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The Green Bay Packers are handing linebacker Isaiah McDuffie a one-year, $4.85 million contract extension, keeping him in Green Bay through 2027. It follows the two-year deal he signed in the spring of 2025.
The extension is a fitting reward for McDuffie, who played the best football of his career last season on defense, as well as leading the team with 324 special teams snaps.
His percentile ranks at the linebacker position show his development from 2024 to 2025:
McDuffie mostly functioned as the third linebacker in base personnel last season, stepping into an every-down role when injuries hit. He played 177 fewer snaps than in 2024, which may have helped his play, as he was not exposed to situations he does not excel in as often.
He is not a splashy player, with just one forced fumble and one interception in the last two seasons and only satisfactory (at best) ranks in run stop rate (tackles resulting in a failure for the offense) and average depth of tackle.
But has been a reliable presence, particularly in run defense, which is exactly what you want from a third linebacker.
McDuffie only missed one tackle in the run game in all of 2025 and ranked sixth in the league in assisted tackles per snap. He was a sure tackler and always on the scene to help clean up.
The biggest strides he took were in coverage. McDuffie was picked on quite a lot in 2024, but ranked above average in almost every statistical category last season.
There is a caveat, which is McDuffie’s snap count in the pass game. Given he came off the field in nickel, and nickel is what teams are in most of the time, he has not been a big part of Green Bay’s pass defense.
That was the case in both 2023 and 2024, when he only played an average of 19 and 21 coverage snaps per game respectively. In 2025, it was an even more limited sample size, as he only averaged around 13 snaps per game in coverage.
Putting McDuffie in positions to succeed when he is on the field against the pass, and hiding his weaknesses, has been important and will continue to be. Still, his career year in coverage should not be dismissed, as he ranked 14th out of 87 eligible linebackers in NFL passer rating allowed.
Moving forward, the Packers are changing to a 3-4 defense under new coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
With Zaire Franklin arriving in a trade from the Colts to partner Edgerrin Cooper and wear the green dot, McDuffie should be demoted to a true backup role, as only two linebackers will be on the field pretty much at all times.
Even so, McDuffie’s extension was worthwhile for the Packers. It only makes him the 43rd-highest paid linebacker in the league, and it is a worthwhile investment to lock up a safe pair of hands at backup linebacker and core special teamer for another year.
It also gives them security for the scenario where Franklin’s acquisition does not pan out and they want to cut bait after the 2026 season. Although it may not be completely ideal, Green Bay would likely feel okay rolling into 2027 with Cooper and McDuffie if need be.
Only entering his age 27 season, securing McDuffie’s services for another year is a smart and cheap move for the Packers.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Why Packers extended Isaiah McDuffie contract again
Continue reading...
The extension is a fitting reward for McDuffie, who played the best football of his career last season on defense, as well as leading the team with 324 special teams snaps.
His percentile ranks at the linebacker position show his development from 2024 to 2025:
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McDuffie mostly functioned as the third linebacker in base personnel last season, stepping into an every-down role when injuries hit. He played 177 fewer snaps than in 2024, which may have helped his play, as he was not exposed to situations he does not excel in as often.
He is not a splashy player, with just one forced fumble and one interception in the last two seasons and only satisfactory (at best) ranks in run stop rate (tackles resulting in a failure for the offense) and average depth of tackle.
But has been a reliable presence, particularly in run defense, which is exactly what you want from a third linebacker.
McDuffie only missed one tackle in the run game in all of 2025 and ranked sixth in the league in assisted tackles per snap. He was a sure tackler and always on the scene to help clean up.
The biggest strides he took were in coverage. McDuffie was picked on quite a lot in 2024, but ranked above average in almost every statistical category last season.
There is a caveat, which is McDuffie’s snap count in the pass game. Given he came off the field in nickel, and nickel is what teams are in most of the time, he has not been a big part of Green Bay’s pass defense.
That was the case in both 2023 and 2024, when he only played an average of 19 and 21 coverage snaps per game respectively. In 2025, it was an even more limited sample size, as he only averaged around 13 snaps per game in coverage.
Putting McDuffie in positions to succeed when he is on the field against the pass, and hiding his weaknesses, has been important and will continue to be. Still, his career year in coverage should not be dismissed, as he ranked 14th out of 87 eligible linebackers in NFL passer rating allowed.
Moving forward, the Packers are changing to a 3-4 defense under new coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
With Zaire Franklin arriving in a trade from the Colts to partner Edgerrin Cooper and wear the green dot, McDuffie should be demoted to a true backup role, as only two linebackers will be on the field pretty much at all times.
Even so, McDuffie’s extension was worthwhile for the Packers. It only makes him the 43rd-highest paid linebacker in the league, and it is a worthwhile investment to lock up a safe pair of hands at backup linebacker and core special teamer for another year.
It also gives them security for the scenario where Franklin’s acquisition does not pan out and they want to cut bait after the 2026 season. Although it may not be completely ideal, Green Bay would likely feel okay rolling into 2027 with Cooper and McDuffie if need be.
Only entering his age 27 season, securing McDuffie’s services for another year is a smart and cheap move for the Packers.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Why Packers extended Isaiah McDuffie contract again
Continue reading...
