Can the Packers Take Advantage Of Resetting the Cap?

The Green Bay Packers are in good shape with their salary cap. They cleared the final $40 million of Aaron Rodgers' cap charges two years ago and did the same this year with the remaining $30 million from David Bakhtiari’s and Aaron Jones’ contracts. That leaves them with only $18 million in dead money heading into 2025, mostly tied to Preston Smith and De’Vondre Campbell.

As of January 15, the Packers had $39,116,998 in available cap space. They were projected to have $38,236,998 at the start of the league year and $35,411,652 after signing their draft picks. Green Bay’s projected effective cap space is $22,436,203. These figures don’t account for potential veteran signings, releases, restructures, or contract extensions, which could significantly adjust the final numbers.

The Packers have four players with cap hits exceeding $20 million in 2025, all of whom played below expectations in 2024. Jordan Love has a $29.7 million hit. Rashan Gary comes in at $25.8 million, Jaire Alexander at $25 million, and Kenny Clark at $20.4 million.

Green Bay has more than 51 players under contract for 2025. Under offseason salary cap rules, only the base salaries of the top 51 contracts count against the cap. Each time the Packers sign a new deal, the contracts are resorted, and the 51st contract falls off. Conversely, removing a contract makes room for another to move up.

Green Bay’s cap space is in the best shape since 2019 when they signed the Smith Bros. and Adrian Amos. Brian Gutekunst will have the flexibility to be aggressive in free agency. After seeing the impact players like Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney had on the team, Gutekunst said he will be ready to make a move in free agency if the opportunity presents itself.

The Packers will have many decisions to make regarding their unrestricted free agents. Zayne Anderson, Corey Ballentine, Tyler Davis, Andre Dillard, A.J. Dillon, Isaiah McDuffie, Brandon McManus, Josh Myers, Robert Rochell, T.J. Slaton, Eric Stokes, and Eric Wilson are among those set to hit the market. Additionally, John Fitzpatrick is the team's only restricted free agent. Green Bay also holds exclusive rights to Bo Melton, Arron Mosby, Kadeem Telfort, Daniel Whelan, and Emanuel Wilson.

T.J. Slaton and Daniel Whelan are two players the Packers must bring back. Slaton is Green Bay’s top defensive lineman against the run, while Whelan’s 47.8-yard average per punt attempt over the first three months of the season is something no Packers punter has done in the last 19 years. Green Bay can negotiate a new contract with Whelan or tag him with an exclusive-rights free-agent tender. However, they’ll need to work out a new deal with Slaton to keep him on the roster before free agency begins.

I’d expect Eric Stokes to hit the open market, but it’s hard to know. The Packers signed Kevin King to a one-year deal after his disastrous performance in the 2021 NFC Championship game. Gutekunst could take a similar approach with Stokes as he did with King, offering Stokes a one-year prove-it deal and the opportunity to return to his 2021 form.

Josh Myers is the most intriguing free agent. He’s okay as a pass blocker and average at best as a run blocker. However, he's a well-respected and beloved figure inside the organization. “I can’t say enough good things, not only as a player but as a leader,” Gutekunst

Brandon McManus and Eric Wilson are key contributors on special teams and should be back. During the regular season, McManus converted 20 of 21 field goals, providing much-needed stability in the kicking game. Wilson has also stepped in for starting snaps on defense and brings valuable veteran leadership to the team.

the decisions on Zayne Anderson, Emanuel Wilson, and Bo Melton could go either way, but it wouldn't surprise me if Green Bay brings them back. Wilson's contract decision, in particular, will likely depend on MarShawn Lloyd’s injury status.

Green Bay doesn’t have any premium players from their 2021 draft class to re-sign, giving them the flexibility to be aggressive in free agency. They have the means to bring most of their free agents back, but it will still be an interesting offseason. I expect that the 2025 team will look very different from the previous Jordan Love-led squads.