Packers lack significant salary cap saving moves in 2023

The last two Green Bay Packers offseasons have been filled with them kicking the proverbial salary cap can down the road. This has come in the form of numerous contract restructures and voided years added to deals in an effort to create some much-needed cap space.

However, as we begin to look ahead to the 2023 offseason, the Packers, once again, find themselves in a salary cap bind, but this time, they lack significant salary cap saving moves.

Even with the 2023 NFL salary cap projected to rise anywhere from $25 to $30 million, or maybe even more, the Packers are currently still $13.34 million over the salary cap at the moment. The most significant salary cap-creating move that Green Bay can make is releasing Aaron Jones, which would clear $10.4 million per Over the Cap.

This, of course, does then take away the Packers’ most consistent playmaker on offense, something that was already lacking this past season, and a move they arguably can’t afford to do from an on the field standpoint. Jones would also be a contract restructure candidate but with his deal up in 2024, Green Bay is limited in how much cap they can push to future years.

Other cap-saving moves include cutting David Bakhtiari, creating $5.93 million in cap space. But as I discussed in another article, I don’t think that’s the right play. Over the final six or so games of the season, Bakhtiari’s knee was never really an issue for him. On top of that, when on the field, he was still playing at an elite level, allowing only eight pressures all season, according to PFF ($$). To me, that $5.9 million isn’t anywhere near enough money to justify moving on from Bakhtiari.

Two other cuts worth pointing out simply because of the savings potential is Preston Smith and Rasul Douglas. However, both would net the Packers less than $3.3 million in cap space in 2023. Similarly to Bakhtiari, the savings isn’t worth the production that is being lost. At two important positions, Smith is Green Bay’s second-best edge rusher, while Douglas is their second-best cornerback.

In terms of creating cap space via roster cuts, that’s really all the Packers have left. All the other options gain Green Bay less than $1.5 million in cap space.

Now, with that said, the Packers are going to get under the salary cap by the time free agency opens–they don’t have the option not to. And they’ll find a way to round out their 53-man roster as well. Some other cap-saving moves include contract restructures, with Bakhtiari being a prime candidate for this, with a cap hit of over $29 million in 2023. In short, this strategy takes cap charges from this season and pushes them into future contract years. Jaire Alexander, with his $20 million cap number, and Kenny Clark, at $23.9 million, are other restructuring candidates.

A contract extension for Rashan Gary would help create some cap space as well. He is playing on a fifth-year option worth almost $11 million. By extending him, even though more money will be added to his deal, there will also be more years for those cap charges to go to. And speaking of fifth-year options, trading Darnell Savage would be a way for Green Bay to get out of the $7.9 million he is owed in 2023. Next to cutting Jones, this is another significant move that could be made.

In addition to getting under the salary cap and having a little bit of money to spend in free agency, the Packers will also have to have cap space for the incoming draft class, the practice squad, and reserves for in-season spending.

While there are other moves besides roster cuts to be made, compared to past seasons, there are fewer significant salary cap moves out there for Green Bay, which means not a lot of spending is going to take place in free agency. So as we look at how this Packers team is going to improve in 2023, internal development and the 2023 draft are likely going to be the two biggest contributors.