The Green Bay Packers, it appears, are not going to be making a change at head coach this offseason. As reported earlier, head coach Matt LaFleur and the Packers’ front office are engaged in negotiations that the team hopes will result in a contract extension, keeping him in Green Bay for the foreseeable future.
Now, nothing is official yet and other NFL teams are monitoring the situation, hoping to swoop in and steal LaFleur away should talks break down. That being said, it is clear that the Packers believe he has the necessary leadership and football mind to lead the team to a Super Bowl.
However, the same cannot be said of several players on Green Bay’s roster, some of whom who are under contract for 2026 and could see themselves released as salary cap casualties.
5 Green Bay Packers players who could be cut to make space on the salary cap
According to Spotrac, the Packers have a payroll of $316,892,305 for 2026, which is more than $4 million over the salary cap. Over the Cap has them in an even more dire situation, listing them as being $10 million over the cap.
Despite the difference in these figures, it is clear that Green Bay has to cut cap space in 2026, not only to get under the cap with the players they have, but also in order to be able to sign their picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on one’s point of view), there are several players that they can cut this offseason that will give them the flexibility they need.
Rashan Gary
There were not many, if any, players as disappointing this season as edge rusher Rashan Gary. Despite the addition of All-Pro Micah Parsons, who attracted double and triple teams, Gary had just 7.5 sacks this season and all-but-disappeared on his team down the stretch.
Should Green Bay retain Gary on his current deal in 2026, he would count for over $28 million on the Packers salary cap. However, the team could save nearly $11 million by releasing him as he has a dead cap hit of just over $17 million.
Elgton Jenkins
One should not be surprised that Green Bay could (and likely will) move on from Elgton Jenkins this offseason. A two-time Pro Bowler at left guard, Jenkins made the switch to center last offseason, but was in a bit of a contractual dispute with the front office regarding his salary for said switch.
As it stands, he is due to be count for $24.8 million against the salary cap in 2026. Should he be released, his dead cap figure would be $4.8 million, meaning the Packers can save a whopping $20 million by moving on from him.
Aaron Banks
Prior to the 2025 NFL season, Green Bay signed Aaron Banks to play left guard. They gave him a four-year $77 million contract in free agency, but, as is the case for many of their free agent deals, did not guarantee much at all after the first year.
In 2026, Banks is scheduled to count for $24.85 million against the salary cap. His dead cap number is $20.25 million, meaning the Packers could save over $4 million by cutting him.
The question, though, is who they could replace him with at left guard. If he does end up as a cap casualty, left guard will be a position battle to watch during training camp.
Nate Hobbs
Another free agent signing this past offseason, cornerback Nate Hobbs struggled with both injuries and production on the field. In 11 games played, he allowed a 65.5% completion percentage while opposing quarterbacks had a 111.1 passer rating when targeting players he was covering.
In 2026, Hobbs is slated to count for $13 million against the Packers salary cap with a dead cap number of $12 million. The $1 million in savings may not be much, but it is something and it was painfully clear in 2025 that Green Bay did not get what they thought they were going to when they signed him.
More Green Bay Packers news from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
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- Matt LaFleur breaks silence after Packers suffer crushing loss to Bears
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