Predicting the 12 Moves that get Green Bay Packers Under the Salary Cap
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers Extend Dean Lowry
Projected Salary Cap Savings: $3.6 million
I’m sure this is one that quite a few will disagree with, but Lowry is entering the final year of his current deal, and he’s coming off his most productive NFL season as a pass rusher–not to mention that a lot of the value Lowry provides comes from taking on double-teams and occupying space. But also important to note, is that this interior defensive line group is incredibly thin.
Currently under contract for 2022 is Kenny Clark, Lowry, TJ Slaton, and Jack Heflin–this also is a position that the Green Bay Packers haven’t invested in heavily, whether that be free agency or the draft. I’m not so sure that the Packers can find an upgrade in free agency for the kind of money that they’ll have to spend, and will they be willing to spend an early-round draft pick on the position? Recent history says they won’t.
Lowry is still only 27-years-old, he’s been a key rotational player for Green Bay, and I believe he’s one of those players that is valued much more highly within Lambeau Field than on the outside because of all the dirty work he does that goes unnoticed. I also don’t think it’s going to take a massive extension by any means to keep him in Green Bay–perhaps just 2 or 3 additional years, and the team will be able to get out of the deal sooner than that if needed.
Green Bay Packers Restructure David Bakhtiari
Projected Salary Cap Savings: $8.18 million
The restructuring of David Bakhtiari’s contract is a move that you can pretty much sharpie in at this point as something that is going to happen. The Packers will take portions of either Bakhtiari’s base salary or roster bonus — or perhaps both — and convert those funds to a signing bonus.
While the cap hits from the base salary and roster bonus are absorbed in the current year, the cap hit from a signing bonus can be spread out over the life of the contract, thus lowering the current cap hit.