The Green Bay Packers worked some miracles with their 2022 salary cap in order to keep most of their high-profile players on the team. Some players, such as Jaire Alexander and Preston Smith, received contract extensions. Others, such as Randall Cobb, took pay cuts to stay with the Packers. Still others, like Aaron Rodgers, Rasul Douglas, and De’Vondre Campbell, received all new contracts. While these deals ensured that most of these players will be Packers for the next few seasons, there are some pretty high-profile players who could be entering their final year in Green Bay.
#1- Mason Crosby
Mason Crosby is the Green Bay Packers’ all-time leading scorer. He is also 38 years old, is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, and is entering the last year of his contract.
Throughout his time in Green Bay, Crosby has been the model of a professional football player. This offseason, he and new Packers punter Pat O’Donnell created a hilarious parody video of a scene from the move Step Brothers.
That all being said, Crosby was just 25/34 on field goal attempts last season. Even if he has a bounce-back season in 2022, it is questionable whether or not he will get a new contract next season.
#2- Randall Cobb
As mentioned previously, Randall Cobb took a pay cut in order to stay with the Green Bay Packers this season. That being said, it is the final year of his contract and he is entering his age 32 season.
Cobb had a rather productive year for the Packers in 2021, at least when he was healthy. A core muscle injury limited him to just 12 games. However, when he was on the field, he was as reliable a target as any. Of his 28 receptions, five of them were touchdowns and 21 went for first downs.
The Green Bay Packers, though, drafted three wide receivers in the 2022 NFL Draft, including Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. Amari Rodgers, too, is a similar player to Cobb and will be on the Packers’ roster for at least the next two seasons following this one. Given that they play the same position, slot wide receiver, Rodgers could force his mentor out the door with an improved 2022 campaign.
Related: Randal Cobb says “I’m creating a standard for the Green Bay Packers”
Related: Randall Cobb is teaching Packers wide receivers “Aaron Rodgers 101”
#3- Aaron Jones
The Green Bay Packers signed Aaron Jones to a four-year $48 million contract before the beginning of last season. Many fans around the NFL expected Jones to get a larger deal elsewhere. That, however, is not what happened and Jones had yet another 1,000 all-purpose yard season for the Packers.
While 2022 is the second year of the four-year deal, it is important to know the differences in how Jones will impact the salary cap between 2022 and 2023. Jones will only count for $5.9 million against the team’s salary cap this season. He also carries a dead cap hit of $13.6 million. Next season, though, Jones’ cap hit jumps up to a little over $20 million. His dead cap hit, however, drops down to $9.5 million. In short, the Packers can save over $10 million by cutting Jones after the season.
Now, will that happen? Obviously, Jones is playing at an extremely high level. Additionally, the NFL’s salary cap is going to rise in 2023. That being said, $10 million is $10 million, and if Kylin Hill remains as productive as he was before his injury last year, Jones could be spending his last season in Green Bay. AJ Dillon also had over 1,000 all-purpose yards last season and was the Packers leading rusher. A Dillion-Hill backfield could be the future of the Packers backfield after this season.
Related: Aaron Jones mocks Vikings fans in viral video
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