The Green Bay Packers are making unconventional financial moves this offseason, including spending $500,000 on Trevon Diggs and $1 million on kicker Brandon McManus. They are also offering significant guaranteed money to undrafted free agents, indicating a shift in their traditional business approach.
Key points
Packers spent $500,000 on Trevon Diggs with minimal returns
Invested $1 million in kicker Brandon McManus, who was later cut
Significant guaranteed money offered to undrafted free agents
Shift in Packers' traditional conservative spending approach
Indicates a willingness to adapt and take risks
Green Bay PackersDallas CowboysChicago Bears
GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 27: Green Bay Packers head coach Matt Lafleur talks with Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst prior to a game between the Green Bay Packers and the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau Field on December 27, 2025 in Green Bay, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 27: Green Bay Packers head coach Matt Lafleur talks with Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst prior to a game between the Green Bay Packers and the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau Field on December 27, 2025 in Green Bay, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Packersâ way of doing business is so dyed-in-the-wool itâs hard not to notice when theyâre doing things differently.
And sometimes different feels bad. Weird. Uncomfortable. Reckless, even. Especially when moneyâs involved.
First, the Packers spent $500,000 just for a look at Trevon Diggs, the former All-Pro cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys. One meaningless regular season game and one (1) postseason snap later, his number is now occupied by a rookie kicker. That should tell you everything you need to know about how that experiment went.
Then, the Packers spent a cool $1 million to keep embattled kicker Brandon McManus on the roster shortly after the start of the 2026 league year. If there was a single player to blame for the Packersâ season-ending meltdown in Chicago, it was McManus, who had hardly spent the 2025 season endearing himself to Packers fans to begin with. Yet there he was, getting a seven-figure check, only to be cut just a couple of months later. (First Trey Smack took Trevon Diggsâ number, then he took Brandon McManusâ job. Can he be stopped?)
And then, the Packers , perhaps the biggest combo breaker to date. Historically, the Packers have been pretty conservative about what they spend on undrafted free agents. Not this year. They were willing to guarantee quite a bit of money (in relative terms, to be sure) to a few priority UDFA targets. Thatâs a significant departure from the previous way the Packers have done business.
Thatâs different. Thatâs weird. ThatâsâŠinteresting.
Itâs interesting because for every way these moves can make your eyes go up, they also have an equally compelling explanation. The Diggs move is lightly scoff-worthy in retrospect, but had it worked out, even to a small degree, half a million bucks is chump change for a useful defensive back, especially for a team hoping to make a playoff run. Likewise for McManus. A million dollars would change my life, but thatâs couch cushion money for an NFL franchise, and burning it on a kicker, even an average one, was a hedge against coming out of the NFL Draft with no kickers.
And spending on undrafted free agents is the best move at all if for just one really good reason: it shows the Packers can change. Yes, they donât usually spend on undrafted free agents, but with no seventh round picks (after the move to trade up and nab Smack; this isnât a kicker column, I promise), they had no other way to reel in low-end talent that they might normally have drafted. And with a limited number of roster spots available (the pool of UDFAs was always going to be small, anyway), they had incentive to go big. Thus, the spending.
If all these moves are investments of a sort, the UDFA spend might be the best representation of the term. The Diggs move was a true lottery ticket; I donât know of any serious football thinkers who thought he was anything but cooked when he arrived, but if there was a chance, it was worth it. McManus was a hedge. The UDFAs break down the analogy a bit because they Packers are spending more than they normally would here, but theyâre something akin to penny stocks; low-cost, high-upside investments.
Whatever analogy you prefer, itâs clear the business model has shifted a bit this offseason, and itâs interesting to see â and encouraging. The Packers are capable of change. Theyâre doing things a bit differently, making different bets, and seeing what pays off. If anything does, theyâll be well positioned to pay off the rewards.
Q&A
Why did the Packers spend $500,000 on Trevon Diggs?
The Packers spent $500,000 on Trevon Diggs in hopes of bolstering their defense, but the investment yielded minimal returns as he played only one postseason snap.
What was the outcome of the Packers' investment in kicker Brandon McManus?
The Packers invested $1 million in Brandon McManus, but he was cut just months later after a disappointing season, highlighting the risk of such financial decisions.
How much guaranteed money did the Packers offer to undrafted free agents in 2026?
The Packers offered significant guaranteed money to their 2026 undrafted free agents, marking a notable departure from their historically conservative spending in this area.
What does the Packers' spending strategy indicate about their future plans?
The Packers' recent spending strategy suggests a willingness to adapt and take calculated risks, which could position them better for future success.
Related Articles
MLB·Recap
Casey Mize back from IL with gem, but Tigers waste it in 10-inning L
Tigers squander Mize's gem, fall to Blue Jays in 10 innings
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Golf·Feature
PGA Championship 2026: Recent tour winner switched putter only minutes before tee time. What was he thinking?!
Kristoffer Reitan's bold putter switch pays off at PGA Championship!
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Cougars get better and better at 5A State
Ada High School boys golf team improves to fourth place at Class 5A State Tournament!
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports·Recap
Clutch squeeze bunt helps No. 2 Latta survive state opener
Latta's Kase Hayes delivers clutch squeeze bunt for a 2-1 win in state opener!
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Byng track teams cap memorable season at 4A State meet
Byng track teams cap historic season at 4A State meet with record-breaking performances.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports·Recap
Latta clips third-ranked Cashion to reach 2A-1 finals
Latta baseball team beats Cashion 5-3 to advance to 2A-1 finals!