As many expected, the Packers refrained from being aggressive during the trade window for the NFL season. They did, however, ship Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for extra draft capital in 2024. Now that the trade deadline has passed, it’s time to look at the roster and forecast what Green Bay might do with some of its aging veterans. Starting with the skill positions, Green Bay has favored youth over importing seasoned veterans into the lineup. As the team continues to build around Jordan Love, there will be contracts that they must make decisions on.
Overall, Green Bay is one of the youngest teams in the NFL. Two of their longest-tenured players, Kenny Clark and David Bakhtiari, are under contract with the Packers through 2024. With Bakhtiari’s recent health issues, there is also a real possibility he will retire before his contract with Green Bay expires. Clark, however, is one of the few building blocks for Green Bay and should remain a Packer, despite his large cap figure for the 2024 season.
The Packers, though, could move on from familiar faces like Darnell Savage Jr. and Preston Smith following the 2023 season. The question is: should they?
Contracts That the Green Bay Packers Should Keep
A Roller Coaster Career for Savage
A first-round pick in 2019, Savage became a fixture for Green Bay with strong seasons in 2019, 2020, and 2021. In 2022, Savage struggled. The Packers responded by retaining him but also restructuring his contract in May to reduce his base salary for 2023. Savage has rebounded in 2023 and shown improvement, especially as a tackler. The Packers reliance on his replacement, Rudy Ford, in the meantime, could spell the end of the road for Savage. A calf injury landed Savage on injured reserve, but he will return this season and is likely playing for a roster spot in 2024. The Packers should try to retain Savage, even if it’s on a short contract.
An Aging Smith Could be cut
Once a part of a fierce pass-rushing tandem for the Packers, Preston Smith is a prime candidate to be cut following the 2023 season. After signing a massive extension with Green Bay in March 2022, Smith had his contract restructured ahead of the 2023 season as a way to create extra cap space for the Packers. After recently extending Rashan Gary, the Packers are likely to build around Gary and continue to infuse young talent into the front seven. Also, the selection of Lukas Van Ness in the first round of the 2023 draft gives Green Bay flexibility there. Smith, while productive for the Packers during his tenure, has not produced as consistently as he had in years past. The contract for Smith is not one the Packers should keep. Moving on from Smith after this season would cause Green Bay to eat almost $7 million in dead cap.
The Douglas Trade Creates Extra Space
Few expected the Packers to trade Douglas and a 2024 fifth-round pick to Buffalo for a 2024 third-round pick. The decision, though, only underscores the Packers continued effort to try to clear cap space for the future. By moving Douglas, the team freed up about $6.5 million in cap space for next year. The Packers could have held onto a player like Douglas, who provided a spark at times during his time in Green Bay, but the opportunity to stockpile draft capital, and clear cap, made sense. At 2-5, Green Bay has a ton of ground to cover for a playoff bid, so the idea of clearing house has some merit. Also, the 2024 draft class is loaded, and the Packers now have two second-round picks and two third-round picks at their disposal.
Though the decision to flip the roster has come with some growing pains, the Packers are committed to rebuilding the team with young talent, even if that comes at the expense of proven veteran players sooner than later.
Main Photo: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin-USA TODAY NETWORK
