Should the Packers Bring Back Either Isaiah McDuffie or Eric Wilson?

The Green Bay Packers have decisions to make on two linebackers who are both scheduled to be unrestricted free agents this offseason. Veterans Eric Wilson and Isaiah McDuffie both played significant roles for the Packers in 2024 and both have expiring contracts. Should GM Brian Gutekunst bring back either of them back in 2025?

Wilson has been with the Packers for the last three seasons. The former University of Cincinnati star enjoyed a strong training camp in 2024 and excelled during the preseason. In the past, Wilson had been mostly a special teams ace. He surprised most observers by winning a starting job before the season started.

Wilson may not be an elite athlete by NFL standards, but he is smart and has a great work ethic. He anticipates plays well and puts himself in the right position to make tackles.

Wilson played in all 17 games this season and started 12. He made 72 total tackles, including seven tackles for loss while recording two sacks, forced a fumble and broke-up two passes.

Wilson graded out better against the run than in pass coverage according to Pro Football Focus. In fact, he was a liability in pass coverage. Opposing quarterbacks completed 83.8 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Wilson.

Wilson provides this young Packers team with veteran leadership. He played 51 percent of the Packers defensive snaps and remains a core part of Rich Bisaccia’s special teams units.

The Packers selected McDuffie in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He has played four seasons with the Packers and now his entry-level deal is up.

In his first two NFL seasons, McDuffie played mostly on special teams. In 2023, when injuries struck the linebacking corps, the former Boston College star stepped in and started eight games.

In 2024, the Packers switched to a 4-3 base defense and McDuffie earned a starting job. He had played one season under Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley at Boston College and was familiar with Hafley’s approach on defense.

McDuffie made 97 total tackles this season which placed him second on the team behind Quay Walker. He also recorded half a sack, forced a fumble and broke up three passes.

Like Wilson, McDuffie is more effective against the run than when he drops back into coverage. His limited athleticism makes it tough for him to keep up with receivers, running backs and tight ends when he has to cover them on pass patterns. Opposing quarterbacks completed 83.9 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by McDuffie according to pro-football-reference.com and had a quarterback rating of 126.6.

McDuffie was on the field more frequently than Wilson, playing 64 percent of the Packers defensive snaps. He played on special teams as well, but did not have as big a role there as Wilson did.

Now, Gutekunst has to decide whether to bring either of these two players back in 2025. Wilson will turn 31 in September. McDuffie is younger and will turn 26 during training camp in July.

Assuming everybody stays healthy, the Packers have two starting spots taken at linebacker with Walker and Edgerrin Cooper. Both these players possess the speed and elite athletic ability that Wilson and McDuffie lack.

The Packers also have 2024 third round pick Ty’Ron Hopper returning next year. The team brought Hopper along slowly in his rookie season. The Missouri alum played in all 17 games for the Packers but only took 18 snaps on defense.

Hopper possesses the athleticism that Wilson and McDuffie lack but he needs to have a better grasp of the playbook and his assignments on any given play. The Packers are hoping he takes a big step forward in 2025 and can play a larger role on defense.

Regardless of whether Hopper makes progress, the Packers will need depth at linebacker. Injuries are a constant in the NFL and no team goes through a 17-game schedule without leaning on their depth at some point.

Gutekunst should bring back at least one of these two linebackers in 2025 to provide veteran leadership, continuity, and depth to the team. One or both of them may find a better opportunity elsewhere but bringing at least one of them back would make sense for the Packers this offseason.