Packers salary cap situation following Jimmy Graham release

After releasing Jimmy Graham, the Green Bay Packers now have more salary-cap room entering free agency.

The Green Bay Packers‘ decision to release Jimmy Graham earlier this week won’t have come as much of a surprise to the fans following his lack of production over the past two seasons, but how does it impact the team’s salary cap?

According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the Packers have created $8 million in cap room by releasing Graham. That could be significant once free agency gets underway next week. That could be the difference between being able to sign a top free agent or just missing out.

So, where do the Packers stand in total cap room?

According to Over The Cap, they currently have $27.95 million in cap room. That’s only good for 21st in the NFL, but it does give general manager Brian Gutekunst more flexibility than he had prior to the move.

There are still other ways the Packers could free up more cap room, according to Over The Cap’s calculator. The most discussed option among fans would be to release guard Lane Taylor, who could be a backup in 2020 following Elgton Jenkins‘ breakout rookie season. They could create just over $4 million by releasing Taylor, taking the total over $31.5 million.

However, it could depend on Bryan Bulaga‘s future. If the Packers plan to shift Billy Turner to right tackle, perhaps Taylor would start at right guard. Time will tell.

If the Packers decide not to make any roster moves prior to free agency, they still have enough room to make some signings, even if they aren’t able to be quite as active as a year ago. Instead of signing four free agents in the opening week, they might be able to make one or two big moves. But they may then also have to not re-sign one of their own free agents, Bulaga for example, to maintain a healthy cap.

But with $8 million more in cap room available, the Packers have room to be active in free agency next week.