The Green Bay Packers need to clear cap space to remain competitive for the 2022 NFL season.
They took the first step by restructuring nose tackle Kenny Clark‘s contract.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin radio show host Bart Winkler shared the terms of the revamped deal.
The Packers have created $10.892M in 2022 cap space by restructuring the contract of NT Kenny Clark, per @FieldYates
Green Bay converted $13.615 of Clark’s 2022 compensation into a signing bonus and added two void years to his deal.
— Bart Winkler (@WinksThinks) February 23, 2022
Signing bonuses are not part of what’s counted towards the salary cap.
Likewise, voidable years help in potentially softening the financial blow for multiple seasons.
Here’s a clearer picture of what Clark’s new contract looks like, courtesy of Ken Ingalls from Packers Cap.
Kenny Clark's new contract restructure:
🔹2022 cap reduced $10.892M
🔹Added 2 void years
🔹Now the current dead cap leader at $28.615M pic.twitter.com/OG9Y7mt0ha— Ken Ingalls – Packers Cap 💰 (@KenIngalls) February 23, 2022
While Clark’s cap hit is down to $10.892 million, the Packers still have a long way to go in terms of clearing cap space.
As of writing, Over The Cap has Green Bay at around $42 million over the projected 2022 cap ceiling.
However, they can still create more wiggle room to eventually reduce their liabilities way below the cap.
Therefore, the Packers’ cap gymnastics isn’t over and there’s much work to do.
Kenny Clark is a true team player man. Packers free up almost $11 million in cap space by restructuring his contract 🙌🏼
— Pain (@GOATRodgersSZN) February 23, 2022
Clark’s restructured contract is just one of the predictable moves that Green Bay will do to lessen the hit.
Once the easy choices for restructuring are over, the front office must deal with the hard decisions.
How Will The Packers Use The Cap Space?
The Packers will likely use part of the cap space to sign Davante Adams to a long-term deal.
Having him back will improve the chances of Aaron Rodgers returning.
The team might give Adams a franchise tag worth $19.1 million but that’s guaranteed money that counts as such for one year.
Therefore, there’s no certainty that they’ll have him after 2022.
Likewise, the Packers need upgrades at key positions like tight end, defensive line, inside linebacker, and wide receiver.
These are urgent positions of need if they want to remain as one of the NFC’s elite teams.
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