Packers can gain over $12 million in cap space with these 2 expected moves

The Green Bay Packers are entering the offseason with roughly $23 million in cap space, according to calculations from Over the Cap.

Expect the number to rise by over $12 million in the next month or so.

The Packers can clear $12,212,500 from their cap in 2020 with two expected moves: releasing tight end Jimmy Graham and releasing guard Lane Taylor.

Graham is about to enter the final year of his three-year deal with a cap number of $11,666,668. The Packers can clear $8 million from the cap while eating the remaining $3,666,668 in prorated signing bonus as dead cap if Graham is released.

Graham caught 38 passes – his fewest in a full season since his rookie year – in 2019, and he’ll turn 34 years old during next year’s regular season. The Packers gave him two years to become an impact player, but the signing was a bust and it’s time to move on.

Taylor is also an expected cut.

Like Graham, Taylor will enter the final year of his deal in 2020. His cap number will be $5,487,500, with $4,212,500 capable of being cleared off the cap by releasing him. His dead cap charge would be $1,275,000.

Taylor turned 30 last November and is coming off a season-ending biceps injury. He was replaced in the starting lineup by rookie Elgton Jenkins, who earned an All-Rookie team nod and looks like the long-term starter at the position. Veteran backups making Taylor’s money don’t usually stick around.

As noted by Ken Ingalls on Twitter, when factoring in all other cap charges this offseason, including signing draft picks and any money needed for the 2020 season, the Packers will likely have somewhere around $21.6 million in available spending money if Graham and Taylor are released.

The Packers could really roll the dice and release starting center Corey Linsley, who is due to count $10.5 million on the cap in 2020. Cutting him would free another $8.5 million in cap space and give the Packers even more spending power, but it’s an unlikely move for a team in win-now mode.

GM Brian Gutekunst admitted last month that he’ll be a little more “restricted” in free agency this year, given the cap situation and his desire to bring back veteran free agents.

The Packers are also preparing to extend the contract of Pro Bowler Kenny Clark, a move that may eat up a chunk of cap space in 2020. Right tackle Bryan Bulaga, linebacker Blake Martinez, kicker Mason Crosby and cornerback Tramon Williams are all unrestricted free agents this offseason, and left tackle David Bakhtiari, running back Aaron Jones and cornerback Kevin King are about to enter the final years of their respective deals.

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