Packers likely destined to lose defensive standout in free agency

The Green Bay Packers are in danger of losing standout cornerback Rasul Douglas to free agency because of salary cap restraints.

Few in Green Bay could have imagined the impact Rasul Douglas would have on the defense when he signed in October last year after bouncing around the league.

The cornerback ended up starting nine games, grabbing five interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns and landing a nod as a Pro Bowl alternate.

The breakout season had the Packers saying they want him back during the NFL Combine. However, what a team wants and what a team can actually do sometimes don’t align.

Packers likely to lose Rasul Douglas to free agency

On Monday, Mat Lombardo of FanSided gave an update on Douglas’ outlook with Green Bay and it wasn’t hopeful.

“As it stands, sources don’t expect #Packers, who are nearly $30M over the cap, to be able to bring Douglas back,” Lombardo reported.

“Packers GM Brian Gutekunst praised Rasul Douglas from the podium in Indianapolis, and while Green Bay seemingly would like to bring Douglas back, nine days before free agency begins I’m told there have been no talks on a new deal,” he added.

It’s nearly impossible to project what the Packers are going to do with several players this offseason. Everything hinges on Aaron Rodgers and his looming decision to stay in Green Bay, request a trade or retire.

The team is actively trying to clear cap space by restructuring deals and working out extensions but making a Rodgers return happen while also locking Davante Adams into a new contract won’t be cheap.

Douglas has said he wants to return to the Packers, so hitting free agency isn’t the end of things for the corner and the team. It’ll just be that much harder to keep him if the market is open.