There has been a lot of talk around Packerland that general manager Brian Gutekunst could be aggressive enough to trade for an elite edge defender. While that's obviously still possible, and Maxx Crosby has been tied to Green Bay, Gutekunst knows how difficult it is to justify an investment that includes draft capital and cap space.

"When you trade a high pick for a veteran player, you're trading a young, really good contract for a player who's proven, but probably expensive, so you're giving up a pick and salary cap space. You gotta weigh that," Gutekunst mentioned. "If it's the right player, if you can feel he can be a dynamic player that can change your football team, you gotta consider that, because there's not many of those guys out there. But you also have to understand what you're giving up."

So yes, Garrett and Crosby certainly can be classified as transformative players. But it's truly hard to acquire them, so the Packers' most realistic path is free agency.

"You're always looking. With pass rushers, you can never have enough," Gutekunst added. "The strides we took during the season were really impressive, the jumps, and I'm excited to see what Jeff can do in Year 2. He was in college for four years, so a lot of this improvement that we saw, quite frankly, is more impressive than I thought we would see."

The Packers have Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, Brenton Cox Jr., and Arron Mosby. If they can add another player with 1-B potential, that would be huge for the rotation. And free agency offers those alternatives.

And yes, I could add Khalil Mack to this list, but the Packers have to prioritize long-term options here.

Josh Sweat

• Spotrac contract projection: 3 years, $56.4 million ($18.8 million APY)

A fourth-round pick in 2018 and Pro Bowler in 2021, Sweat was never a true bona fide number one edge. But he is a solid number two, or 1-B, and he had more pressures (54) than Rashan Gary in 2024. Sweat's amazing Super Bowl performance showed exactly what he's capable of, and even though the price will also increase because of that, it gives an acquiring team more confidence.

Chase Young

• Spotrac contract projection: 4 years, $70.1 million ($17.5 million APY)

I know I've been talking a lot about Young since last year's trade deadline, and there's always someone to say he's not motivated enough or is lazy. Guys, have you seen his production? If that's what he does being this way, imagine what he can be in an environment with better culture and aspirations. He had 66 pressures (which would comfortably lead the Packers) and 5.5 sacks for the New Orleans Saints in 2024.

Azeez Ojulari

• Spotrac contract projection: 2 years, $15.1 million ($7.6 million APY)

Ojulari is a cheaper option, and also has a lower ceiling. In 2024, he had a decent number of sacks (6), but only 22 pressures. That being said, there are good reasons for it to make sense.

First, getting good players from bad teams and maximizing them is an NFL gold mine. The Packers did exactly that in 2024 with Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney. But more than that, Ojulari is a lighter, bendier type of edge rusher. This is something the Packers don't have on the roster, and it's a skillset that fits what Jeff Hafley has done schematically.

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It’s an important avenue to add pieces