Linebacker Isaiah McDuffie will continue his professional journey with the Green Bay Packers. The team’s general manager, Brian Gutekunst, confirmed on Monday the re-signing of McDuffie, who has exclusively played for Green Bay throughout his NFL career. While the financial details of the contract were not officially disclosed, sources indicate it is a two-year arrangement worth $8 million.
The potential of McDuffie entering the free agency market was prevented by this deal with the Packers, who initially chose him as a sixth-round draft pick from Boston College in 2021. McDuffie, who is 25 years old, proved his value last season by starting all 17 games and achieving a career-high of 97 tackles, making him second on the team in this statistic. Furthermore, he added three tackles for loss, defended three passes, and forced a fumble to his season’s accomplishments.
In the postseason, during the Packers’ 22-10 NFC wild-card defeat against Philadelphia, McDuffie also made significant contributions with six tackles and half a sack. His presence on the field was substantial as he participated in over 64% of the defensive plays and exceeded 28% of the special teams plays. Although there was a slight decrease in his on-field minutes towards the end of the season due to the rise of rookie Edgerrin Cooper, McDuffie’s season performance was robust.
Over the course of the season, McDuffie embarked on eight games as a starter, accumulating 86 tackles in 2023. His inaugural career start occurred in 2022, marking the beginning of his prominent role in the team’s defense.
Looking ahead, the Packers must consider the future of another linebacker, Eric Wilson, who remains a free agent. Last season, Wilson played a prominent role starting 12 games, amassing 72 tackles, including seven for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception. Aged 30, Wilson participated in just over half of the defensive plays and took part in nearly three-quarters of the special teams plays during the previous season.
