Our review of the Packers’ unrestricted free agents continues, now focusing on linebacker Isaiah McDuffie. The former sixth-round pick is set to explore free agency for the first time in his career.
Isaiah McDuffie in a nutshell
Drafted by the Packers in the sixth round (220th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft, Isaiah McDuffie has been a reliable presence on the field. He has played in 63 of 68 possible regular-season games, making 26 starts. Throughout his career, McDuffie has recorded 228 tackles (including eight for loss), one sack, four passes defensed, and one forced fumble.
2024 season
In the 2023 season, Isaiah McDuffie played in all 17 regular-season games, starting each one. He logged 699 defensive snaps (sixth most on the team) and contributed 125 snaps on special teams (16th most). McDuffie totaled 97 tackles (three for loss), three passes defensed, one forced fumble, and half a sack.
Overview
Isaiah McDuffie’s time in Green Bay can undoubtedly be considered a success. Any player drafted after pick 200 faces an uphill battle in the NFL, but McDuffie has carved out a solid role as the Packers’ third linebacker over the past three seasons while also contributing on special teams.
The bigger question is whether he should continue in that role long-term. Ideally, probably not. Logging 699 defensive snaps likely overextends a player who entered the league a bit undersized and lacking elite speed—traits that suggest he is best suited for a special teams role rather than heavy defensive responsibilities. Expecting more from him might be more of an issue with team expectations than McDuffie’s own limitations.
That dynamic played out in 2024, as the Packers relied heavily on McDuffie alongside Quay Walker early in the season while easing rookie Edgerrin Cooper into the lineup. Once Cooper was fully integrated, he made a significant impact, but until then, McDuffie was often put in situations that didn’t align with his strengths—particularly in pass coverage.
No Packers player who was the primary defender on at least 30 passes allowed completions at a higher rate than McDuffie. Opponents targeted him 64 times, completing 54 of those passes (84.4%), slightly worse than Javon Bullard’s 84.2% rate.
The case for re-signing Isaiah McDuffie
So why should the Packers consider bringing McDuffie back? The best argument for re-signing him is that he could serve as the defense-oriented counterpart to Eric Wilson.
Like McDuffie, Wilson was a depth linebacker who played a key role on special teams. However, the Packers used Wilson less on defense (just 558 snaps) while he excelled on special teams, leading the team with 321 snaps in that phase.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Packers will still need linebacker depth behind Edgerrin Cooper and Quay Walker. With Rich Bisaccia remaining as special teams coordinator, the team will also need physical, linebacker-type players for coverage and blocking duties. McDuffie offers slightly more defensive value than Wilson, making him a logical choice to retain for both depth and special teams reliability.
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