18 Salary Cap Moves & Projected Savings for Green Bay Packers

When it comes to these veteran cut candidates, these aren’t projections by Over the Cap, rather it’s just simple math. If a player’s cap hit — the money that is on the books if they are on the team — is larger than the dead cap hit — the money that is on the books even if the player is not on the team — then it makes sense from a financial standpoint to cut that player and receive some salary cap savings.

You’ll notice some players listed here have already been mentioned, but I just want to make sure my bases are covered and that I touch on all possible outcomes because from the outside looking in, there is very little certainty surrounding this Green Bay Packers team this offseason.

Green Bay Packers Cut Za’Darius Smith

Cap Savings: $15.28 million

As I discussed recently in my Cut ’em or Keep ’em & Prediction series, it certainly does seem like Za’Darius Smith’s time in Green Bay has come to an end–especially with him posting what seemed to be a goodbye message following the playoff loss.

Edge rusher is an important position and a big need for the Green Bay Packers, but $15.28 million in cap savings can provide a lot of added flexibility. On top of that, we saw the emergence of Rashan Gary, whose 2021 season was similar to Smith’s dominant 2019 season in terms of pressures and efficiency, not to mention that Smith will be 30, and he’s coming off a back injury.

Green Bay Packers Cut Mason Crosby

Cap Savings: $2.39 million

Not every missed field goal falls on Mason Crosby’s shoulders, the blocking from the Packer field goal unit was very poor at times. However, it was still a down year nonetheless. Crosby would struggle from 40-plus yards, and his power seemed to be zapped to a degree as he regularly didn’t get kickoffs to the end zone. Green Bay has also kept JJ Molson on the practice squad for almost two seasons now, which shows that they do like what they have in him.

Green Bay Packers Cut Randall Cobb

Cap Savings: $6.74 million

Randall Cobb has the trust of Aaron Rodgers, and we saw that on display on third downs and in the red zone where Cobb made his greatest impact. With that said, he is 31-years-old, he missed the final five games of the season, and although he had some success in those higher leverage situations, we’ve seen Allen Lazard do the same–and on a cheaper contract.

Averaging just over three targets per game, it’s not as if Cobb was featured heavily in this offense, in fact, he had just one target in the playoff loss to San Francisco.

Green Bay Packers Cut Billy Turner

Cap Savings: $3.35 million

Under the extension category, I’ve already discussed why the Green Bay Packers might keep Turner, but they could also move on from him because that’s just the nature of this offseason–difficult decisions have to be made. The Packers also have Yosh Nijman and Elgton Jenkins — when he returns from injury — as potential long-term answers at right tackle.

Green Bay Packers Cut Preston Smith

Cap Savings: $12.45 million

I think that the Green Bay Packers keep Preston Smith because of the season he just had, where he posted the 10th most pressures, and also because the edge position is dangerously thin. But if the Packers choose to move on from Smith, they can save a hefty amount of cap space.

Green Bay Packers Cut Dean Lowry

Cap Savings: $4.08 million

Dean Lowry is coming off his most productive season as a pass-rusher, and he comes with an $8.07 million cap hit in 2022. If the Packers feel that Lowry can’t duplicate his 2021 performance, then it would make sense to move on, but again, that leaves the interior defensive line very thin.

Green Bay Packers Cut Adrian Amos

Cap Savings: $4.65 million

I just don’t see this one happening. Amos is one of the more steady safeties in football, and without him, this position becomes a massive need. But, you never know.

Green Bay Packers Cut Marcedes Lewis

Cap Savings: $2.44 million

It hurts to type this one, but if Aaron Rodgers does leave Green Bay, I think it’s very possible that the Packers would choose to cut Marcedes Lewis for the salary cap savings–or maybe he would retire instead.

While Lewis plays a very important role in this Matt LaFleur offense as a blocking tight end, not to mention his leadership in the locker room, the Packers are going to have to pinch pennies this offseason, and this is one of those moves to make. Josiah Deguara, Tyler Davis, and Dominique Dafney are not at Lewis’ level, but it’s not as if Green Bay doesn’t have other blocking options at tight end.

Now, having said that, if Rodgers is back and Lewis wants to continue playing, I do expect him to be back with Green Bay this upcoming season.