Has anything actually surprising happened for the Packers this offseason?

The Green Bay Packers have had a busy offseason with plenty of roster turnover, but the turnover was largely expected, given the age/price/performance of several veterans on the roster and the team's salary cap situation entering the offseason. This team needed to be remolded entering 2026, and general manager Brian Gutekunst has largely accomplished the goal. In many ways, the offseason has unfolded exactly how many believed it would, especially in terms of departures.

But the Packers did throw a couple of curveballs. A few surprises from the offseason so far: Getting a mid-round pick for Gary: Given his disappointing end to the 2025 season, general regression in terms of production post-ACL injury and incredible price tag entering 2026, Gary was an obvious departure candidate -- and his exit looked all but guaranteed when he prematurely hit send on a "goodbye" post. So, to get anything in return for Gary would have been a huge success, and the Packers struck gold when the Cowboys agreed to send a fourth-round pick in 2027 to get him.

Based on all the factors, this will probably end up being the top move of the offseason for Green Bay. Acquiring older veterans: Who saw the Packers trading for a soon-to-be 30-year-old linebacker, signing a soon-to-be 29-year-old cornerback and a 33-year-old defensive tackle? The Packers have hit biggest when acquiring young, ascending players coming off rookie deals, but the team pivoted strategy and added a few older veterans this offseason.

The Packers will hope Zaire Franklin, Benjamin St-Juste and Javon Hargrave still have at least one good year left. Maybe a couple of hungry vets can help push a perennially young team to a new level. Rasheed's market: The Packers had no control over this one, but Rasheed Walker ending up with a one-year, $4 million base deal with the Carolina Panthers was one of the biggest shockers of free agency overall.