Fansided

Every NFL team’s most surprising cut candidate

By Nick Villano

Chase Claypool #10 of the Chicago Bears runs to the line of scrimmage in the first quarter of a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 01, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
Chase Claypool #10 of the Chicago Bears runs to the line of scrimmage in the first quarter of a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 01, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) /
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Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers linebacker Preston Smith (91): Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports /

Green Bay Packers — Preston Smith

The Green Bay Packers are facing a new era. Aaron Rodgers is in New Jersey, and Jordan Love is fighting for his NFL career. That will always have a haze over the Packers’ season. Youth is key. After years of veterans across all positions, the Packers are about Love, Christian Watson, Romeo Dobbs, Lukas Van Ness, and Quay Walker.

There are a few veterans still on the team, but will they want to stick around to see what happens next? The two that stand out the most are Jaire Alexander and Preston Smith. Alexander has too much guaranteed money left to get cut. The Packers aren’t going to eat $8 million just to save $2 million. Smith only saves a similar $2 million, but it only costs them around $4 million.

Listen, it’s not something the Packers will do unwarranted. What will likely happen (if Preston Smith gets cut) is he will ask to be let out of his contract. This is a veteran who’s given the past four years of his career to Green Bay after coming over from Washington.

Smith is going to be 31 during the regular season, and he only has so many useful seasons left before he is holding onto a roster spot like some other veterans on this list. Let him go to a true contender. Meanwhile, Van Ness, this year’s 13th-overall pick, can take over the role.

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