Brian Gutekunst isn’t as inclined as his predecessor Ted Thompson to bringing old friends back. However, the Green Bay Packers general manager has brought back some pieces throughout his tenure — Tramon Williams, Randall Cobb, Kristian Welch, Patrick Taylor.

With the 2026 season in mind, we found this is a perfect time to discuss which potential former Packers players could return this offseason and make a real impact on the team.

CB Eric Stokes

This one is wild because Stokes had a great rookie year, but injuries affected his athleticism for years. He signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Raiders and, well, proved it. He allowed a 77.2 passer rating when targeted and became a real CB1 in Las Vegas. Most likely, the Raiders will find a way to extend him, but Spotrac projects that Stokes will get a three-year, $22 million contract — which would be totally reasonable for the Packers.

CB Rasul Douglas

If the Packers want a cheaper, short-term alternative at CB, Douglas could be interesting. It didn’t make much sense to bring him back last season because Jeff Hafley’s scheme is totally different from Joe Barry’s, where Douglas thrived. But Jonathan Gannon brings a more similar philosophy, and Douglas is coming from a strong season with the Dolphins.

RB Aaron Jones

This one is certainly not that likely, especially because Jones is still under contract with the Minnesota Vikings. But he’s set to make $10 million, so a release shouldn’t be totally out of the equation. Pairing Jones with Josh Jacobs was a dream in 2024, but the money didn’t work. A cheaper deal could make that happen.

DT TJ Slaton

Another example of a player who’s still under contract, in this case with the Cincinnati Bengals, but is an obvious cut candidate. The Packers badly missed Slaton’s run ability last year, and bringing back a heavier defensive lineman who can stop the run isn’t a bad idea.

QB/TE/WR/RB Taysom Hill

This is a cool one, because Hill was just a third-string rookie quarterback in 2017 scoring preseason rushing touchdowns. The Packers cut him with the expectation of bringing him back to the practice squad, but the Saints claimed him and Sean Payton transformed Hill on one of the most versatile and electric weapons in the NFL. Now he’s already 35, but the athleticism is still there to some extent — and Matt LaFleur has the creativity to take advantage of it.

G Lucas Patrick

Patrick isn’t a high-level starter, but he offers competent play and versatility on the interior. He played in Green Bay from 2017 to 2021. And over the past three years, he’s been with the Bears, Saints, and Bengals. He’s played 1,088 career snaps at left guard, 2,009 at center, and 1,186 at right guard.

NT Mike Pennel

That’s just dudes talking about old players stuff. Pennel played for the Packers from 2014 to 2016, still under Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy. Since then, he won two Super Bowls for the Kansas City Chiefs. A 330-pound nose, he’d be an intriguing addition to Jonathan Gannon’s defense.

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