The morning after a loss always feels like a hangover, but the one lingering at 1265 Lombardi Avenue right now is especially brutal. Honestly, the way the 2025 season ended—blowing an 18-point lead to the Bears in the Wild Card round—is the kind of thing that makes a fan base want to tear the whole building down. But if you’re looking for a total house-cleaning, you’re probably going to be disappointed. The latest Packers news and rumors suggest that instead of hitting the panic button, new CEO Ed Policy is doubling down on stability, even if it makes some people want to scream into their pillows.
It’s a weird time to be a Cheesehead. You’ve got a quarterback who looks like a star one week and a question mark the next, a coaching staff that might be getting poached by half the league, and a salary cap situation that looks like a high-stakes game of Tetris played by someone who isn't very good at Tetris.
The Matt LaFleur Extension: Stability or a Trap?
The biggest bombshell lately is the report from Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter that the Packers are planning to sit down with Matt LaFleur for contract extension talks basically the second the dust settles. LaFleur is entering the final year of his deal in 2026. Usually, in Green Bay, you don't let a coach enter a "lame-duck" year. It’s bad for recruiting staff, bad for the locker room, and just generally creates a cloud of "will he or won't he" that nobody wants.
But here’s the kicker: John Harbaugh is out there.
There are whispers—mostly fueled by the fact that Harbaugh’s agent is the son of Packers legend Bob Harlan—that Green Bay could at least kick the tires on a change. However, Ed Policy has worked with LaFleur for seven years now. He was on the committee that hired him. All signs point to Policy wanting his own tenure to start with a steady hand rather than a chaotic search. LaFleur has a 76-40-1 record. That’s hard to fire, even if that Wild Card collapse felt like a punch to the gut.
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The real question isn't just about LaFleur, though. It’s about who stays on his headset. Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley has apparently become the belle of the ball. He’s reportedly received five head coaching interview requests from the Raiders, Dolphins, Falcons, Cardinals, and Titans. If Hafley leaves, the Packers are right back in the defensive coordinator market. Names like Jim Leonhard and even Raheem Morris are already being floated by the rumor mill.
The Jordan Love Paradox
We have to talk about Jordan Love.
The $220 million man had a season that can only be described as a rollercoaster. 3,381 yards and 23 touchdowns are solid numbers, especially considering he missed some time with injuries. But that concussion in Week 16 against the Bears really derailed the momentum. When he’s on, he looks like the guy who can carry this franchise for a decade. When he’s off, or when the protection breaks down, things get messy fast.
The latest Packers news and rumors indicate the front office is still "thrilled" with him, but the margin for error is shrinking. Love’s cap hit jumps to over $36 million in 2026. That is a lot of money for a guy who just watched his team collapse in the playoffs. He’s the franchise. There’s no doubt about that. But the pressure to justify that $55 million average annual value is going to be suffocating next September.
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Salary Cap Nightmares and Veteran Casualties
If you think the on-field stuff is complicated, wait until you look at the books. The Packers are currently projected to be about $11 million to $16 million over the cap for 2026, depending on where the final league number lands. This is where things get "kinda" ugly for some fan favorites.
- Rashan Gary: He’s slated for a $19.5 million cap hit. Releasing him would save about $11 million. After a season where his production didn't quite match the paycheck—especially after Micah Parsons went down—he’s a prime candidate for a "thanks for everything" talk.
- Elgton Jenkins: This one hurts. He’s been a cornerstone, but his cap number balloons to $20 million in 2026. Moving him saves roughly $15 million. With Sean Rhyan playing well at center, the Packers might decide they can’t afford a $20 million guard/center hybrid.
- Trevon Diggs: The Week 18 waiver claim. He has a $15.5 million non-guaranteed salary for 2026. Unless he takes a massive pay cut, he’s probably gone before his luggage is even fully unpacked.
Basically, Brian Gutekunst has to find a way to shave off about $30 million to $40 million just to have enough breathing room to sign a draft class and maybe a bargain-bin free agent. Don’t expect any "splash" signings this March. The "splash" is going to be the sound of veterans hitting the waiver wire.
Draft Rumors: No First-Rounder, No Problem?
Because of previous trades, the Packers are currently heading into the 2026 NFL Draft without a first-round pick. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that needs defensive tackle depth and a lockdown cornerback.
The early buzz for the second round (where they pick at 52nd) is focused on guys like Chris Johnson from San Diego State. He’s that smooth, high-IQ cover man the Packers love. There’s also talk about Florida’s Caleb Banks if he slides. They need mass on the interior. Devonte Wyatt is great, but he needs a running mate, especially with Kenny Clark’s massive dead cap hit still loitering on the books.
One weird rumor to keep an eye on? Malik Willis.
He’s a free agent this spring. He played well enough in 2025 that some teams might view him as a bridge starter. There’s a wild theory that the Packers could franchise tag and trade him to recoup some draft capital. It sounds crazy, but in an NFL where QB-needy teams overpay for anything with a pulse, it’s not impossible.
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What This Means for Your Offseason
The latest Packers news and rumors tell us that 2026 is going to be a year of "forced evolution." The roster you saw lose to Chicago isn't the one you'll see in training camp. It can't be. The math doesn't allow it.
If you’re a fan, brace yourself for some unpopular releases. Gary and Jenkins are the names to watch. If they aren't extended or restructured by the start of the league year in March, they are likely gone.
Keep a close eye on the Jeff Hafley news. If he gets a head coaching gig, the entire defensive identity of this team changes again. That's the last thing a young defense needs, but it's the price of success. Stability at the top with LaFleur and Policy is the goal, but the floor underneath them is shifting fast.
The best way to track the next few weeks is to watch the transaction wire for those specific veteran names. Once the "dead money" starts clearing, we'll know exactly how aggressive Gutekunst plans to be in the draft. The Super Bowl window is still open, but the frame is starting to creak.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Monitor the Coaching Carousel: Check for Jeff Hafley interview updates daily; his departure would trigger an immediate search for a new DC.
- Track the "Legal Tampering" Period: Watch for news on Rashan Gary and Elgton Jenkins around mid-March; if they aren't restructured by then, expect them to be cut or traded.
- Scout Day 2 Corners: Since the Packers lack a first-round pick, start looking at "Day 2" cornerback prospects like Chris Johnson (SDSU) or Julian Neal (Arkansas) as likely targets for pick 52.