Green Bay Packers: Pros & Cons to these 11 Cap Saving Moves
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers Extend Adrian Amos
$4.73 million in cap space saved
Pros: Although it was a slow start to the season by Adrian Amos, he and Darnell Savage formed the best safety duo in the NFL over the second half. Amos finished as PFF’s third highest-graded safety for the entire season while accumulating three interceptions, seven pass breakups, and a passer rating when targeted of only 79.0.
At just 27 years old, tacking on a couple of extra years beyond 2022 would solidify the safety position in Green Bay for the foreseeable future.
Cons: Any time you add on extra years, your banking on that player continuing to play at a high-level, and if they don’t, you’re on the hook for it down the road. However, when it comes to Amos, I don’t really have that fear.
Green Bay Packers Cut Dean Lowry
$3.3 million in cap space saved
Pros: In a limited role we’ve seen Lowry have success but as the No.2 interior defensive lineman behind Kenny Clark, his impact the past two seasons hasn’t been at the same level as it was after the 2018 season when he received the contract extension. In fact, despite playing nearly 200 more snaps in 2020 compared to 2017, his total pressures and run stop totals are quite similar.
Cons: This is already a thin group on this Green Bay Packers team, and it would get even thinner without Lowry. Taking all categories of free agents into account, if Lowry is cut, the Packers are left with Clark, Kingsley Keke, Anthony Rush, and Willington Previlon along the interior.
Green Bay Packers Cut Devin Funchess
$1.26 million in cap space saved
Pros: Devin Funchess decided to opt-out of the 2020 season because of COVID-19 concerns. This came on the heels of an injury-shortened 2019 season where he appeared in only one game with Indianapolis. Despite totaling 840 yards with Carolina in 2017, at this point, I’m not sure we know what the Packers have in Funchess.
Cons: Losing Funchess would take away some experienced depth at the receiver position, however, with or without Funchess, I don’t believe that changes their offseason plans at the position. The Packers will still likely draft a receiver this year.