General manager Brian Gutekunst and the Packers have some daunting decisions to make as the NFL offseason gets underway in earnest.
Now that the window to apply the franchise or transition tag has opened, Gutekunst and the Packers must figure out how, and quickly, to get cap compliant. After all, Green Bay is currently projected to be approximately $1.5 million over the cap.
There might be one move that Gutekunst and the Packers will make, by moving on from one key contributor, to create significant spending flexibility.
Packers urged to move on from Rashan Gary
Green Bay defensive tackle Kenny Clark (97) celebrates sacking Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with defensive end Rashan Gary (52) and linebacker Quay Walker (7) during their football game Thursday, November 28, 2024, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
The Packers could make a deep cut, as a cap casualty, which would create some spending flexibility but also a major hole along the front-seven, opposite a returning from injury Micah Parsons.
Over at PackersTalk, Shayleigh Leisle argues that releasing Rashan Gary should be one of Gutekunst’s first moves.
“As of the moment, Gary has the second-highest cap hit on the team,” Leisle points out for PackersTalk. ‘And when his production is compared against what Green Bay could do with the potential savings, it’s hard to find a reason not to move on.
“With two years left on a deal in which he’s owed about forty-two million dollars, the Packers have the luxury of no guaranteed money attached, and if they were to cut him, they’d free up almost eleven million dollars prior to June 1st.”
Jan 5, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay defensive end Rashan Gary (52) celebrates after sacking Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) in the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
In the high-stakes chess match of the NFL offseason, the Packers must decide if Gary’s past potential is worth more than their future flexibility. That decision could be further weighted by Parsons’ presence and upside over the next several seasons.
With the cap clock ticking, Green Bay may have to sacrifice a cornerstone to ensure the rest of the foundation stays solid.