The Green Bay Packers were unquestionably active in free agency. General manager Brian Gutekunst was careful, though, because he wanted to preserve the four compensatory draft picks the Packers are set to receive in 2027.

Now, there are still some viable free agents on the market, but the front office has three paths to operate: They can sign a guy they truly like and be okay losing a sixth-round pick, they can sign a cheaper option (below $3 million a year) who wouldn’t affect the formula, or they can wait until after the draft to make more signings.

So far, the Packers have signed cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, wide receiver/kick returner Skyy Moore, and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. But there are still positions of need to fill, and several interesting options to sign.

EDGE Joey Bosa, Buffalo Bills

AJ Epenesa was on this list last week, but he signed with the Cleveland Browns — a one-year, $5 million contract that the Packers probably should be willing to pay. At this point, the Packers are slated to start the season with Lukas Van Ness, Brenton Cox, and Barryn Sorrell as the top edge options while Micah Parsons recovers from his knee injury, so another reliable option at the position would be huge. Bosa is 30 and has a significant injury history, but a low-risk deal for someone who’s still a viable edge defender isn’t a bad idea, even if he can’t play the full season. Last year for the Bills, Bosa generated 47 pressures and five sacks.

DT DJ Reader, Detroit Lions

Reader is a solid, reliable nose tackle. The Packers have given clear indications they are moving to a 3-4 base, so getting more beef for the interior of the defensive line to eat two gaps is more meaningful that it would have been last year. Green Bay probably already signed its big-ticket free agent defensive tackle in Javon Hargrave, but Reader is a less expensive option to execute a completely different role — and his capacity as a run defender is probably unmatched in the Packers’ IDL room.

G Mekhi Becton, Los Angeles Chargers

Cut by the Chargers as a cap casualty, Becton had a truly bad year in Los Angeles in 2025, there’s no way around it. But Becton is a fine depth piece or a useful starter if he’s the fifth best player on the line. The Chargers’ group was so banged up and limited in terms of talent that Becton didn’t have a chance.

The 6-7, 360-pound man was coming off an extremely solid year as a starting right guard for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, and he was mostly viable at tackle for the New York Jets, even though multiple injuries affected the perception around him. If Becton is willing to sign another prove-it deal like he did with the Eagles two years ago, he would be a decent depth option behind Anthony Belton.

TE David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

It’s somewhat surprising that Njoku is still available, even though he visited the Baltimore Ravens last week. Spotrac projects he will get a two-year, $20 million deal. However, it can eventually become cheaper since he’s still without a team after being released by the Browns with a post-June 1 designation — his contract was already set to void, but the Browns officially released him to create more cap room this season. That’s the beauty of it, by the way, as he wouldn’t count against the compensatory pick formula.

Njoku might not have lived up to the hype of a first-round pick tight end, but he’s been a consistently productive offensive piece, with four 500-receiving yard seasons in the NFL. Last year, his role got smaller with the addition of rookie Harold Fannin Jr., prompting the team’s decision to move on from him.

For most of his career, Njoku has also been a viable blocker, which would allow the Packers to have a solid versatile option behind Tucker Kraft on the depth chart. Last year, when Kraft got hurt, Green Bay had to split snaps by necessity — Luke Musgrave was the receiver, John FitzPatrick was the in-line blocker, and Josh Whyle was the h-back. The illusion of complexity demands more.

QB Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals

Some rumors connected the Packers to Jimmy Garoppolo ahead of free agency, so the former 49er and Ram would be the most likely backup QB signed. But Joe Flacco is a better option because of his arm and his knowledge of the game to help Jordan Love. Kirk Cousins could also be an intriguing alternative due to his connection with Matt LaFleur.