The Green Bay Packers improved by two regular season wins and across numerous statistical categories in 2024 but still finished third in the NFC North, failed to beat one of the top NFC teams and bowed out of the postseason in the wildcard round, producing a disappointing end to a highly anticipated season loaded with expectations after last year’s surprise playoff run.
Instead of going into the offseason brimming with the optimism of unrealized potential, the Packers must now use disappointment as the fuel as Matt LaFleur’s team attempts to bridge the gap between good and great in 2025.
So, where are the Packers at in terms of personnel and the salary cap entering the offseason?
To help evaluate the roster, we went position-by-position, highlighting who is under contract, who is a free agent, early thoughts on each position and a unique salary cap perspective from Ken Ingalls, a CPA who studies the salary cap.
Here are Ken’s initial thoughts on the cap and the Packers’ offseason:
“The 2025 Packers salary cap is in the best overall shape since 2020. The previous four offseasons we have needed to discuss the massive cap costs the Packers needed to shed or restructure just to be cap compliant. Now the Packers are sitting with around $39 million of cap space on paper and $22.4 million of effective space to play with. That’s without veteran cuts or restructures – the Packers have an additional $74 million of flexibility through restructures alone. In short, the Packers can sign any and all players they want to.
The Packers have zero need to restructure contracts to make their basic roster moves this offseason. They can even make several meaningful additions without needing to mortgage their future – so if we see this happening it means they are preparing to make some real aggressive moves.
While in much better financial shape, the Packers are still paying off their cap credit card from their 2021 all-in run and running it back in 2022. There is over $25.6 million in past restructurings on the books for Rashan Gary, Jaire Alexander, and Kenny Clark. Also, the Packers are stuck with $17.9 million in dead cap this season for can-kicked amounts on De’Vondre Campbell and Preston Smith. In a few seasons these types of past debts will be fully paid off.
There isn’t nearly as much offseason contract drama as we have seen in past seasons. Rather the 2025 offseason decisions are focused on improving, a welcome change one the Packers are…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Packers Wire…