The Packers have released Mike Daniels, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Given his Pro Bowl resume, the move comes as a total surprise. 
Daniels was due $8.1MM this season in base salary and roster bonuses, which was apparently too rich for Green Bay’s blood. By cutting Daniels, the Packers will save $8.3MM versus $2.4MM in dead money.
The Packers explored a Daniels trade, but couldn’t find a suitable deal, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Garafolo suggests that the Browns, with all their former Packers connections, are likely to take a look at Daniels after trying, and failing, to sign Gerald McCoy earlier this year.
The Packers extended Daniels via four-year, $41MM contract during the 2015 season. For the most part, the deal has paid off. Daniels earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2017, though he was less productive in 2018 before ultimately landing on IR in December with a foot injury.
In his Pro Bowl campaign, Daniels notched five sacks and 49 tackles across 14 games. Last year, he had two sacks and 18 tackles in ten contests.
Daniels is now free to sign with any club. His preference is to sign with a Super Bowl contender, Schefter hears (on Twitter).
It doesn’t come as a total surprise. He’s 30, injured more often, performance has tailed off some and the Packers have a lot of depth in the interior. Still have young guys like Clark, Adams, Lowry, Gary, Za’Darius, Lancaster and Kingsley. That 8M in savings will go to locking down Clark and Martinez to extensions.
Agree completely. He really provided a lot of fire and heart to the D over the past few years but like you said he’s getting older and his body style won’t age that well. It’s really too bad cause he’s still a solid player but Pack usually get rid of guys a year early rather than a year late.
He’s not a solid player. He’s a loud mouth, pretend tough guy whose play doesn’t warrant his contract. A superb waive by Gute. No reason to keep him around paying him that amount for substandard performance.
Seriously? He started all 16 games 2013-2016 which in itself says a lot about Packers players and produced despite being an interior DL in a 3-4 scheme while facing nothing but double teams. Do you actually watch GB games? Lol
I do watch them. and it’s 2019 , the last 2 years he’s had season ending injuries. it’s called writing on the wall.
You answered your own question….2013-2016. Biggest problem fans do is fall in love with names. Players are nothing but commodities… there will be plenty of guys to take and improve upon Daniels declining production. My question to you…do you watch?
You need to watch football if you don’t think he’s a solid player or pretend tough guy.
You need to roll tape post 2016. He was average in 2017 and non-existent in 2018. But names are easier for amateurs to understand than video.
Hey Dan
As much as I enjoyed watching him play, his pass rushing ability definitely dropped off the last two years and with Clark and Lowry coming on, especially Clark playing at a Pro Bowl level, this was an easy decision. Hopefully, they can use the savings to sign an experienced backup (once other teams start cutting vets) for Martinez at MLB and maybe extend Clark.
Oookay, I get that Daniels has been hurt and his contract was a bit pricey, but then why not also cut the perpetually-injured Bulaga?
I believe that he will end up with the Cowboys or the Jets because they both could use him right away. Also maybe The Colts and Ravens make sense as well because they are looking for a good pass rusher