Green Bay Packers: 3 Veteran Cut Candidates Who Create Needed Cap Space

Devin Funchess

The return of Devin Funchess could be an exciting new player added to this offense. He’s a big-bodied receiver, who can lineup in the slot or out wide, and he knows how to create space through his route running as well as using his frame. But we might not see Funchess regain his old form either. And that’s the point; I’m not sure anyone knows what to expect.

Funchess posted an 840 yard, eight touchdown season in 2017 with Carolina—the best of his career. He followed it up with 549 yards and four touchdowns the next year. However, we haven’t really seen Funchess since that 2018 season.

With Indianapolis in 2019, Funchess suffered a season-ending injury Week 1, and he would opt out of the 2020 season. So when Week 1 of this season rolls around, it will have been about two years since he’s last played a meaningful game. Again, this is where the mystery lies.

This is also a somewhat congested Green Bay Packers’ receiver room. Aaron Rodgers’ top-three targets will all be back for 2021, and they also added Amari Rodgers. So presumably, the top-four spots on the depth chart are accounted for, leaving Funchess battling with Equanimeous St. Brown and Malik Taylor for WR5.

If Funchess is head and shoulders ahead of both of those receivers, then he’s a very nice fourth or fifth option on this team. But if it’s close, then it makes more sense to go with the youth and upside of St. Brown or Taylor over Funchess.

After taking a slight pay cut this offseason, if Funchess is cut after June 1st, Green Bay will save $1.217 million in needed cap space.

Honorable Mention: Dean Lowry

I’ll include Dean Lowry because he’s been a popular cut candidate among the fan base this offseason, and cutting him after June 1st would save the Green Bay Packers $4.8 million in cap space—easily the largest amount of savings out of this bunch.

However, I just don’t see it being an option for them. And a big reason why is because of the state of the IDL room—this just isn’t a luxury that Green Bay has.

After Lowry, Kenny Clark, and Kingsley Keke, the Packers are left with Tyler Lancaster, a limited run defender. Rookie TJ Slaton, someone who I am excited about, but he’s still a Day 3 pick who, at this point, is primarily still a run defender. Then there is Anthony Rush, Willington Previlon, and Delontae Scott, all practice squad players from 2020.

Hopefully, with Keke taking another step on Year 3, along with adding Slaton to the mix, we see Lowry in a more reduced role where I do think he could be more impactful—but the Packers don’t have the depth to move on from him at this time.

All stats via PFF and contract info via Over the Cap