The Green Bay Packers have released center Elgton Jenkins. That much isn't surprising.
It's the timing that's notable. The Packers have already made several cap-saving moves in recent days, highlighted by trading Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys for a fourth-round pick. Green Bay still has two days to get under the salary cap before the official start of the new league year, and the team was already comfortably under that number.
A year ago, the Packers dragged out the Jaire Alexander situation, hoping they could find a trade partner. They've moved much faster with Jenkins. Why? Well, as Justis Mosqueda of Acme Packing Company smartly pointed out, the Packers "don't need cap space and he had no triggers" on his contract, a possible clue that a "big move might be coming."
Timing of Elgton Jenkins release could signal the Packers are ready to make a free-agency splash
The Packers are yet to make an outside signing in free agency, although they did acquire linebacker Zaire Franklin in a player-for-player swap with the Indianapolis Colts, sending Colby Wooden the other way.
Releasing Jenkins so soon and not holding out for a potential trade is interesting. The Packers don't need the cap space right now, so waiting a few more days wouldn't have changed anything.
That is, of course, unless the team is preparing to make a splash in free agency.
Cornerback, edge-rusher, and defensive tackle stand out as the primary needs. The Packers' defensive line is depleted after the first wave of free agency. They've traded Gary and Wooden, while Kingsley Enagbare signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets.
The Packers' top three interior linemen are now Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, and Warren Brinson. At edge-rusher, it's Micah Parsons, Lukas Van Ness, and Barryn Sorrell. They need to find another starting-caliber player at each position, and, if nothing else, restock the depth.
Cornerback is another area to watch, especially if the team moves on from Nate Hobbs.
Green Bay has already missed out on several of the top free-agent cornerbacks, but there are still opportunities to add talent.
Time will tell whether the Packers plan to make a significant signing in the first wave of free agency. Unsurprisingly, Day 1 has been almost exclusively about outgoings.
But Brian Gutekunst has created almost $20 million by releasing Jenkins. Is an incoming move on the way?