Packers mock draft: Predicting free agency signings, draft picks, roster cuts
It's officially Green Bay Packers mock draft season, but they don't tell the full offseason story. Roster cuts and free agency will impact the Packers' draft strategy.
An ideal scenario would see the Packers address areas of need in free agency, easing the pressure in the draft and allowing them to select the best player available in each round. It rarely works out perfectly, but that should be the approach.
A fascinating offseason awaits the Packers as they build around Jordan Love. Let's break down every stage, from the upcoming roster cuts, restructures, extensions, free agency, and finally, a four-round mock draft.
At the end, we'll look at the updated roster.
Predicting Packers roster cuts, restructures, extensions
Cuts
- T David Bakhtiari
- LB De'Vondre Campbell
- G Royce Newman
Total cap savings: $24.6 million
The Packers have to create cap space this offseason, leading to inevitable roster cuts. Green Bay can't afford to keep David Bakhtiari's $40 million cap hit on the books. Releasing De'Vondre Campbell and Royce Newman also creates cap space.
Restructures
- RB Aaron Jones
- EDGE Rashan Gary
Total cap savings: $12.2 million
Green Bay may need to push the can down the road again this offseason with contract restructures. It creates cap space in the short term by pushing money into future years. According to Packers cap expert Ken Ingalls, a simple restructure would create $7.42 million and $4.78 million on these two contracts, respectively.
Extensions
- QB Jordan Love (Four years, $200 million)
It's not a matter of if the Packers make Jordan Love one of the league's highest-paid quarterbacks; it's when. Green Bay can't extend Love's contract until May, but it shouldn't take much longer than that. This extension averages $50 million annually, which would rank fifth in the NFL, just behind Jalen Hurts. Love proved he is the Packers' long-term future at quarterback and gets rewarded in the offseason.