General manager Brian Gutekunst and the Green Bay Packers are going to need to find cap space somewhere.
Even after the NFL raised the cap, Gutekunst and Green Bay still need to trim upwards of $4.09 million in the days ahead just to get under the cap before the new league year begins.
Some of those moves could involve restructuring contracts of high-priced veterans or extending rising stars to move money around into future years, but thre are also a couple of cap casualty candidates who could be cut to open up some spending flexibility for Gutekunst and Green Bay.
Green Bay Packers predicted to move on from Karl Brooks
Oct 12, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie (58) and defensive tackle Karl Brooks (94) react to a missed field goal by the Cincinnati Bengals during the game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: William Glasheen-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Over at Pro Football Focus, NFL analyst Thomas Valentine predicted one cut for each team across the league, including the Packers potentially moving on from defensive tackle Karl Brooks.
“There aren’t many obvious cut candidates for the Packers heading into the offseason,” Valentine admits, for PFF. “Veteran running back Josh Jacobs is an option, but he still has more than enough left to give the Packers’ offense, especially after posting an 85.8 grade this past year. Karl Brooks was the Packers’ sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and could be the name to watch.
“Brooks played to a 46.3 PFF grade in 2025, and moving on from him would save the Packers a modest but equally important $3.6 million in cap space.”
Since being chosen in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Brooks has posted only 72 total tackles and eight sacks through his first 50 games.
Last season, Brooks produced just 28 total tackles across 16 games, including seven starts, could be far more valuable as a chip towards getting under the cap than as a rotational piece in new coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s defense.
Green Bay Packers defensive end Karl Brooks (94) celebrates after blocking a field goal as time expired during their game Sunday, November 17, 2024 at Solider Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears 20-19.