Before the new league year begins on March 13, the Green Bay Packers may try to cut some of their more costly senior contracts.
At least thirty years old makes up three of their five highest-paid players, and some of them, like left tackle David Bakhtiari, can be released to save up a ton of cap space.
But if the Packers make a strong commitment to assembling a young core of players around Jordan Love, might three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Kenny Clark become a cap casualty? The matter was brought up by Matt Okada of NFL.
com in a recent piece that highlighted a number of NFC players who are on “cut watch” for 2024.
Although Bakhtiari, with his $40 million cap hit, ranked highest on his list, he also noted that Clark’s growing expenses might put him “on the block.”
This move might be quite beneficial for the Packers if they want to prioritize supporting their new franchise quarterback.
June 1 would free about $17 million in space.
Before the league year begins, the Packers need to clear about $5.25 million in additional salary space; however, they will need much more to sign their expected draft picks and ensure flexibility in free agency and the 2024 season.
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They can get there with a mix of contract restructures and roster layoffs, though it’s unclear how much the organization believes it will need to reach its objectives this summer.
The Packers will want more room if they intend to replenish their roster in the same manner that they did in 2019.
Other Ways the Packers Can Lower Kenny Clark’s Cost
Okada is correct when he suggests that the Packers would be able to clear up a sizable amount of budget room if they dismiss Clark after June 1.
However, Okada overlooks the fact that the Packers have a few more options to lower Clark’s enormous 2024 salary cap burden short of cutting him from the team.
Packers cap expert Ken Ingalls believes the team may save salary space by reorganizing contracts or by signing a “rare” third-year contract extension for a position other than quarterback. A restructure, in his estimation, could net the team between $10.8 million and $11.5 million in cap space—more than half of what they would save with a post-June 1 reduction.
