Death, taxes, and the Minnesota Vikings taking at least one Green Bay Packers player each offseason.
No, it’s not Aaron Rodgers—not yet, anyhow.
The Vikings announced the signing of free agency linebacker Eric Wilson. To be fair, the Packers grabbed Wilson from the Vikings first, as he started his NFL career in Minnesota. Still, this one hurts since it was so easily avoided.
Green Bay hurried to sign Isaiah McDuffie before free agency even began, signaling the end of Wilson’s tenure with the franchise.
What’s the problem? It doesn’t make sense.
The Packers downgraded at linebacker by re-signing Isaiah McDuffie instead of Eric Wilson.
It’s difficult to understand Brian Gutekunst’s decision. Wilson led the Packers in special teams snaps and started 12 (twelve!) games on defense to fill in for injury.
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Green Bay should have re-signed him just for his special teams contributions. According to Zach Kruse of Packers Wire, Wilson’s 23 solo tackles topped the Packers’ special teams over the last three seasons. He also made a fantastic heads-up play to preserve a Keisean Nixon fumble in the 2024 playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Wilson stepped up on defense last season, recording a remarkable seven tackles for loss, two sacks, and one interception. Edgerrin Cooper was the only Packers linebacker with a higher PFF grade than Wilson’s 64.3.
McDuffie contributes far less to the team. He takes far less special teams snaps (Wilson had 321 and McDuffie 125 last season). The Packers cannot count on McDuffie to play on obvious passing downs. He is virtually a two-down defender, allowing 566 yards, five touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 129.6 rating in coverage last year, according to PFF.
Bringing back McDuffie over Wilson makes little sense. Neither is a game changer on defense, but Wilson provided greater variety.
He now rejoins a division foe, adding to the Vikings’ successful offseason.
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