The Green Bay Packers have 39 players under contract as they enter the 2025 offseason. Depending on how general manager Brian Gutekunst chooses to use his scissors, that figure may decrease. Furthermore, there is always pruning to be done, let’s face it.
With almost $65 million in salary space for the upcoming season, the Packers appear to be in a good position. The truth is a bit less brilliant, as usual.
Ken Ingalls, the Packers’ cap guru, notes that when you account for draft selections, practice squad players, and other financial housekeeping, the actual figure is closer to $25 million.
Nevertheless, $25 million is a respectable place to start. Additionally, when it comes to manipulating the cap, Gutekunst has demonstrated in the past that he isn’t scared to be inventive—or brutal.
Cutting a few players could be the best course of action if he wants greater freedom. This offseason, let’s examine three Packers who might be on the firing line.
Sims, Ben
Ben Sims doesn’t play much of an offensive role when everyone is healthy. This season, he only played 224 offensive snaps, the most of which were during Luke Musgrave’s absence.
There isn’t much place for him in the rotation because Tucker Kraft is having a breakotu season and Musgrave is healthy, and he isn’t exactly a game-changer in the passing game or as a blocker.
Sims also saw very little time on special teams. His main contributions were in the kick return unit, a position that was very interchangeable.
Although it is not assured, Sims is expected to earn $1.03 million in the upcoming season. In addition to being pocket change in the NFL, the Packers might utilize the roster space for a player with greater potential. The entire amount against the cap would be saved if he were cut.
It’s business, not personal, and this seems like a rather straightforward choice. Sims may not produce much, but his place on the team is crucial. It’s time for Green Bay to locate a guy who can provide them with a bit more value for their $1 million.
Alexander Jaire
The most sensitive choice Green Bay must make this offseason may be to cut Jaire Alexander. At his best, this man can make rival quarterbacks’ lives miserable. He is one of the league’s most gifted cornerbacks.
Even though fans and the organization may find it sad, it is the right football move to let go of Alexander.
The greatest skill is availability, and Alexander hasn’t been available enough. He has played seven games or fewer in three of the last four seasons. For a player who is the backbone of the Packers’ secondary and their payroll, that is a terrible stat.
In relation to salary, Alexander’s 2025 cap hit is an astounding $24.956 million, ranking third on the squad after Rashan Gary and Jordan Love.
By removing him before June 1, the Packers may save $6.838 million for the upcoming campaign. They would remove his whole 2026 cap hit of $27.376 million from the books, which would be much more alluring. It is difficult to overlook the $34 million in overall savings for a team trying to overcome a setback.
Alexander’s talent is undeniable, of course. He remains one of the league’s top cornerbacks when he’s on the field, and Green Bay’s defense is stronger as a result. But the ugly fact is that availability outweighs skill. At that cost, the Packers cannot afford to continue taking chances with Alexander’s health.
They will still require a player to compete with the top receivers in the league. Green Bay could utilize the cap savings to locate a cornerback who can stay on the field, and perhaps even fill other roster gaps, rather than relying on Alexander’s continued health. It’s a difficult decision, but the correct one.
Nixon, Keisean
The Packers may completely revamp their cornerback room and maybe even change their team’s philosophy if they decide to cut ties with Keisean Nixon this summer.
Nixon is the perfect example of what has befallen Green Bay this season: gifted, but weakened by crucial errors at the most inconvenient times.
The Wild Card playoff matchup with the Eagles serves as an example. Before the Packers’ offense could even get on the field, Nixon threw away a kickoff that he had fielded three yards deep in the end zone to start the game.
He later compounded the errors by giving the Eagles 15 yards and pushing Saquon Barkley well out of bounds with a costly personal foul.
These incidents are representative of a bigger problem rather than merely hurting the box office score. Throughout the whole season, the Packers struggled with discipline. Matt LaFleur, the head coach, has to tighten things up.
Then there’s the money part. Nixon has a 2025–2026 contract with a $6.812 million cap hit for the upcoming season. Green Bay would save $2.478 million now and an additional $7.166 million in 2026 if he were cut.
Although the savings aren’t significant, there are instances when the value of the idea overcomes the financial benefits. Releasing Nixon would not only save up contract money but also make a statement about the type of club the Packers want to be.
Indeed, there are times when Nixon appears to be a vital component, a powerful returner with a coverage advantage. However, there is a step back for every move forward. Breaking up relations with Nixon might be the first step in the Packers’ efforts to restore discipline and consistency.
