5 ways Packers can go all-in for 2022 season with Aaron Rodgers

2. Make roster cuts, but as few as possible

An extension on Rodgers’ deal could significantly help the Packers’ salary cap situation, but the work would be far from over. They would still need to clear more cap space just to get under the cap for 2022, let alone being able to re-sign any players or add any unrestricted free agents.

Of course, if the Packers plan to run it back and make another push in 2022, they will aim to retain as many key pieces on the current roster as possible. That doesn’t mean they would be able to avoid letting some important players go, however.

To be able to re-sign a player like Davante Adams or De’Vondre Campbell, creating some cap space would be vital. Unfortunately, that could mean some tough decisions for Brian Gutekunst.

The Packers could make cap savings by releasing Za’Darius Smith ($15.28 million), Preston Smith ($12.47 million), Randall Cobb ($6.75 million), Dean Lowry ($4.08 million), Marcedes Lewis ($2.45 million), and Mason Crosby ($2.4 million).

If the team goes all in for 2022, they shouldn’t release all of them, but they may have no choice but to cut some of them. Doing so would provide some much-needed cap relief before moving on to the next step.

Deciding which players to move on from wouldn’t be easy at all.