More veterans at need positions for the Green Bay Packers signed deals elsewhere on Friday. Edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. signed a deal with the Dallas Cowboys, while wide receiver Cooper Kupp picked a return to his home state of Washington and the Seattle Seahawks as his new team.
The Packers were reportedly interested — on some level — in both players.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Packers were “monitoring” Fowler’s market before he signed in Dallas. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, the Packers were “in” on Kupp before he signed in Seattle.
The team understands its own need to get better at rushing the quarterback with four players in 2025, and Fowler — who had 10.5 sacks for the Washington Commanders last season — was arguably the best pass-rusher left on the market. Instead of coming to Green Bay, Fowler is staying in the NFC East.
The Packers also know consistency must get better at wide receiver, highlighting the potential value of a veteran in the room — especially with Christian Watson expected to miss time in 2025. Kupp — a slot receiver approaching 32 years old — wasn’t a perfect fit. But it’s possible the Super Bowl MVP could have provided reliability in big spots for Jordan Love and the passing game. Instead, he’ll join with former Vikings quarterback in Seattle.
The first wave of free agency is ending, and the deals on veterans are going to get better and better. But it’s looking more and more likely that the Packers are content going into the 2025 NFL draft with the current group of edge rushers and wide receivers.
Can a new position coach — DeMarcus Covington replacing Jason Rebrovich — and a possible rookie addition charge up the front four on defense? And can the youngsters at receiver rebound from an uneven 2024 season and emerge as more reliable players for Love? The Packers have big question marks coming out of this first wave of free agency and looking ahead to the draft..
This is the typical Packers way. The team would rather trust young, cheap and developing players on the roster over old, expensive and potentially declining veterans. Fowler and Kupp might have been options at the right price. But there’s usually a team more willing than the Packers to spend big on the older, expensive veterans on the open market.
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