The Green Bay Packers have heavily focused on strengthening their edge defender lineup in recent years. They’ve used a first-round pick and offered a substantial contract to Rashan Gary, signed free agents like Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith, and invested another first-round pick in Lukas Van Ness. Their efforts might not stop there. Sources familiar with the situation suggest that when the 2025 free agency period begins at 12 p.m. ET on Monday, March 10, Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo is anticipated to be a primary target for the Packers.
A second-round pick in 2021, Odeyingbo has recorded 16.5 career sacks, with 11 of those in the past two seasons. Last year, he generated 42 pressures for the Colts, a figure that would rank second on the Packers in 2024, just trailing Rashan Gary’s 47. “You’re always looking. With pass rushers, you can never have enough,” said Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst after the season.
“(Jeff) Hafley did a great job integrating what we had to create a top 5, top 10 defense for sure. The progress we made during the season was really impressive, the leaps, and I’m eager to see what Jeff can achieve in Year 2.” The edge rusher position is viewed as a necessity since Gary hasn’t delivered as expected following his four-year extension, and Van Ness hasn’t shown much productivity during the first half of his rookie contract.
Despite financial challenges in recent seasons, Green Bay enters the 2025 league year with $46.33 million in cap space. After procedural moves, the team has approximately $28 million available for free agency spending, and teams often structure contracts to lower the Year 1 cap hit. Packers’ preferred type of player at pass rusher Both Brian Gutekunst and Colts GM Chris Ballard favor athletic players with high potential, making the Packers’ interest in a Colts player unsurprising.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Odeyingbo is expected to secure a contract averaging between $16 million and $20 million annually. Green Bay typically takes risks on players entering their second contracts in free agency. At 25, Dayo presents a chance for the Packers to acquire a player entering his prime. If Dayo Odeyingbo signs elsewhere, Charles Omenihu from the Kansas City Chiefs could be an alternative.
He’s 27 and has played for the Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, and has been with the Chiefs since 2023. Both are sizable edge rushers, with Odeyingbo at 6’6, 286 lbs, and Omenihu at 6’5, 280 lbs. Gutekunst usually seeks players weighing at least 270 lbs for the position, with few exceptions. Why might the Colts let him depart in free agency? The Colts have been strong supporters of Dayo both as a player and as an individual during his time in Indianapolis.
He has shown flashes of dominant pass-rushing ability and is highly respected and well-liked in the locker room by coaches and teammates. The team seldom allows a solid in-house free agent to leave freely, but in Dayo’s case, options are limited. The Colts selected Laiatu Latu with their first-round pick in 2024, partly because they anticipated tough decisions with Odeyingbo, Kwity Paye, and Samson Ebukam.
Odeyingbo is the first to reach the market and is likely the odd one out for the team’s future plans. Seeing him leave will be painful for the Colts and their fans. Dayo has been an outstanding rotational player and merits the opportunity to be a full-time starter. His versatility permits him to play across the line and be a real game-changer.
He makes an impact as a pass rusher while also making his mark in the run game. The Packers or any team that signs him would be wise to let him divide his time between the edge and the interior. He would be a perfect fit for a defensive playcaller who likes to experiment with stunts frequently. Projections suggest that the Packers are poised to offer a substantial contract extension to their rising star.
