The Packers are among the teams which entered Thursday with work to do to become cap compliant. Green Bay has opted for a restructure as an easy way to free up 2026 space. 
The team has restructured safety Xavier McKinney‘s contract, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. McKinney was due to count $19.09MM against the cap next season, but that will no longer be the case. As Fowler notes, both his base salary ($4.25MM) and pending roster bonus ($8.5MM) are set to be converted into a signing bonus.
A simple conversion only affecting McKinney’s salary would have generated nearly $6MM in savings; that figure would have been sufficient to get the Packers out of the red in terms of cap space. Converting his roster bonus will create even more in the way of additional funds, though, and Fowler notes McKinney’s cap hit for 2026 should drop to below $10MM as a result of today’s move. More cost-cutting will no doubt be coming from Green Bay.
The Packers could free up more cap space by releasing the likes of offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins and edge rusher Rashan Gary. Over the coming days, the status of those two veterans will be worth watching closely as general manager Brian Gutekunst and Co. prepare for the new league year. In any event, McKinney will of course be in Green Bay’s plans for the foreseeable future.
The former Giant took a big-ticket deal in free agency during the 2024 offseason. McKinney thrived during his debut Green Bay campaign, notching eight interceptions en route to first-team All-Pro honors. The 27-year-old remained a full-time starter for the Packers this past season, posting double-digit pass deflections for the third year in a row. McKinney’s contract runs through 2027, a season in which an inflated cap figure will be in store unless void years are added or an extension is eventually agreed to.
Releasing Jenkins would be rough. 2x pro bowl, plays all 3 OL positions. But might be needed. Even a trade would be better.
Did you see him play? He had a holding penalty every other down. And when he wasn’t holding he was getting beat
4 penalties according to PFF with 2 sacks allowed. Sounds like an exaggeration. They weren’t kind on his grading but he plays better at guard than center.
Dallas would take Gary off their hands. How about a 4th round pick and a 5th 6th pick swap instead of just releasing him
Too many things would need to happen. Dallas is low on cap so they can’t absorb his deal. Would require Gary to agree to a new deal.
They are going to free up plenty real soon. And if Gary wants a new deal than its better..Lower the cap charge next year with the signing bonus..In 3 years or 2 they will begin to release players from all the $$ they are kicking down the road.
Move Jenkins back to LG and sign a center like Biadasz.