3 surprise cuts the Packers could make this offseason
1. Preston Smith
Smith’s sack total dropped from 12 all the way down to four last season. That puts the talented pass-rusher squarely on the chopping block in Green Bay this offseason. Cutting him would leave a void on the edge of the Packers’ defense, but the temptation to save $12 million off next year’s cap if Smith is cut after June 1st might be too much for the franchise to turn down.
After all, Smith’s advanced stats don’t paint a rosier picture of his play in 2020. His PFF grade on the season was a measly 53.1. Not only did Smith fail to bring the quarterback down, he also failed to generate any pressure on a consistent basis.
The emergence of Rashan Gary as a superior starter at the left outside linebacker spot should be the final nail in Smith’s coffin. The Packers can’t afford to keep Smith as one of the highest-paid backups in the league. Cutting him will save Green Bay a ton of cap space while also buying them a valuable roster spot on the defensive side of the ball.
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Smith will catch on elsewhere if the Packers let him go, but he’ll be forced to take a massive pay cut. It’s very likely his days as a premium pass-rusher are over. It will be a major surprise if Green Bay gives him another chance to play that role in 2021.