3 moves the Packers can make going all-in for Aaron Rodgers
By John Buhler
The Green Bay Packers have a plan in place to go all-in for Aaron Rodgers in 2022.
With Aaron Rodgers’ NFL future an uncertainty, the Green Bay Packers have a reported plan in place to go all-in for their franchise quarterback for 2022.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Packers plan to use as much of their 2022 salary cap as possible to surround Rodgers with as many good players as they can. This will require stretching some of these massive contracts on the books (possibly his own) into future years, as well as getting out of salary cap hell. The Packers are over $48 million in the red with next year’s cap.
If the Packers do these three things in succession this offseason, they will have a chance in 2022.
Green Bay Packers: 3 moves to go all-in for Aaron Rodgers this season
1. Cut Za’Darius Smith among others to create some much-needed cap space
Of the many potential cap casualties on the Packers’ books, outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith sticks out like a sore thumb. Smith is entering the final year of his four-year contract with the Packers worth $66 million. While he was a highly productive player in his first two years with team, he hardly played last season due to injury, thus making him incredibly expendable now.
He accounts for 13.1 percent of the Packers’ salary cap for 2022, slated to be more than a $27.6 million cap hit. Though cutting him after June 1 will not do the Packers any good because he would still stand as a $12.38 million dead cap hit, releasing Smith would provide the Packers roughly $15 million in savings. Parting ways with Smith would eliminate a third of the Packers’ cap deficit.
Of course, other players will need to either take pay cuts or be flat-out released. If the Packers want this to work, it is going to take everyone involved, including Rodgers. Simply put, the only way the Packers are going to make a strong financial commitment towards winning with Rodgers next season is if they do some serious accounting gymnastics between now and training camp.
Though it may not be what Rodgers wants, releasing Smith is the quickest way to save big money.