2022 Green Bay Packers Cut ’em or Keep ’em & Prediction: Preston Smith
By Paul Bretl
With the Green Bay Packers sitting at $50.7 million over the salary cap, according to Over the Cap, there is going to be a lot of financial maneuvering that is going to have to take place this offseason–not only to get under the salary cap but to remain as a Super Bowl contender if Aaron Rodgers does return.
As we’ve discussed before, through restructures, extensions, or cuts, there certainly are plenty of ways for the Green Bay Packers to make these cap-saving moves. However, the real question becomes, who are they able to actually keep?
Just like last offseason, I’ll be bringing back my Cut ’em or Keep ’em & Prediction series, where I take a look at each potential cap casualty, weigh the pros and cons of bringing that player back, and then I make my prediction.
Up first is Preston Smith.
Why the Green Bay Packers would keep Preston Smith
2022 cap hit: $19.72 million
I’ll start by saying if the Packers do keep Preston Smith, he isn’t playing on his current deal. With one year remaining and a cap hit that large, Smith would, in all likelihood, receive an extension, or at a minimum, have voided years added to his deal as part of a restructure.
After a down 2020 season, Smith took an incentive-heavy pay cut to stay in Green Bay for 2021–a move that paid off for both parties. Smith recorded nine sacks, earning back $1.2 million and 63 pressures–which tied for the 10th most among all edge rushers, according to PFF ($$). He was also rank 13th in PFF’s pass-rush productivity metric, and Smith was stout against the run as well.
The Packers’ defense had their ups and downs last season, but one constant over the year was their ability to pressure the quarterback, led by Smith as well as Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark.
While Smith and Gary formed one of the league’s most productive edge-rushing duos, the depth at such an important position was still a real concern. If both Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith are playing elsewhere next season, the Green Bay Packers have a huge hole to fill at edge, with Gary being the only reliable presence on the roster.