The Green Bay Packers are poised for a seismic roster overhaul this offseason, with a perfect storm of salary cap crisis and the impending free agency of a breakout backup quarterback forcing the franchise into a series of gut-wrenching decisions. Financial pressures and market dynamics are set to dismantle key parts of the roster, signaling a brutal but necessary transition for the storied franchise.
According to league sources and salary cap projections, the Packers are currently over $10.7 million above the projected 2026 salary cap, a dire financial position that mandates immediate and painful action. This cap hell, combined with the skyrocketing value of backup quarterback Malik Willis, has placed General Manager Brian Gutekunst in an unenviable position, with veteran stars now squarely on the chopping block.
The quarterback drama centers on Malik Willis, whose stunning late-season performance has reshaped his NFL future. In limited action filling in for an injured Jordan Love, Willis completed 85.7% of his passes for 422 yards, accounted for five total touchdowns, and posted a near-perfect 145.5 passer rating. His dual-threat efficiency has scouts and executives league-wide viewing him as a bona fide starter.
ESPN analyst Matt Bowen confirmed the seismic shift, stating Willis is expected to be signed to start somewhere in free agency this March. This development leaves Green Bay with an impossible choice: pay starter-level money to a backup or lose a premium developmental asset for nothing. The Packers are expected to let Willis walk, prioritizing compensatory draft picks over an untenable financial commitment.
This quarterback exodus is merely the preamble to the main event: a series of staggering veteran cuts designed to salvage the team’s cap sheet. Multiple Pro Bowl-caliber players are expected to be released to create the necessary financial breathing room. The moves will free up tens of millions but will send shockwaves through the locker room and fanbase.
First among the potential casualties is two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins. After a challenging transition to center and a fractured fibula that required extensive recovery, Jenkins’s $24.33 million cap hit is deemed unsustainable. Releasing the 30-year-old would immediately save the Packers $19.53 million, a figure too substantial to ignore given the team’s financial constraints.
Perhaps the most shocking name on the list is pass rusher Rashan Gary. Once the cornerstone of the defense, Gary’s production vanished in the second half of the 2025 season, recording zero sacks in the final eleven games. With the second-highest cap hit on the team at $28.02 million, the Packers are strongly considering designating him a post-June 1st cut, which would free up $19.5 million in vital cap space.
The secondary is also facing a major subtraction. Cornerback Nate Hobbs, signed just last offseason to a lucrative $48 million deal, is a prime cut candidate after an injury-ravaged year. Hobbs missed seven games, underwent knee surgery, and was a non-factor. Releasing him after June 1st would save $8.84 million against the cap, resources desperately needed to find more reliable help at the position.
Further cost-cutting will come via contract restructures, most notably for guard Aaron Banks. His performance failed to justify his $77 million deal, ranking near the bottom of the league in pass-blocking metrics. Instead of an outright release, the Packers are likely to restructure his contract, converting salary into a bonus to reduce his 2026 cap hit by approximately $10 million.
Special teams will not be spared, either. Veteran kicker Brandon McManus, whose missed kicks proved costly in a playoff loss, is expected to be released. Moving on from the 35-year-old would save nearly $2 million, a modest but symbolic move signaling a comprehensive evaluation of every roster spot.
The cumulative effect of these transactions could exceed $60 million in newly created cap space. This financial reset is not merely about compliance; it is the foundational step in a aggressive reload strategy aimed at the 2026 season. The freed-up capital is intended to address glaring holes at cornerback, defensive tackle, and offensive line depth.
For Packers Nation, the coming weeks will be a masterclass in brutal front-office calculus. The emotional toll of losing homegrown stars like Jenkins and Gary will be severe, but the front office views this surgery as essential for long-term competitiveness. The goal remains clear: construct a roster around franchise quarterback Jordan Love that can make a legitimate Super Bowl push.
The departure of Malik Willis simultaneously represents a success story and a new problem. It proves the organization’s ability to develop talent but now creates an urgent need to find a competent, cost-effective backup. The search for that next quarterback project will begin immediately in the draft and free agency.
As the NFL’s legal tampering period approaches, Green Bay’s front office is preparing to make headlines with a series of transactions that will redefine the team’s identity. The promise of a brighter financial future comes at a steep and immediate price, leaving fans to brace for a farewell to several familiar faces. The rebuild, or more accurately, the aggressive reload, is officially underway in Titletown.
