Green Bay Packers 2022 Cut ’em or Keep ’em & Prediction: Dean Lowry
By Paul Bretl
Why the Green Bay Packers would cut Dean Lowry
Cap Space Saved: $4.08 million
While Dean Lowry did have the most productive year of his NFL career, from a statistical standpoint, this Green Bay Packers defense, specifically against the run, wasn’t much improved from 2020.
Now, I will say, Green Bay was one of the best teams in football at generating pressure on the quarterback, and Lowry certainly contributed — ranking 15th among all interior defensive linemen in pressures created — but the overall numbers are in large part due to the play of Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, and Kenny Clark.
On the ground, however, the Packers allowed 4.7 yards per carry this season, which ranked 30th in the NFL. For some context, in 2020, they allowed 4.5 yards per rush. Football Outsiders’ rush DVOA metric tells a similar story, with Green Bay ranking 28th in that category this season compared to 18th in 2020.
You get the idea, even with Lowry playing some of his best football, the overall run defense wasn’t much improved–in fact, by these metrics, it was worse. This could result in Green Bay looking to replace Lowry with a cheaper contract, whether that be TJ Slaton assuming a larger role, looking to the draft, or in all likelihood, both of those options.
It’s also fair to wonder if Lowry can replicate that level of production from the 2021 season moving forward. Statistically speaking, there is likely going to be some level of regression in 2022, which is often the case for many players who are coming off career years.