Green Bay Packers Urged To Sign Newly Released Former 1st Round Pick

The NFL offseason is a time of calculated risks and strategic opportunities. For a team like the Green Bay Packers, who are looking to take the next step toward a Super Bowl, every move matters. This week, the Miami Dolphins handed the Packers a golden opportunity by releasing veteran edge rusher Bradley Chubb.

While free agency doesn’t officially begin until March, Chubb’s status as a street free agent means he’s available right now. For a Packers team facing uncertainty in their pass-rush department, making a move for a proven talent like Chubb isn’t just a good idea—it might be a necessary one.

A Surprise Opportunity for the Green Bay Packers

The Dolphins’ decision to release Chubb was purely a financial one. Faced with a tight salary cap situation, Miami cut its 2025 sack leader to create much-needed space. Chubb’s cap hit of over $31 million for 2026 was simply too much for them to carry.

Their loss could be Green Bay’s gain. The Packers’ pass rush, a former strength, showed signs of weakness after Micah Parsons suffered a torn ACL. With Parsons likely to miss the start of the 2026 season, the Packers have a significant hole to fill. Furthermore, Rashan Gary is a potential cap casualty himself, and Kingsley Enagbare is set to test free agency, which could deplete their depth even further.

This leaves the Green Bay Packers relying on young, unproven talent like Lukas Van Ness and recent day-three draft picks. While Van Ness has shown flashes, throwing him into the fire as the primary pass rusher is a huge risk. Signing a veteran like Chubb would provide a much-needed bridge, giving the young players time to develop and allowing Parsons to ease back into form without pressure.

What Bradley Chubb Brings to the Table

When healthy, Bradley Chubb is one of the more productive edge rushers in the league. A former first-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2018, he burst onto the scene with 12 sacks in his rookie season.

His career has been marked by some significant injuries—he missed most of 2019, all of 2024, and parts of 2021—but his production when he is on the field is undeniable.

• In 2022, he recorded 8 sacks across two teams.
• In 2023, he tallied 11 sacks and led the entire NFL with 6 forced fumbles.
• In 2025, he led the Dolphins with 8.5 sacks.

Even last season, Chubb ranked respectably in advanced metrics like pass-rushing productivity and win rate. He’s a relentless player who brings a professional, hard-working attitude to the locker room. His leadership was recognized by the Dolphins when they nominated him for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2025.

“He is a man’s man,” his former defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver once said. “Someone who comes in every day, just puts in the work.”

At nearly 30 years old, Chubb still has plenty left in the tank. He could step in immediately and provide the veteran presence and production the Packers’ defense desperately needs.

A Low-Risk, High-Reward Move

One of the most appealing aspects of signing Chubb is how it fits into the Packers’ offseason strategy. As a “street free agent” (a player cut from his contract), signing him would not count against the compensatory draft pick formula.

The Packers are in line to receive the maximum of four compensatory picks in 2027 based on the free agents they are projected to lose. Signing unrestricted free agents could jeopardize those valuable picks. Because Chubb was released, he is exempt from this calculation, allowing GM Brian Gutekunst to improve his roster without mortgaging future draft capital.

Gutekunst has a history of taking calculated shots on veteran players, and Chubb fits that mold perfectly. He is a former top-five pick with a proven track record of success. While his injury history is a concern, the Packers could structure a deal that is incentive-laden and protects them against a potential long-term absence.

The potential reward far outweighs the risk. A healthy Bradley Chubb immediately elevates the Packers’ defensive front, takes pressure off the secondary, and provides a mentor for the younger players. He is the exact type of player a contending team should be targeting. The opportunity is there; now it’s up to the Green Bay front office to make the call.