5 potential cap casualties for Packers with reduced 2021 salary cap

Dean Lowry

Dean Lowry has had a solid career in Green Bay, but he was disappointing last season, making the team’s decision to give him a new contract look like the wrong move. If the Packers moved on from Lowry next offseason, they’d still have to pay $3 million in dead money but they would free up $3.3 million. If there’s a reduced salary cap, every bit of extra cap space that can be created would be crucial.

In many ways, that could mean Lowry is effectively entering a prove-it season with the Packers. Outside of Kenny Clark, the Packers defensive line struggled in 2019. And that includes Lowry, who just last summer signed a three-year extension worth $20.33 million. Given some of the bargain deals other teams have got this offseason at defensive tackle, this looks to be have been a mistake by Brian Gutekunst.

If they moved on from Lowry, the Packers would need a young defensive lineman like Kingsley Keke to take on a bigger role on defense, and another option would be to add more talent via the 2021 NFL Draft.

Lowry has proven to be a solid contributor on defense in the past, and he’ll need to get back to that level again in 2020.