We are officially in the slowest period on the NFL calendar, which makes it a great time to dive into the Packers’ history books. Brian Gutekunst made two big splashes in free agency this offseason with the additions of cornerback Nate Hobbs and guard Aaron Banks. Both are expected to step into starting roles and be major contributors to Green Bay’s success in 2025.

I was a big fan of the signings, and even though both players were handed sizable contracts, I think Gutekunst has done well with his free agency pickups all things considered. Let’s hope Hobbs and Banks can step in and make the same type of impact that Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney had on their respective sides of the ball a season ago. Only time will tell.

That got me thinking about some of the free agent pickups in Packers history that didn’t work out—players who came in with plenty of hype but quickly flamed out in Green Bay. This topic has been covered before, but with the Packers now seemingly annual players in the free agent market, it’s worth keeping these names top of mind. If nothing else, they serve as a reminder that any future pickup the Packers make surely can’t be as bad as some in the past. Like Banks and Hobbs, these players were once seen as plug-and-play solutions. It didn’t go that way.

Martellus Bennett

All Packers fans remember this and I have to admit—though I’m not proud of it now—I was a fan of this signing when it was first announced. Despite the fact that Bennett had already worn out his welcome with four other teams by the time he landed in Green Bay, the Packers were desperate for some continuity at the tight end position. Jermichael Finley’s career was long over, and Jared Cook had reminded us just how dangerous Rodgers could be with a competent tight end.

A 2014 Pro Bowler, Bennett was brought in with hopes of being the missing piece on offense. Instead, he became the exact opposite: a locker room cancer who didn’t even finish his only season in Green Bay. His three-year, $21 million contract was a shocker—especially since it was handed out by the ultra-conservative Ted Thompson.

All the Packers got in return? Just 24 receptions for 233 yards over 7 games before he was released for not disclosing a medical condition. Bennett later accused the Packers’ medical staff of trying to force him to play through a shoulder injury when he wanted surgery. He has since claimed he “forgets” he played for the Packers—and honestly, that’s probably for the best.

Sammy Watkins

The worst signing of the Brian Gutekunst era. Sammy Watkins was brought in to help fill the void left by Davante Adams and serve as a veteran leader for a wide receiver corps that included rookies Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs.

Unlike Bennett, Watkins didn’t get a big contract—just a one-year, $4 million deal. But the issue was that it was clear he just didn’t have it anymore, and he was taking valuable snaps away from the young guys. Coming off two uninspiring seasons with the Chiefs and Ravens, the Packers somehow thought he could help keep the offense afloat in what ended up being Aaron Rodgers’ final year in Green Bay.

Instead, Watkins played a handful of games, landed on injured reserve for a month, and was ultimately released after just 9 games with 13 catches for 206 yards. Woof.

Adrian Klemm

Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but all three of these players happened to be on the offensive side of the ball. Or perhaps it’s a result of the team spending so many high draft picks on defense over the years and assuming they could just plug holes on offense because they had an all-time great quarterback.

Regardless, on his way out, Mike Sherman made a mess of the team’s salary cap. As a way to clean it up, new GM Ted Thompson released Pro Bowl guard Mike Wahle and replaced him with Adrian Klemm. A three-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots, Klemm was signed to a modest two-year, $2.6 million deal. The Packers thought they were getting a bargain. What they got instead was eight uninspiring starts—and then he was gone after just one season.

These are roundabout examples of how the Packers have completely changed their approach to free agency and the types of players they target. Instead of signing older, worn-down veterans they hope can squeeze out one more productive year (like Bennett and Watkins), or cheap stopgap replacements for former Pro Bowlers (like Klemm), the team is now targeting younger players who still have prime years ahead of them.

The Bennett and Watkins signings took valuable reps away from younger players who might’ve developed into long-term solutions. In both cases, the veterans didn’t even last a full season. Klemm lasted one year, but was so ineffective he got benched.

So remember these names the first time you’re ready to call Banks or Hobbs a bad signing this season. It can be worse—and it has been.