- Rob Demovsky is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Green Bay Packers. He has covered the Packers since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2013. Demovsky is a two-time Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year as selected by the NSSA.
The NFL free agency frenzy is about to kick off, and we’re on top of every major signing, trade, and release this offseason, bringing you all the juicy details. The new league year starts on March 12 at 4 p.m. ET, so get ready for signings to go official! And remember, the first round of the 2025 NFL draft is on April 24.
Here’s the scoop on the Green Bay Packers and their signings for 2025. Let’s see how these moves will shake things up for the upcoming season:
The Packers have re-signed kicker McManus with a three-year deal worth $15.3 million.
What’s the deal? This is a big deal for the Packers! After saying goodbye to Mason Crosby in 2022, they haven’t had a stable kicker. Crosby was the franchise’s scoring champ for 16 years! Last season, they tried out a couple of rookies before figuring out that they need a veteran like McManus. He missed only two kicks the whole season (yup, even in the playoffs), going 20-for-21 on field goals and nailing all 30 extra points. Solid, right?
The catch: So, here’s the risk – McManus had signed for just over a million bucks back in October, and now the Packers are seriously betting on him with a hefty $5 million signing bonus. If they decide to let him go after Week 1, they’d be stuck paying him for the whole year since he’s a vested vet. Yikes!
McDuffie is back in the fold with a two-year, $8 million contract.
What’s the deal? The Packers are looking to get Edgerrin Cooper more action than he had as a rookie, where he snagged the NFL Defensive Player of the Week title not once but twice! So, he and Quay Walker will be the main linebackers. But they need a solid third playmaker on defense, and that’s where McDuffie comes in. He started every game last season and fit right into the defensive scheme. He’s tough on the tackles and can hold his own in coverage, plus he’s a key player on special teams.
The catch: This contract isn’t huge, but if McDuffie doesn’t step up as expected, he might end up feeling a bit overpriced. However, if he continues getting that 64% of defensive snaps like last season, then this deal is a steal!
