We're keeping track of every major free-agent signing, trade and release of the 2022 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts. The first round of the 2022 NFL draft begins April 28 on ESPN.
Here's a breakdown of every 2022 NFL free-agent signing by the Green Bay Packers, and how each will impact the upcoming season:
Sammy Watkins, WR
It's a one-year deal worth up to $4 million, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
What it means: The Packers finally have someone who has been a No. 1 receiver in his career – even if it’s been a while. After trading Davante Adams and losing Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency, the Packers were left with a group of complementary receivers. While Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb have been consistent contributors, they’ve never been No. 1s. Watkins is insurance in case the Packers don’t find a receiver in the draft who can step right in and be one of Aaron Rodgers’ top targets. What's more, Watkins is familiar with the Packers' style offensively. He had one of his most efficient seasons with the Rams (a 15.2-yard average per catch and eight touchdowns) in 2017, when Packers coach Matt LaFleur was the offensive coordinator.
What's the risk: It’s hard to know if Watkins’ lack of production late last season with Baltimore was due to injury/COVID, the loss of quarterback Lamar Jackson or just a decline. He did not catch a pass after Week 13. In all, he caught just 27 passes last season in 13 games. He had one of the highest drop percentages (10.4 percent) in the league in 2021. While he’s never missed a full season, he’s also never played more than 14 games during any season in his career.
De'Vondre Campbell, linebacker
The Packers signed De'Vondre Campbell to a five-year deal worth up to $50 million, including $16.25 million in the first year.
What it means: Defensive coordinator Joe Barry has perhaps his most important piece back. Barry, whose background is as a linebackers coach, helped Campbell to the best season by a Packers' inside linebacker in years. He played 91.6 percent of the defensive snaps (third most among Packers' defenders last season). He was a do-everything for Barry with 145 tackles, two interceptions, two sacks and two forced fumbles while also serving as the defensive signal-caller. On a day when the Packers released one of their former defensive cornerstones in Za'Darius Smith, it was key that they retained Campbell and outside linebacker Preston Smith (who signed a four-year extension).
What's the risk: The Packers have a history of not paying big money for inside linebackers, so this is a bit of a change in course for GM Brian Gutekunst. However, he got Campbell on the cheap last year – signing him for one year and $2 million last June in what was perhaps the best value signing in the NFL last season given that Campbell went on to become an All Pro. The bigger risk was letting him walk and trying to find someone who could come close to matching Campbell’s contributions. He’s still only 28 years old and has played in 16 games in each of the last five seasons. He missed one game last season, but it was the meaningless regular-season finale against the Lions with an elbow injury that the Packers wanted to rest for the playoffs.
Rasul Douglas, cornerback
Douglas returns to the Packers on a three-year, $21 million deal that could be worth up to $25.5 million.
What it means: The Packers have one of their biggest playmakers back from last season. No one made more splash plays that Douglas, who had had two pick-sixes among his team-high five interceptions. Along with former All-Pro Jaire Alexander and last year's first-round pick Eric Stokes, Douglas gives the Packers a potentially top-tier cornerback trio. Now, they just have to figure out who can play in the slot. The best option might be Alexander, who could play a Jalen Ramsey-type role where he moves around. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry didn’t get to experiment with that much last season because of Alexander’s shoulder injury, but it could be a new dynamic for this secondary now that Douglas is back on the outside.
What's the risk: Was Douglas just a half-season wonder? He spent the previous part of the year bouncing around. He was cut by both the Raiders and Texans last offseason before he landed on the Cardinals' practice squad, where the Packers finally plucked him away in October. He's never played on a big-money deal. After his four-year rookie deal was completed with the Eagles, he played for the league minimum with the Panthers.
Robert Tonyan, tight end
Tonyan signed a one-year deal that has a second voidable year for cap purposes. Financial terms were not immediately available.
What it means: The Packers have a playmaking tight end again. They sorely missed that after Tonyan tore his ACL on Oct. 28 against the Cardinals. He's still young, only 27 years old, so there's no reason to think the injury will impact his speed. Without receiver Davante Adams, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is going to need all the targets he can get. If Tonyan can return to his 2020 form -- when he set career highs in catches (52), receiving yards (586) and touchdowns (11) -- then he's one of the premier players at the position.
What's the risk: Every ACL recovery is different. Tonyan's was a clean tear without any other damage so there's no reason to think there will be complications. But after what the Packers went through last season with David Bakhtiari's ACL rehab, it's going to be a concern with every player until he's fully cleared and returns to form.
Pat O'Donnell, punter
He signed a two-year, $4 million deal with a $950,000 signing bonus and a total guarantee of $1.6 million.
What it means: The Packers have their third punter in as many years, but at least they didn't use a draft pick on this one. Last summer, they traded their sixth-round pick to the Rams for Corey Bojorquez and a seventh-round pick. Bojorquez overall had a better year last season than O'Donnell, but he struggled late in the season with some shanked punts that made the Packers decide not to bring him back. Bojorquez was in the final year of his contract when the Packers acquired him. Before he arrived, JK Scott held the job for three seasons. The Packers drafted him in the fifth round in 2018 but cut him after they were able to acquire Bojorquez.
What's the risk: Kicker Mason Crosby will have to get used to another holder. Issues in the field-goal operation were at least partly responsible for his struggles; he missed nine field goals last season. But the change in holders might turn out to be a benefit in the long run, assuming the adjustment period isn't overly lengthy. O'Donnell served as the Bears holder and has vast experience doing it in cold-weather conditions and on a notoriously bad surface at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Jarran Reed, DT
Reed signed a one-year deal. Terms were not immediately available, but he made $5.5 million last season.
What it means: The Packers get another workhorse on the D-line. The last two seasons, Reed has combined to play more than 1,500 snaps -- 713 for the Chiefs last season and 848 for the Seahawks in 2020. He’s been ultra-reliable and durable. In fact, the only extended time he’s missed in his career came via a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy to start the 2019 season. By comparison, the Packers’ top-two defensive tackles, Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry, played 782 and 674 snaps, respectively, last season. The only other defensive linemen the Packers have on the roster are second-year pros T.J. Slaton and Jack Heflin. The Packers have not re-signed defensive tackle Tyler Lancaster and late last season they cut Kingsley Keke.
What's the risk: Given his durability, there’s little concern about his availability. It could be one of those under-the-radar signings that pays off. He’s never quite lived up to his 2018 season, when he had 10.5 sacks and 50 tackles for Seattle, which drafted him in the second round (49th overall) in 2016. However, Reed had a comparable run-stop win rate (30.3 percent) to Lowry (30.4) but not as good as Clark (34.2). His pass-rush win rate of 10.3 percent last season was actually slightly better than Clark (9.6) and significantly better than Lowry (5.5), according to ESPN Stats & Information. He was credited with 16 pressures despite getting only 2.5 sacks.