4:00 PM Eastern this afternoon. That is the official deadline for NFL players to opt out of the 2020 season, barring something unexpected taking place during the season.
The Green Bay Packers have seen just one player, Devin Funchess, step away for 2020. If there are others seriously considering doing the same, the team seems to be unaware of it, but as former team executive Andrew Brandt likes to say, “deadlines spur action.” For the 80-plus players on the current roster, this afternoon presents one of the most significant deadlines they will have all year.