The foundation of the Green Bay Packers’ storied franchise is facing a seismic stress test following a disastrous rookie class that has forced a costly, franchise-altering course correction. In a stunning dual announcement, the organization is committing over $90 million to address the glaring failures of its 2025 draft, a direct response to a developmental collapse that threatens Jordan Love’s championship window.
A season that ended with a historic playoff defeat to the Chicago Bears has triggered an internal reckoning. The Packers’ 2025 draft class, headlined by first-round wide receiver Matthew Golden, delivered one of the league’s worst collective performances. The group finished 28th in snap-weighted PFF grades with a score of 55.2, a catastrophic return for a team built on draft-and-develop principles.
The financial and strategic ramifications are now coming into stark focus. General Manager Brian Gutekunst, facing intense scrutiny, has moved decisively to stabilize the roster. The Packers are finalizing a massive four-year, $70 million contract extension for veteran guard Elgton Jenkins, a move that directly addresses the interior line disaster created by rookie Anthony Belton.
This commitment is compounded by the imminent signing of former All-Pro linebacker Isaiah Simmons to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million. Simmons provides immediate veteran versatility to a defensive front seven that received negligible contribution from its 2025 rookie class. A further $15 million in guaranteed money is being allocated to retain key depth pieces.
The dramatic spending spree underscores the profound failure of last year’s draft strategy. The selection of Matthew Golden 23rd overall, the first receiver taken in the first round by Green Bay in 23 years, yielded a regular season of profound disappointment. Golden managed only 29 catches for 361 yards and zero touchdowns while battling injuries.
His playoff explosion—4 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown against Chicago—provided a fleeting glimpse of hope but could not erase the season-long void. The ripple effect forced Jordan Love to carry an offense without its intended primary weapon, stalling the unit’s progression at a critical juncture.
The crisis was even more acute in the trenches. Second-round pick Anthony Belton, the 336-pound lineman from NC State, was a liability after being moved to right guard. He posted a 50.0 PFF grade, ranking 71st out of 81 guards, and surrendered 23 pressures in just seven starts. His 44.2 pass-blocking grade crippled the offense.
Belton’s struggles were magnified by questionable personnel management, as the coaching staff simultaneously tried to convert 2024 first-round tackle Jordan Morgan to guard. The instability was directly implicated in the season’s final, fateful play against the Bears, where pressure up the middle disrupted Love’s potential game-winning throw.
Defensively, the rookie class offered little respite. Fourth-round defensive end Baron Sorrel managed only six pressures all season. Sixth-round defensive tackle Warren Brinson earned a 42.8 PFF grade, ranking 122nd out of 134 interior linemen. Their inability to execute basic gap integrity compromised the entire defensive scheme.
The fallout within the organization has been severe. Anonymous scouting and coaching sources have expressed blunt frustration with the class. One NFC scout stated the team “got cute” drafting for versatility, resulting in players who were “masters of nothing.” A defensive coordinator who faced Green Bay confirmed they targeted rookies Brinson and Stackhouse relentlessly.
A veteran position coach inside the building lamented the “mess” of the offensive line shuffling, emphasizing the urgent need to establish young players in fixed roles. The extension of Jenkins is the first major step in that stabilization process, effectively resetting the right guard position after Belton’s disastrous debut.
The historical parallels are ominous for the Packers’ front office. The 2025 class currently echoes the franchise’s 2015 draft disaster more than the immediate-impact groups of 2005 or 2022. With no first-round selection in the upcoming 2026 draft, the pressure on these sophomores to make a monumental leap is unprecedented.
All organizational eyes are now fixed on Matthew Golden and Anthony Belton. Golden must transform his playoff flash into consistent WR1 production, especially with Romeo Doubs likely departing in free agency. Projections for 2026 demand at least 60 catches and 900 yards to justify his draft status.
Belton, despite the Jenkins signing, remains in the long-term plan but is on the shortest of leashes. Another season resembling his rookie campaign would cement his status as a bust. The Packers’ massive financial commitment is a clear signal that patience has evaporated.
This $90 million intervention is a direct indictment of a failed developmental cycle. It represents a strategic pivot from pure draft reliance to targeted veteran investment, a significant philosophical shift for this franchise. The moves aim to insulate Jordan Love from further infrastructural failures.
The soul of Titletown is wrestling with its identity. The furnace of player development, long the engine of Packers football, has grown cold. The heat now rests squarely on the shoulders of Gutekunst, Head Coach Matt LaFleur, and the sophomore class whose failure necessitated this costly salvage operation.
The coming season is no longer merely about progression. It is a referendum on the front office’s ability to evaluate talent and the coaching staff’s capacity to develop it. The Packers have paid a premium to buy a second chance for their 2025 draft picks. In Green Bay, where legacy is everything, there will be no third.
