The NFL’s three day “tampering” window has opened, giving clubs time to negotiate contracts with soon to be free agents with deals officially signed when the 2022 calendar year begins on Wednesday.
The Green Bay Packers are moving quickly to get down to the 208.2 million dollar salary cap limit by then.
The Smith brothers are breaking up. Preston Smith has reportedly agreed to a 4 year contract extension worth up to 52.5 million dollars. The deal lowers this year’s cap figure by 8 million. He’ll earn 14 million in 2022 and with incentives can earn more than 31 million in the next couple of years. Smith had his contract restructured last year to create cap space after his production dropped from a dozen sacks in his first year with the Packers to just 4 last year. He rebounded with 9 sacks and 62 pressures and has been rewarded with the new contract.
Za’Darius Smith is being released according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Smith had a 2022 cap figure of 27.6 million dollars. After posting two strong seasons with the Packers, ranking among league leaders in sacks and pressures, Smith dealt with a back injury last year. He played just 18 snaps in the season opener and then underwent surgery to correct the problem, returning for only spot duty in the NFC Divisional playoff loss to San Francisco.
The Packers are also parting ways with veteran offensive tackle Billy Turner. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported Turner isn’t interested in a restructured deal to lower his 5.8 million dollar cap figure and will seek opportunities elsewhere.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network also reported today that All Pro wide receiver Davante Adams is not fond of playing this season on the franchise tag tender of 20.1 million dollars. Rapoport says Adams and the Packers are far apart on a long term extension. The team has until mid-July to get that kind of a deal in place.
