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Let’s pretend for a moment there’s a possibility that the Green Bay Packers will actually go all in and, in addition to re-signing their most important free agents, actually go after some outside free agents.
They created some additional salary cap flexibility by releasing cornerback Sam Shields ($9 million net gain) and running back James Starks ($1.5 million net gain), last week.
As it stands today, they have approximately $41 million in available cap space, which ranks them 12th in the league.
When you think about it, you can see how that might quickly evaporate, however.
Nick Perry is about to cash in, likely in the $10-per-season range. Jared Cook? Let’s guess $5 million per season.
Let’s throw in Eddie Lacy, Don Barclay and J.C. Tretter for a total of $7 million per year. Plus, you’ve got restricted and exclusive rights free agents and a draft class. The rookie salary pool will be a little over $5 million. It’s just a guess, but let’s say the two non-unrestricted free agent classes total $4 million (a low estimate).
That leaves around $10 million left. With the Packers, you have to factor in that they’ll want to save some of that money to extend a player during the season. Can you add any decent free agent pieces with what’s left over?
Of course, but probably not a difference-maker. Or, if so, only one of them. Where can the Packers gain more salary cap space?
From these three guys.