3 surprise cuts the Packers can make this offseason

2. Surprise cuts for the Green Bay Packers – DT Kenny Clark

These next two players will definitely factor into the Packers’ cap solutions by either being released or restructuring their contracts. In the case of Kenny Clark, the latter is the most likely scenario.

An ascending star, Clark made the Pro Bowl for the second time in 2021 after recording 44 tackles and four sacks as a pass-rusher from the middle of the defensive line. Green Bay knows that Clark is a valuable part of its defensive core and handed him a four-year, $70 million contract extension that kicked in after the 2020 season with a $25 million signing bonus.

The contract as structured would allow Green Bay to release Clark now and save $5 million in salary cap room while creating almost $16 million in dead money, which isn’t a good value proposition for a Pro Bowler in his prime. Designating Clark as a post-June 1 cut flips those figures, which would be valuable savings for the Packers, but the smart bet here is a restructured contract.

Green Bay could restructure Clark’s deal to create another $9.5 million in salary cap space, which is the best of both worlds since they can keep their talented defensive lineman and move one step closer to getting under the threshold. The cut remains in play if Clark doesn’t want to play ball but the most likely outcome here is a restructured deal.