The Green Bay Packers have some financial maneuvering to tackle as they aim to get under the 2026 salary cap before the new league year kicks off on March 11th. As things stand, they're hovering around the cap limit, and they'll need to carve out some space for their upcoming draft class, potential extensions, and any free-agent signings they have in mind.
The most straightforward path to freeing up cap space? Releasing a couple of players with hefty cap hits who haven't quite delivered on the field. It seems likely that Elgton Jenkins and Rashan Gary will be exploring new opportunities in the next few weeks.
Jenkins is the prime candidate for a value cut. With one year left on his contract, his cap hit is a hefty $24.3 million.
Cutting him would leave the Packers with $4.8 million in dead money, saving about $19.5 million. While Jenkins has mostly been healthy leading up to 2025, at 31 and coming off a broken leg, his cap hit is a tough pill to swallow, especially after switching from guard to center last season.
Then there's Gary, who at 28, still hasn't cracked double digits in sacks. He was shut out in the second half of the 2025 season, with his last sack recorded in Week 7 against Aaron Rodgers. Gary's cap hit is just over $28 million, and releasing him would free up around $11 million.
Cutting veteran players for financial reasons is never easy. While there's a slim chance Gary might negotiate a pay cut to stay, it's not looking promising.
However, the Packers might find some intriguing options from other teams' cap casualties. As we dive into NFL Combine week, there's plenty to consider.
Yes, cutting Jenkins and Gary makes sense, but the Packers could also eye players released by other teams. The idea of bringing back someone like Kenny Clark could be on the table.
In terms of free agency and the draft, it's a solid year to need an interior offensive lineman, though not so much for finding a sizable outside cornerback.
Looking at Sean Rhyan's performance at center, he wasn't a standout pass-blocker but excelled in the power running game compared to Jenkins. The Packers have a decision to make: re-sign him or seek a replacement in free agency.
Elsewhere, Saquon Barkley is eager to work with the Eagles' new offensive coordinator, Sean Mannion, a former Packers assistant. It'll be interesting to see how Mannion, not far removed from his playing days, fares in his new role.
Lastly, a big congratulations to Patrick Suplicki, the latest inductee into the 2025 FAN Hall of Fame. It's a well-deserved honor!