By Chris Brouch
The hay is pretty well in the barn! Some of you may remember this phrase from former Packers general manager Ted Thompson. Ted would typically say this with regard to discussing the annual NFL draft. He would say this leading up to the draft to indicate their prep work was pretty well complete.
In this case, I am writing that the ‘hay is in the barn’ in terms of the Packers’ offseason being pretty well complete.
We started the offseason way back in early March with free agency. In usual form, the Packers signed some younger players that Green Bay believes are ascending. This included defensive back Benjamin St. Juste and kick returner Sky Moore. Unlike like many years, the Packers also got a little OLDER in free agency in signing three players (linebacker Zaire Franklin, defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, and quarterback Tyrod Taylor) that are all over 30 years old! For the previous 3 seasons, the Packers had been the youngest team in the NFL! Adding these more seasoned veterans was definitely a departure from the youth movement that had been going on!
Then in April, the annual NFL draft took place. In most years, the Packers draft anywhere from 7-11 players. This year, the Packers were aggressive in trading up twice during the draft to acquire players they coveted! This netted out with the Packers only coming away with 6 rookies in this draft class!
Then finally, in May, we saw the schedule unfold! The intricacies of the 2026 schedule include playing games on a Monday, a Wednesday, Thursdays, a Friday, Sundays, and maybe a Saturday (TBD)! We will also see the Pack finish the season with 4 of the final 5 games inside of blustery Lambeau Field!
This One Fan’s opinion is one of OPTIMISM for the season! The league slotted the Packers in 6 prime time games. They clearly believe the Packers are an upper echelon franchise. The Packers were much more surgical in acquiring experienced veterans in free agency and drafting specific players in the draft. This tells me the team believes they do not need a big talent infusion. Rather, they worked to just fill in certain small gaps!
This much we know, they hay is in the barn for this offseason! Now, we have to let the season unfold to see what we yield!
Go Pack Go!
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