The Green Bay Packers will make a big move on Wednesday, when the new league year starts, but it's not an addition. Instead, the team is expected to release off-ball linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, according to Packersnews.com.

Campbell was slated to make $10.75 million in 2024, which included a $2.9 million roster bonus if he was on the roster by March 15. That won't happen.

The move can't be made before Wednesday because the Packers intend to apply a post-June 1 designation on De'Vondre Campbell. With that move, the Packers will open up $10.573 million in cap space, but the savings won't count before June.

The Packers will have $3.657 million in dead money in 2024, plus $7.971 million in 2025.

Campbell was initially signed by the Packers in 2021 for $2 million and had a First-Team All-Pro season. Then, he signed a five-year, $50 million extension in 2022. However, he was never able to replicate the success of his first year in Green Bay.

Depth

The decision to release De'Vondre Campbell puts more pressure on the linebacker situation for the Packers. Right now, Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie are the only players under contract at the position. The team also signed a futures deal with Christian Young.

Eric Wilson and Kristian Welch, who finished the season on the team and are mostly special teamers, are set to hit unrestricted free agency.

Moreover, the Packers are transitioning from a 3-4 to a 4-3 base defense under Jeff Hafley. Similar defenses, like the San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets, and Houston Texans, have given more value to the position than the average around the NFL.

De'Vondre Campbell spent three seasons with the Packers, and he had gotten progressively less impactful. In 2021, he played 16 games, had 146 tackles, five passes defended and two interceptions. Last year, he played only 11 games, with 75 tackles and one pass defended.

The Packers were the third team in Campbell's career. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round in 2016, and spent his first four seasons with the team. In 2020, he got a one-year deal from the Arizona Cardinals.

Alternatives

The Packers will certainly add new options to the position. In free agency, the big names are Patrick Queen, Devin White, Frank Luvu, and Jordyn Brooks. They are, though, expected to be relatively expensive. The more affordable options might include Azeez Al-Shaair, Blake Cashman, and Malik Harrison.

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