In need of cap space, is trading Darnell Savage an option for Packers?

The Green Bay Packers are in need of cap space for the 2023 offseason, but there aren’t a ton of cap-saving moves that they have at their disposal.

As Brian Gutekunst mentioned during his season-ending press conference last Friday, Green Bay will again utilize contract restructures with Aaron Jones, David Bakhtiari, Kenny Clark, and Jaire Alexander, all being prime candidates with cap hits over $20 million. There are some cuts that could be made that result in cap space, but as I wrote about recently, I don’t see the Packers moving on from Jones, Bakhtiari, Preston Smith, or Rasul Douglas.

So like I said, there aren’t exactly as many ways for the Packers to create cap space as there have been in previous seasons. However, one move that Gutey and Co. could explore is trading Darnell Savage.

Last spring, the Packers picked up Savage’s fifth-year option for the 2023 season, which gave him a guaranteed salary of $7.9 million. Since then, that has not looked like the best decision. In his fourth NFL season, Savage continued to regress. He was in the middle of numerous coverage breakdowns that led to big plays and was one of the worst tackling safeties in football, according to PFF ($$). Eventually, Savage was benched for his poor play.

Green Bay could, however, trade him this offseason, and that $7.9 million that he is owed would come off the books, opening up $7.9 million in cap space. This is one of the larger cap-saving maneuvers that the Packers can make.

Now, I certainly wouldn’t expect any sort of big return for Savage. A mid to late Day 3 draft pick is what comes to mind. But I have to think that there is a team out there that would take a chance on a former first-round pick with playmaking ability. For the Packers, more than the draft pick they receive in return, this move would be about the salary dump.

But despite Savage’s very up-and-down play, along with the Packers’ need for cap space, Gutekunst seems committed to him for the time being.

"“When we brought him in during the middle of the season and sat him down for a bit, came back and played a little more nickel to allow him to get closer to the ball to make plays,” Gutekunst said via Packer Report. “We saw more urgency out of him once he came back, which was good to see; like more how he was in his first few years.“He has so much speed and range to cover the back end, but we put him back there sometimes, and he’s further away from the ball and doesn’t as much of a chance to make plays,” Gutekunst said. You guys know how I like versatility in the secondary and on the offensive line. He can do a lot of things.”"

As Gutekunst discussed, Savage’s relegation to the bench did seem to help his play once he returned to the starting lineup. His tackling was more sound, and his communication in coverage greatly improved as well, which meant fewer breakdowns and big plays. Also, helping Savage out was more snaps in the slot and as a box defender rather than as a traditional safety, which again, as Gutey mentions, puts him in a better position to make plays on the ball.

Another reason that the Packers may not trade Savage is that the safety position as a whole isn’t in very good shape. As of now, the only safeties under contract in 2023 are Savage and 2022 rookie Tariq Carpenter. Of course, the Packers will add to this position group regardless of what happens to Savage, but they will be lacking cap space, and going into the draft feeling like you have to take a certain position isn’t ideal.

It certainly sounds like Savage isn’t going anywhere, but as we pontificate on which cap moves the Packers are going to make this offseason in order to have enough room to operate, trading Savage is a cap maneuver that Green Bay does have at their disposal.