Let us respond to the Green Bay Packers’ free agent acquisitions! Overall, supporters appear to be pleased with the acquisitions of safety Xavier McKinney and running back Josh Jacobs, however one was more well-received. Let’s get to it.
Packers supporters largely endorse the team’s decision to sign safety Xavier McKinney in free agency. Despite accepting a four-year, $67 million contract that pays the non-Pro Bowler like a top three safety in the league, fans are overjoyed that the organization was able to sign the top free agent at a position that was relatively open entering the offseason.
As we noted earlier this week, McKinney’s contract is a two-year, $36.9 million contract with team options for $13.4 million and $16.8 million in 2026 and 2027, respectively. With the Packers presently possessing roughly $90 million in cap space for the 2025 season, this is essentially a no-risk deal in terms of the team’s ability to keep its own talent in the future, despite the perceived “overpay.”
Ultimately, 96 percent of fans graded the McKinney signing as A or B. Only 1 percent graded McKinney’s addition as a D or F.
Running back Josh Jacobs is one signing that is less popular but nonetheless well-received. 77 percent of Packers fans scored the transaction an A or B, with only 5 percent giving it a D or F.
Jacobs inked a four-year, $48 million contract with the team that is structured as a two-year, $23 million pact with team options for $11.5 million and $13.5 million in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Those who oppose Jacobs’ signing appear to have one of two perspectives. First, they believe Jacobs’ 2022 season should have been more fruitful to deserve a contract of his caliber; nonetheless, Jacobs has subsequently said that ten to twelve teams were interested in him in free agency, raising his price. Second, some fans may be considering the alternative of bringing back Aaron Jones, a fan favorite, for a lesser short-term cost.
In terms of Jones, less than one-third of Packers fans believe the running back should have been released this offseason. According to the reports, Green Bay wanted Jones to take a pay cut from his $12 million contract in 2024. Their last offer was a one-year contract with a base salary of $4 million, which could be increased by $2 million through incentives won during the 2024 season. Jones’ camp turned down the offer, prompting the Packers to release the back. He now plays for the Minnesota Vikings on a one-year, $6 million contract — the same amount Green Bay would have paid if Jones had met all of his incentives in 2024. He may potentially receive an additional $1 million in incentives this season.
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