4 Potential Salary Cap Saving Cuts for Packers in 2023

The Green Bay Packers are once again going to be faced with some difficult decisions when it comes to the salary cap in 2023. Even with the salary cap expected to increase into the $225 million range, Green Bay is projected to have only $3.36 million in available cap space at the moment.

Due to several decent-sized contracts being added to the books in recent years, along with a lot of can-kicking via restructures and voided years, the Packers just don’t have much flexibility. In addition to restructures, the Packers can create cap space through contract extensions as well as by making some tough cuts.

The outlook of the team following this season will play a huge factor in these decisions. If Aaron Rodgers is returning, then Brian Gutekunst may again sacrifice long-term flexibility for short-term cap space. On the flip side, if Green Bay were to transition to Jordan Love, perhaps that provides them with the opportunity to hit the mini-reset button and clean up their books a little bit to be better prepared for 2024. For the record, I believe Rodgers returning is the more likely outcome.

Among the many difficult decisions to be made as the Packers try to give themselves enough room to operate this offseason will be whether to keep these four key players or to instead release them for much-needed cap space.

Packers offensive tackle: David Bakhtiari

2023 Cap hit: $29.06 million

Dead money if cut: $23.13 million

Cap savings: $5.93 million

Recently, I took a much closer look at this decision, and you can read more here, but essentially this decision comes down to whether or not the Packers believe Bakhtiari can remain on the field consistently. When available, Bakhtiari has been one of the best tackles in football by PFF’s grading system as well as pressures allowed. However, from week to week, we never truly know what his availability will be. Are 12 or 13 games with Bakhtiari more valuable than the $5.9 million in salary cap savings? If he is back, I can’t imagine he plays with that $29 million cap hit, meaning that another restructure will have to take place, further inflating his cap hit in future years.

Packers edge rusher: Preston Smith

2023 Cap hit: $13.04 million

Dead money if cut: $9.76 million

Cap savings: $3.28 million

There haven’t been a lot of flashy plays for Preston Smith this season, but he has been steady, totaling 33 pressures, according to PFF ($$), while giving the Packers some sort of run defense at the edge rusher position. Although injured, Rashan Gary will receive a contract extension at some point in the offseason, and the emergence of JJ Enagbare has been encouraging. Perhaps those two, coupled with an early-round draft pick at the position, will allow Green Bay to move on from Smith, who will have a cap hit of $13.04 million. Although in the grand scheme of an NFL salary cap, $3.28 million in created space isn’t a ton.

Packers running back: Aaron Jones

2023 Cap hit: $20.01 million

Dead money if cut: $9.55 million

Cap savings: $10.46 million

Talk about a difficult decision. Fortunately, the Packers’ offense has had the emergence of Christian Watson as of late, but for much of the year, Aaron Jones was Green Bay’s lone playmaking threat. He’s currently second on the team in targets in the passing game and ranks in the top 10 in the NFL in total rushing yards, along with runs of 10-plus yards as well. However, a $20 million cap hit for a running back is massive, and if he returns, there is zero chance Jones’ deal isn’t reworked. The overall depth of the running back position doesn’t look great at the moment, but contributors can be found on Day 3 of the draft. With that said, for an offense that has struggled quite often this season, can Green Bay get rid of one of its best players? Jones’ future with the team very much feels tied to whether or not Gutekunst believes the team will be a true contender next season.

Packers cornerback: Rasul Douglas

2023 Cap hit: $6.76 million

Dead money if cut: $3.53 million

Cap savings: $3.23 million

Rasul Douglas certainly hasn’t had the same impact or made the same game-changing plays that he did a season ago, and to a degree, that should have been expected since that was a career year. It’s also not as if he has been put in the best position to do so, with him being asked to play out of the slot for much of the season. Overall, Douglas has allowed a completion rate of 71% but held opponents to 10.9 yards per catch with two interceptions and five pass breakups. Although they’d have to find more depth, with Eric Stokes and Jarie Alexander under contract, the Packers could move on from Douglas and still have a very good cornerback duo. But again, is $3 million in savings more valuable than the upside Douglas brings? Especially with, in all likelihood, a new defensive coordinator coming in, who can hopefully get more out of this group.

All contract info via overthecap.com