Green Bay Packers: Restructuring David Bakhtiari’s Deal is Only Step 1

The Green Bay Packers enter this unprecedented offseason needing to shed some serious cap space. After watching the salary cap increase year after year over the last decade, it is set to take a big hit in 2021 due to not having fans in the stands, or at least very few, this past season.

At this point, nothing is set in stone, but as of now, the expectation around the league is that the cap will be in the $180 million range. For reference, it was $198.2 million this past season.

This had put the Packers at roughly $29 million over the projected salary cap; however, that figure doesn’t take into account any in-season spending or signing of draft picks. But on Saturday, they made their first move of what will end up being many, as they work their way towards the $180 million mark.

It was first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that the Green Bay Packers had restructured David Bakhtiari’s deal by converting more than $11 million in roster bonus to signing bonus. This created about $8.3 million in additional cap space.

As far as the moves that have to be made, this one was a no-brainer. To simplify what happened, a roster bonus is just what it sounds like; it’s the money that a player receives for being on the roster that season. And in terms of the salary cap, 100 percent of those dollars would count towards the 2021 salary cap.

But in Bakhtiari’s case, by converting $11 million to a signing bonus, rather than absorbing all $11 million on this year’s books, the Packers can now spread that cap hit out over the remaining years of the contract. Thus lowering the cap hit and creating additional space.

According to Over the Cap, this move puts the Green Bay Packers at $19.89 million over the projected salary cap.

In a recent article, I highlighted 11 different moves that the Packers could make to free up cap space. You can find that article here, but a few notable moves that could take place moving forward include an extension for Davante Adams — this will happen — potentially cutting Preston Smith and Christian Kirksey to save cap dollars, along with either an extension or restructure for Za’Darius Smith, as well as restructuring Aaron Rodgers’ contract.

As I mention in the article, there are other moves that can be made, but at this time, these seem to be the likely ones. And remember, all of these moves are just to help Green Bay get under the salary cap; that doesn’t account for any new additions.

Now, that isn’t to say that the Packers won’t be able to dabble in free agency, but the expectation shouldn’t be that they’re going to go on a spending spree or land a top-tier free agent.

With a major emphasis on the salary cap this offseason, the restructuring of David Bakhtiari’s deal was step one in this entire process. But as the Green Bay Packers get closer to the $180 million mark, the decisions are going to become increasingly more difficult.