3 surprise cuts the Packers can make this offseason
The Green Bay Packers enter a critical offseason nearly $51 million over the projected salary cap and these three players could end up being surprise cuts.
The most fascinating team in the NFL this offseason figures to be the Green Bay Packers, who are facing a crossroads with long-time star Aaron Rodgers, who very publicly demanded a trade prior to the 2021 draft before eventually playing the season out. Rodgers has hinted that he is more amenable to a return to Green Bay in recent days, which is good news for the Packers’ chances of making a run to the Super Bowl, but there are significant issues that the front office will have to address.
Green Bay enters the offseason nearly $51 million over the projected salary cap before figuring out how to retain Davante Adams and other key free agents like linebacker De’Vondre Campbell or adding new players to improve the team. There are ways to get around salary cap issues, which the Packers can target via select contract restructurings or cuts, and here are three such players to keep an eye on entering the offseason.
3. Surprise cuts for the Green Bay Packers – LB Za’Darius Smith
The Packers struck gold a few years ago when they landed Smith in the second wave of free agency as he became an impact pass rusher at an affordable rate. Smith brought the pain to opposing quarterbacks in 2019 and 2020, racking up a combined 26 sacks as Green Bay advanced to the NFC Championship Game in both years.
A back problem proved to be a big issue for Smith in 2021 as he played just 18 snaps in Week 1 before landing on injured reserve. Smith wasn’t activated off IR until the postseason, where he did record a sack in Green Bay’s Divisional Round loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
The Packers have to weigh Smith’s back injury and the fact he will turn 30 in September against the potential $15.2 million in cap room they could create by releasing him. There are ways to finagle the cap without cutting Smith but it wouldn’t be shocking if Green Bay considers releasing him to free up a big chunk of cap space.