The Green Bay Packers finished third in the NFC North with a 7-9 record and have holes that need to be addressed to get back to the playoffs in 2018. It's time to start shredding away some of the fat to make sure this Packers team is in perfect shape to rebound next season.
Green Bay enters 2018 with $21.2 million in cap space, which is the 22nd most in the NFL. This will likely mean the team will have to cut big names who are set to make a lot of money in 2018. Here are four Packers players likely to get cut this offseason.
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1.) Jordy Nelson, WR
The Packers need to decide between 32-year-old Jordy Nelson and 27-year-old wide receiver Randall Cobb in regards to which one they want to keep for 2018. Davante Adams proved to be the top wide receiver on the team in 2017 and investing $35 million into three wide receivers simply doesn't make sense. With Nelson's scheduled base salary equalling $10.4 million next year, and Cobb $8.6 million the Packers may want to go with the cheaper option. Considering Nelson's age, salary, and dead cap space saving the Packers $950K, Nelson will likely be the odd man out.
2.) Randall Cobb, WR
As stated above, I expect the Packers to cut Nelson over Coob, but there is a chance they stick with Jordy. Nelson has shown great chemistry with quarterback Aaron Rodgers over the years and if Rodgers wants Nelson instead of Cobb, the Packers may give him what he wants. Cobb's cap hit is the second most on the roster at 12.7 million only behind Rodgers, with a dead cap hit at $3.25 million if he is cut.
3.) Clay Matthews, LB
Matthews will enter 2018 at 32 years old and is scheduled to make $11.36 million in 2018 with zero dead cap space if he is cut. Matthews missed two games this season and four games in 2016 while showing a decline in his ability on the field. The last two seasons combined he has 68 combined tackles, which isn't worth his contract considering he had 66 tackles in 2015 alone.
4.) Lance Kendricks, TE
Kendricks was cut by the Rams in 2017, which lead to him signing with the Packers. Kendricks will make 2.23 million in 2018 with a dead cap hit if he is cut of $600K. Kendricks caught only 51% of his 35 targets last season with one touchdown. Aaron Rodgers has never shown interest in using a tight end throughout his career, so saving 1.63 million may be worth it to the Packers.
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Mitchell Renz is the Senior Writer & On-Air Host at Chat Sports check out his article archive and live videos on Chat Sports Facebook page. Please follow him on Twitter @MitchellRenz365.
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