Report: Packers restructure contracts of Jaire Alexander, Preston Smith ahead of free agency
The Green Bay Packers reportedly restructured the contracts of Jaire Alexander and Preston Smith ahead of free agency to create more cap space.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported the Packers created roughly $16 million in cap space before free agency opens up next month. Both men were key contributors on defense over the last few seasons.
The move did not indicate future plans for the Packers, but at the very least, the team has more room to operate.
“The Packers restructured the contracts of stars Jaire Alexander and Preston Smith, source says, creating $9.456M and $6.668M in cap space,” Rapoport wrote on Twitter. “The Jaguars did the same for LB Foye Oluokun, creating $10.336M.”
Alexander was a first round pick (No. 18 overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Louisville. In five seasons, Alexander has 244 total tackles, 203 solo tackles, 10 interceptions, 58 pass deflections, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one safety.
Smith is a former second round pick by the then-Washington Redskins in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State. The Packers signed him prior to the 2019 season.
Smith has 351 total tackles, 226 solo tackles, 55 sacks, five interceptions, 23 pass deflections, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns in his career.
Report: Packers ready to move on from Aaron Rodgers
The Green Bay Packers are ready to move on from Aaron Rodgers, according to one veteran NFL reporter. Bob McGinn, formerly a Packers beat writer and now a contributor to Go Long, explained his reasoning on a recent podcast episode.
“They’re disgusted with him and they’re done with him and they’re moving on,” McGinn said. “This is going to involve money and a trade partner and all kinds of things. But I’m totally convinced he is not going to be their starting quarterback this year. On the other hand, they love Jordan Love. They think he’s the second coming now. They’ve seen enough in practice for three years, that they believe he is like Rodgers 2.0. That’s where this organization is coming from right now. They have turned the page, just like they did to [Brett] Favre in June and July, those months in the summer of 2008 and I don’t see it changing.”
He continued in his explanation, noting that even if the Packers can’t find a trade partner and ship Rodgers out, he thinks he will be the backup. And an expensive one, at that, costing $59 million.