Linsley's move to LA should result in the Packers receiving high compensatory pick a year from now, his departure creates a void in Green Bay's offensive line. The All-Pro center started all 99 regular-season games in which he played since entering the league as a fifth-round pick in 2014. Pro Bowl guard Elgton Jenkins and fourth-year veteran Lucas Patrick have some experience at center. Jenkins started there for two seasons at Mississippi State prior to stepping in for an injured Linsley this past December for three spot starts.
RB Jamaal Williams
Details: Signed with Detroit, March 19
Instant analysis: The former fourth-round pick was a tough, versatile, and reliable fixture in the Packers' backfield for four seasons, touching the ball 659 times (including postseason) without a fumble. Jamaal Williams owns the second-longest streak among active running backs with 500 consecutive carries without a fumble, trailing only Phillip Lindsay (534). Now, he'll get an opportunity at seizing a featured role in Detroit. Meanwhile, the Packers will press forward with Jones and 2020 second-round pick AJ Dillon as their featured backfield combination. Dillon missed five games due to a bout with COVID-19, but shined during a 124-yard, two-touchdown performance against Tennessee in Week 16.
DL Montravius Adams
Details: Signed with New England, March 19
Instant Analysis: Adams flashed the potential that made him a third-round pick out of Auburn in 2017 but persistent injuries prevented the 6-foot-4, 304-pound defensive lineman from establishing a consistent role. Adams played 595 defensive snaps over 45 regular-season games, finishing his time in Green Bay with 44 tackles, 1½ sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and three passes defensed. The Packers likely will be in the market for defensive linemen this offseason, with Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry and Kingsley Keke the only veterans currently on the roster at the position.
Restricted tenders
Players who received a one-year tender (first round, second round and right of first refusal), which allows Green Bay to match any free-agent contract the player would sign or receive draft-pick compensation corresponding to the first two tenders. There is no compensation for the lowest tender.
Exclusive rights tenders
Players with fewer than three accrued NFL seasons who can be retained with a one-year tender at the league minimum.
LB Randy Ramsey
WR Allen Lazard
WR Malik Taylor
The Packers' remaining free agents
Unrestricted free agents (UFA) with expiring contracts count towards the compensatory draft-pick equation if they sign elsewhere.
DL Damon Harrison
RB Tyler Ervin
WR Tavon Austin
DL Billy Winn
T Jared Veldheer
LB James Burgess
