The Packers are anticipated to deviate from the usual and become major players in free agency when the NFL’s legal tampering period begins on March 10 at noon ET. While acquiring a No. 1 wide receiver and at least one new starting cornerback may be top priorities, the Packers could aggressively seek a veteran pass rusher.
From ESPN’s perspective, Philadelphia Eagles player Josh Sweat makes the most sense.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, one of the top insiders on the Packers beat, said the team would make Sweat a four-year, $72 million offer with $24 million in guaranteed money to sign him for their defense, with an eye on contending in 2025.
“The Packers desperately want to put pressure on the quarterback without blitzing,” said Demovsky on Wednesday. “That is defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s ideal scenario. It didn’t happen enough last season, and Green Bay watched Philadelphia dominate the line of scrimmage in their wild-card playoff game.
“The guaranteed money is entirely in a signing bonus, and we’d have roster bonuses in the range of $4 million to $8.5 million in March of each year of the deal.”
Josh Sweat recorded 2.5 sacks for the Eagles in the Super Bowl. Sweat’s successful 2024 season with the Eagles significantly boosted his market value.
On a loaded Eagles defensive line, he recorded at least 40 tackles for the fourth consecutive season, along with eight sacks, nine tackles for loss, and 15 quarterback hits in 16 games. He further increased his market value with a spectacular 2.5-sack effort in Philadelphia’s dominating victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2025 Super Bowl.
Sweat would be a tremendous addition to the Packers’ front lines alongside former first-round picks Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Devonta Wyatt, and Lukas Van Ness if the Packers are ready to pay his asking price, especially at 27 years old and with plenty of time left in his peak.
The Packers’ decision to sign Sweat, however, will be determined by how severely they believe they need to improve their edge-rushing attack — and how they intend to do so.
The Packers are likely to acquire defensive linemen this offseason, but they may choose to focus their major investment on the interior rather than the edge. Even if they do look for an edge rusher, their entire strategy suggests they would rather locate another heavy hitter in the NFL draft, possibly as early as No. 23 overall.
Nonetheless, Sweat has appeal if the Packers want to recruit a seasoned veteran.
Which other free-agent DEs could the Packers pursue?
Sweat is widely regarded as the best pass rusher on the market heading into the 2025 league year, which begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 12, but he isn’t the only one who could pique the Packers’ interest if they want to add a key veteran.
Three more players in their primes — Malcolm Koonce, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Chase Young — will be available and could provide other building bricks for the Packers’ defensive line, potentially at a lower cost than Sweat.
If the Packers prefer a more experienced veteran, they may consider making a short-term investment in a 30-year-old like Khalil Mack or DeMarcus Lawrence.
According to Over the salary, the Packers have approximately $46 million in available salary space for the 2025 season, giving them a number of alternatives for how they want to attack.
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