Packers are about to realize benefits of difficult offseason decisions as added cap space and roster flexibility arrive
Green Bay released cornerback Nate Hobbs and kicker Brandon McManus with post-June 1 designations earlier this offseason.
The Green Bay Packers might not be the most aggressive franchise in terms of salary cap management. Last year, the front office intentionally adjusted Jaire Alexander’s contract to take his full cap hit in 2025. Circumstances are not the same now.
At two different points of the offseason, the Packers released cornerback Nate Hobbs and kicker Brandon McManus utilizing the post-June 1 designation. This week, the front office is finally set to realize the benefits of that decision.
How the post-June 1 designation works
There are two different types of dead money. First, it’s when a guaranteed part of the salary hasn’t been paid yet. The other is the signing bonus proration, which is paid at the time of the signing, but the hit is spread throughout the life of the deal.
When a player is released, the entire proration accelerates and hits the cap at once. Well, at least if that happens before June 1. If it happens later, the cap hit only accelerates in the following year. In the Packers’ case now, it makes a significant difference. So instead of taking Hobbs and McManus’ dead money hit now, the Packers split that amount — and the acceleration comes in 2027.
In order to allow players to get back to the market early, the NFL created a post-June 1 designation. With that tool, the team can release the player at any point and delay the acceleration. The downside, though, is that both the cap relief and the roster spot don’t come before June 2.
Extra flexibility
After handling these players’ cap holds and roster spots for months, the Packers will finally reap the benefits. On Tuesday, the team will gain $11.442 million in cap space, plus the two roster spots with Hobbs and McManus officially leaving its books.
With Hobbs, a cornerback the Packers signed in free agency last year, the Packers save $8.83 million against the cap. It’s $4 million of dead money now and $4 million more next year. In regards to McManus, the Packers save $2.612 million against the cap this year, with $2.666 million in dead money. Next year, there will still be $1.667 million in dead money, with $4.599 million in cap savings.
The Packers are paying the price for some decisions from last offseason that backfired. Hobbs signed a four-year, $48 million deal in free agency, while McManus agreed to a three-year, $15.3 million extension. Both had rough seasons in 2025, and the front office decided to move on. Hobbs has already signed a new deal with the San Francisco 49ers, and McManus is still available.
Starting this week, finally, the Packers have the flexibility to utilize those resources elsewhere.