Green Bay Packers: 3 Cap casualty candidates for 2021 offseason
By Joe Kipp
These three Green Bay Packers players could be in danger of being released heading into the 2021 season.
A disappointing end to the Green Bay Packers‘ season in the NFC Championship game capped off an otherwise stellar campaign, and the 2020 Packers will forever be remembered as one of the team’s most talented rosters.
Unfortunately, many of the members of last season’s team will no longer be on the team in 2021. The Packers face many tough decisions heading into the offseason, which includes several players on the brink of being released in order to save money on the salary cap.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the NFL’s salary cap decreased for the first time in recent memory. Teams expected the 2021 cap to hover around $200 million last spring. Instead, it’s expected to be around $180 million. Several teams will now be forced to restructure contracts and release players due to cap constraints.
Green Bay is no exception, either. As of Feb. 20, the Packers are an estimated $11 million over the 2021 cap limit. Veterans Rick Wagner and Christian Kirksey have already been released. Expect more players to be released in the next few weeks in order to get that cap number down.
With that said, here are three Green Bay Packers players in danger of being a salary cap casualty this offseason.
Note: All salary cap numbers courtesy of Spotrac
Green Bay Packers cap casualty No. 3: JK Scott, P
The Packers didn’t need JK Scott very often this past season (Aaron Rodgers had more touchdowns than Scott had punts), but when they needed him most he failed to live up to the test. Scott was average at the beginning of the season, but when it got colder in November and December he was downright bad.
Scott finished fourth-worst in the NFL in punt average (45.5 yards). The Packers can save $974,389 with just $54,389 in dead cap if Scott is released. Surely Green Bay can find a replacement who would have equal output.
If Scott wasn’t drafted in the fifth round, perhaps there wouldn’t be as much scrutiny surrounding his performance.