The Green Bay Packers overachieved relative to general expectations in 2023, but still had a painful loss in the playoffs when they could have beat the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round. Now, it's time for offseason analysis.

The team is young, and the most important players are under contract. Jordan Love is the answer at quarterback, and Matt LaFleur has established himself as a top-tier head coach even without Aaron Rodgers.

So, let's evaluate their overall situation and what’s ahead.

2023 record: 9-8

The Packers finished the season with a 9-8 record, second place in the NFC North and the seventh seed in the NFC. They beat the second seed Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card round, but lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round.

Biggest offseason priority: Extend Jordan Love

In 2023, the priority for the Packers was to find out if Jordan Love was a franchise quarterback. That was a success, and the first-year starter proved he can be a long-term starter and play at a high level in Green Bay. So, now, it's time to pay him.

The good aspect of sitting a quarterback is that he will learn and get ready. The bad is that the team will be forced to extend him right away, without a window of a cheap contract.

Love and the Packers agreed to a one-year extension last offseason, so he's under contract through 2024. He's slated to make $11 million next season, and there's no way he steps on the field for that figure. The parties are expected to sit and find a new pact — and don't be surprised if it surpasses $50 million in yearly average.

A new extension can't be signed before May, because the NFL rules demand 12 months between extensions when there is a pay raise.

Under-the-radar offseason priority: Secondary playmaking ability

A big reason for the Packers loss to the 49ers was the lack of ability to finish interceptions. Keisean Nixon and basically every veteran safety are free agents, the team traded Rasul Douglas, and Eric Stokes has missed one and a half years. So adding playmakers in the secondary is a big need to improve the team.

Coaching decisions

The Packers' assistants have not been requested for interviews. It might be good because they won't lose pieces they don't want to, but it's also bad because the NFL doesn't value them.

Head coach Matt LaFleur has a big decision to make regarding defensive coordinator Joe Barry — his contract expires, so the Packers will let him go or extend him. If they change the coordinator, probably position coaching changes will follow. Early indications from LaFleur are that he intends to keep Barry, but that's speculative at this point.

Special teams were underwhelming in 2023, but the expectation is that Rich Bisaccia will be retained as coordinator and assistant head coach. Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich is also expected to keep his job.

Free agents

UFA

• RB AJ Dillon
• TE Josiah Deguara
• TE Tyler Davis
• OT Yosh Nijman
• OG Jon Runyan
• LB Eric Wilson
• LB Kristian Welch
• CB Keisean Nixon
• CB Corey Ballentine
• S Darnell Savage
• S Rudy Ford
• S Jonathan Owens

RFA

• RB Patrick Taylor
• CB Robert Rochell

ERFA

• RB Emanuel Wilson
• OT Caleb Jones
• P Daniel Whelan

Cap situation

2024 projected cap space: $7k

The Packers are 22nd in projected cap space for 2024, with $7,359 available. The team moved a lot of contracts to future years again in 2023 to be able to operate, but being the 27th in cash spending helped balance the future. Green Bay will still be forced to restructure some deals and/or release some players to have enough space throughout 2024, but the overall situation is much better than it was a year ago.

Draft situation

Original selections:

The Packers have their own 1st (25th overall pick), 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 7th-round picks. Their 5th was sent to the Buffalo Bills as part of the Rasul Douglas trade.

Picks acquired via trade:

• Extra 2nd-rounder from the New York Jets (Aaron Rodgers)
• Extra 3rd-rounder from the Buffalo Bills (Rasul Douglas)

Compensatory picks:

The compensatory picks haven't been announced yet. According to Over The Cap, the Packers are expected to receive:

• Extra 5th-rounder (Allen Lazard)
• Extra 6th-rounder (Jarran Reed)
• Extra 7th-rounder (Dean Lowry)

Matt LaFleur sounds inclined to make a bad mistake

Green Bay allowed 24 points to the San Francisco 49ers