The Green Bay Packers have started making moves to clean up their salary cap, and the first domino to fall was cornerback Trevon Diggs. The decision frees up $14.6 million in cap space-money that becomes crucial after the team handed out major deals to stars like Micah Parsons and Jordan Love.
And if this move is any indication, more cuts are coming. One name that’s hard to ignore in that conversation?
Rashan Gary.
Let’s talk about Gary for a minute. On paper, his 2025 season ended with 7.5 sacks-a number that sounds solid until you dig a little deeper.
Two of those sacks came in a standout performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 26. But here’s the thing: that game also marked the last time Gary registered a sack all season.
That’s a problem, especially considering the context. When Parsons went down with a torn ACL on December 14, the Packers needed Gary to step up and anchor the pass rush.
Instead, he disappeared from the stat sheet. No sacks.
No major impact. For a veteran with his experience and price tag, that’s a tough pill for the front office to swallow.
Now, let’s look at the financials. Gary is set to count $28 million against the cap in 2026.
That’s a steep price for a player who didn’t produce down the stretch. If the Packers designate him as a post-June 1 cut, they could save $19 million in cap space, absorbing just $8 million in dead money in both 2026 and 2027.
That’s a move that makes too much sense for a team trying to retool on the fly.
And it doesn’t stop there. Gary’s cap hit jumps to $31 million in 2027.
That’s elite money for a player who’s shown flashes but hasn’t been consistent enough to justify that kind of investment. Early in the season, he looked like he was on track for a breakout year.
But the second-half fade changed the narrative-and likely sealed his fate in Green Bay.
Could the Packers ask him to take a pay cut? Sure.
But there’s little reason to believe Gary would go for that. And if they do cut him, it’s even less likely he’d return on a cheaper deal.
The writing’s on the wall.
The big picture here is about more than just Gary. Green Bay is trying to reset after another disappointing playoff exit.
They need cap flexibility to address depth issues and retool key areas of the roster. Cutting Gary would be a tough move, but it’s also a clear one.
It opens up money. It creates options.
And it signals that the franchise is serious about building a more complete, more reliable team heading into 2026.
For a fan base that’s seen too many postseason runs end in frustration, that kind of urgency is exactly what’s needed.