With free-agent pool drying up, who left makes sense of the Packers?

As with the rest of the NFL, the Packers have moved their focus to the 2024 NFL Draft. Still, they will probably revisit the veteran market between now and training camp.

Even after some major additions early in the offseason, plenty of work still lies ahead for the Green Bay Packers. Not only does general manager Brian Gutekunst need to identify and secure the right prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he must also hammer out a long-term extension for franchise quarterback Jordan Love and possibly a new deal for star defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

But even after the Packers take care of those action items, they'll still have more business to handle. Just securing their key players and adding in the draft won't address all their concerns. As with most years, Green Bay will also need to continue perusing the veteran market for pieces to add for remaining vacancies and along the margins before feeling comfortable about the roster heading into the 2024 season.

That task becomes more complicated with each passing day. The free agency, while not nearly as active as in mid-March, hasn't stayed static. That market will continue to churn even with teams focused primarily on the upcoming draft. As more days pass, the veteran options will continue to dwindle. At the same time, the price tag for those players will generally shrink as well, creating a game of musical chairs for both sides.

So, where do the Packers stand at this stage of the process, which market shifts have most impacted their plans, and what veteran options do they still have?

Free-agent pool drying up

After the initial wave of free agency subsided, the Packers began to monitor the veteran market for potential bargains at positions of need. Gutekunst has navigated those waters well in the past, spending little to acquiring future All-Pros De'Vondre Campbell and Keisean Nixon in 2021 and '22, respectively. Green Bay also landed primary defensive starters Jarran Reed and Jonathan Owens in back-to-back years. In all cases, the team made contact with the free agents early in the offseason and either brought them aboard in late March or remained in communication through the draft before officially signing them in the summer.