ESPN: Packers Must Do 'Cap Gymnastics' Despite Being Clear of Aaron Rodgers' Contract

Life after Aaron Rodgers hasn't been too bad for the Green Bay Packers, and now general manager Brian Gutekunst fine-tune the roster without the specter of the franchise legend hanging over the salary cap.

"The Packers will also be clear of Rodgers' contract, which included $40.3 million in dead money on the 2023 salary cap," ESPN's Rob Demovsky wrote Tuesday. "They still have some cap gymnastics to do this offseason because at this point they're a couple of million over the projected 2024 cap."

The Packers are $2.9 million over the cap heading into the 2024 season.

Running back A.J. Dillon, cornerback Keisean Nixon and safety Darnell Savage are among Green Bay's notable free agents. In addition, Gutekunst will need to create enough flexibility for the team to sign its draft picks and whatever outside help is deemed necessary.

David Bakhtiari could be sacrificed toward that end. The three-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle will count for nearly $40 million against the cap. Cutting him would mean carrying $19.1 million in dead money but saving $21 million.

With injuries limiting Bakhtiari to 13 games over the past three years, his place on the roster may not be as assured as it was in the past.

For Gutekunst, this might be the offseason to get aggressive.

Jordan Love is eligible for free agency in 2025 and is likely to get a sizable raise from his $10.5 million base salary. Once that happens, navigating around the cap and maintaining a playoff-caliber roster will present a bigger challenge.