With just under 24 hours remaining before the NFL’s legal tampering period for free agency commences, allowing teams and impending free agents’ representatives to openly discuss potential deals for the first time, the Green Bay Packers have yet to reveal their strategy for the upcoming 2024 offseason.
Despite the impending deadline, the Packers have only made a few noteworthy cap-related moves thus far. They’ve restructured defensive end Preston Smith’s contract, shifting his compensation for the 2024 season towards more incentive-based payments, and converted defensive end Rashan Gary’s 2024 payment into a signing bonus.
However, crucial decisions still loom regarding the futures of running back Aaron Jones, tackle David Bakhtiari, and linebacker De’Vondre Campbell. Together, these three players account for nearly $72 million against the Packers’ 2024 cap space. The significance of these players to Packers fans and league front office members becomes evident in light of this fact.
All three players were even listed among Over the Cap’s top 100 potential cut candidates at the outset of the offseason.
So what’s the fuss about? The Packers still have a day left to make some moves, right? While that may be true, other teams appear to be acting more swiftly regarding cap casualties.
Take the Buffalo Bills, for instance, who had five players listed on OTC’s top 100 list, the second-highest among all NFL teams. Interestingly, all five of those players (WR Deonte Harty, RB Nyheim Hines, OL Mitch Morse, CB Tre’Davious White, and S Jordan Poyer) have already been informed of their impending release.
Meanwhile, in Green Bay, there are numerous uncertainties. At this juncture, it’s reasonable to assume that the fate of every player hangs in the balance. Will the Packers’ trio agree to return under revised contracts, or will they be let go? The only certainty at this stage is that those three players are unlikely to remain on the roster under their current contract terms.
The spotlight now shifts to the Packers’ next moves. If they intend to be proactive in the early stages of free agency, they’ll need to free up additional cap space. Unfortunately, if negotiations continue to stall, Green Bay’s veterans could find themselves released after the bulk of free agency spending has concluded this offseason. Dictating the timing of players hitting the market represents one of the few leverage points remaining for general manager Brian Gutekunst.
