Since the 2020 season ended, the Green Bay Packers have released offensive tackle Ricky Wagner and linebacker Christian Kirksey. Left tackle David Bakhtiari also restructured his contract to free up $8.3 million of salary cap space.
Still, the Packers remain $5.85 million over the projected salary cap of $185.0 million according to Spotrac.com. That means Green Bay must make some tough decisions before the new league year begins March 17.
“I think every team right now is kind of sitting in our shoes trying to figure out a way to keep their teams as sound and solid as possible,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said last week. “There’s going to be some tough decisions, hard decisions for a lot of teams, a lot of pain that teams are going to have to go through.”
Here are four players that could get a pink slip in the next 10 days.
1. Preston Smith, OLB
Yes, Packers Gutekunst sang Smith’s praises last week. But much like politics, never believe what decision makers like Gutekunst say during a press conference.
The Packers signed Smith to a four-year, $52 million deal in March, 2019 that included a $16 million signing bonus that’s guaranteed.
Smith’s cap number is $16 million in 2021. That includes a base salary of $6.85 million, a $4.5 million roster bonus, a $4 million prorated bonus, a $650,000 workout bonus and a $500,000 per game roster bonus.
If Green Bay releases Smith before the new league year begins in March, 2021, the only money that would count against the cap is his prorated signing bonus of $4 million.
If Green Bay cut Smith now, it would save $8 million in salary cap space. If the Packers waited until after June 1, they would pick up $12 million in cap room.
Considering Smith had just 4.0 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss this year, Smith will almost certainly have to restructure his deal or be released.
“We’re still a long ways away,” Gutekunst said. “We’re looking at our entire team, the contracts to try to put the best team out there in ’21. Preston’s played a lot of really good football for us and certainty we’d like to have him back next year; he’s under contract, so we certainly expect him to be back.”
2. Dean Lowry, DE
Lowry has been mediocre, at best, since signing a three-year, $20.325 million deal in 2019.
Lowry had 3.0 sacks in 2020, matching his career-high. In his five year career, Lowry has just 10.0 sacks.
Lowry will count $6.3 million against the cap next year, the ninth-highest figure on the team.
If Green Bay released Lowry before March 17, it would pick up $3.3 million in salary cap space. That number jumps to $4.8 million if they cut Lowry after June 1.
3. JK Scott, P
Scott was a fifth-round draft pick in 2018 and has been a colossal disappointment.
Since entering the league, Scott’s average net is 38.6 and ranks 26th in the league. In addition, his cowardly tackle attempts on two punt returns that went for touchdowns last season will be shown on blooper reels for years to come.
Scott’s cap charge for next season is just $974,389 and the rookie minimum is $660,000. So, the savings here would only be $314,389.
In this year of the falling salary cap, though, every dollar matters — and Scott is undoubtedly on thin ice.
4. Hunter Bradley, LS
Bradley will count $939,337 against the salary cap in 2021. So much like Scott, the savings would be minimal ($279,337) if the Packers brought in a rookie on a minimum deal.
Working against Bradley, though, is the fact he hasn’t been very good since the Packers used a seventh-round draft pick on him in 2018. His snapping in 2020 was extremely inconsistent, and new special teams coach Maurice Drayton might want to rebuild the Packers’ disappointing special teams units.
Last week, Drayton was asked about the future of both Scott and Bradley.
“Well, the beauty of it is, I call our room where we are the ‘Truth Room,’” Drayton said. “We’re going to tell the truth. Some things I cannot say here, but they both know that they have to be more consistent in the things that we need them to do to be successful.
“They have a prescription that we’ve written for them to work on. They also have their own personal what I call kick doctors or specialist doctors that they’re working with who I’ve fostered a relationship with. They’re getting better and they will be better, and they understand that their backs are against the wall.”
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March 07, 2021 at 09:56PM
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4 Green Bay Packers Who Could Soon Be Salary Cap Casualties - Forbes
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