NFL may gift Packers additional cap space at just the right time

While going all-in during Aaron Rodgers' final few seasons with the team, the Green Bay Packers pushed the financial can down the road.

It has led to significant salary cap challenges. The Packers paid over $67 million in dead cap for players no longer on the roster in 2023, including a $40.3 million hit for Rodgers's contract.

The Packers' cap issues are improving, but they're not out of the woods yet. They already have to deal with over $15 million in dead money in 2024 before any additional roster cuts. Releasing David Bakhtiari will add around $19 million to that figure.

According to Spotrac, the Packers are over the salary cap as things stand. They must clear enough space to get under the cap before the start of the new league year next month.

However, there's some potential good news on the way.

Packers may have more cap space than they expected in 2024

Many projections, including the current Spotrac numbers, have the 2024 NFL salary cap sitting at $242.5 million. According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, it could be significantly higher.

"Another source, with a proven record of accuracy in these matters, says it will be closer to $250 million than to $243 million," writes Florio.

Adding $4-7 million would help the Packers, especially if they were preparing for a cap of around the $243 million mark. Green Bay wouldn't have to make as many moves to get under the cap and would have more flexibility in free agency.

It would make retaining Aaron Jones and Preston Smith far easier and could mean they don't need to restructure their deals.

The final salary cap figures for 2024 are on the way. Anything closer to $250 million would make the offseason work a little more comfortable for Brian Gutekunst and Russ Ball as the Packers continue to overcome various salary cap obstacles.

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