Packers can meet roster needs through free agency while still preserving critical draft capital
Cut candidates around the league are a perfect way to maximize the Packers’ resources.
The Green Bay Packers won’t have first-round picks in 2026 or 2027 after trading them for Micah Parsons, so every piece of draft capital is huge for the future of the team. In 2026, the Packers are slated to have two seventh-round compensatory picks, and the formula should be even more advantageous in 2027 with big free agents potentially leaving town — quarterback Malik Willis, wide receiver Romeo Doubs, linebacker Quay Walker, and left tackle Rasheed Walker in particular.
However, to realize those compensatory picks, the Packers can’t go fishing big in unrestricted free agency. Any team can have up to four comp picks in a given year, and if you sign a big free agent, you cancel the pick you would receive for one of your losses.
That’s why the Packers can be smart to add pieces to the roster without forgetting the compensatory pick game.
Cut candidates to watch for the Packers
If a player is released by his original team, the acquiring team can sign him without compromising the compensatory pick formula — released players are considered street free agents, not unrestricted free agents.
Over the Cap has an interesting list with 100 potential cap candidates, and we talked about the Packers players on it. However, some players from other teams could fit Green Bay’s needs.
For the past three years, the Packers have had the youngest roster in football. The talent is there, the team reached the playoffs in every one of those seasons, but some extra experience could be helpful.
Cut candidates and cash due in 2026
Defensive backs
- CB L’Jarius Sneed, Tennessee Titans, $16 million
- CB Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears, $16 million
- CB Kristian Fulton, Kansas City Chiefs, $10 million
- CB Darious Williams, Los Angeles Rams, $7.5 million
- CB Isaiah Rodgers, Minnesota Vikings, $5 million
Defensive linemen
- DT DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts, $23 million
- DT Daron Payne, Washington Commanders, $22.4 million
- EDGE Jonathan Greenard, Minnesota Vikings, $19 million
- DT Arik Armstead, Jacksonville Jaguars, $14.5 million
- DT Maliek Collins, Cleveland Browns, $10 million
- DT A’Shawn Robinson, Carolina Panthers, $8.5 million
- DT DaVon Hamilton, Jacksonville Jaguars, $8.4 million
- DT Harrison Phillips, New York Jets, $7.5 million
- DT TJ Slaton, Cincinnati Bengals, $6.1 million
Offensive linemen
- T Jaylon Moore, Kansas City Chiefs, $15 million
- G Patrick Mekari, Jacksonville Jaguars, $11.5 million
- G Mekhi Becton, Los Angeles Chargers, $10 million
- C Tyler Biadasz, Washington Commanders, $8.3 million
Those salaries are not necessarily what these players would make in Green Bay. Because they would have been released, it usually shows the original team’s desire not to pay that much, so unless there’s too much competition, the Packers would be in a position to get these players at a discount.
That doesn’t guarantee these players will get cut either — some will, some won’t. But it’s an important list for general manager Brian Gutekunst and director of pro personnel Richmond Williams to monitor.
It’s a solid strategy for the Packers to get more experience, add depth and immediate help despite the lack of a first-round pick, and not affect the compensatory pick formula for 2027.
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