The Green Bay Packers structure contracts differently than most NFL teams. General manager Brian Gutekunst’s front office front-loads guarantees into the first year of nearly every deal, limiting long-term financial exposure. The signing bonus is typically the only guaranteed money, and that approach gives Green Bay the flexibility to move on from underperforming players without absorbing crippling cash concerns. With several veterans entering critical contract windows in 2026, the Packers have five players whose futures in Green Bay hinge on this season’s performance.

Running back Josh Jacobs

Josh Jacobs carries an $11.5 million salary in 2026, and that number jumps to $13.5 million in 2027, the final year of the four-year deal he signed back in 2024. If the Packers release him next offseason, the dead money would be only $3.125 million, with $13.5 million in cap savings. That’s a clean exit. If Jacobs can’t perform at a high level this year, Green Bay has every financial incentive to move on.

Left guard Aaron Banks

The Packers gave Banks a questionable four-year, $77 million contract last offseason, but the structure is particularly interesting. Banks made $29.341 million in 2025 and is earning $18.1 million this season. His salary drops to $15.5 million in 2027 and $14 million in 2028. The worst part of the deal has already passed.

The Packers committed to Banks by paying his $9.5 million roster bonus back in March, which canceled 2026 as the logical exit point if the team wanted out. By choosing to keep him, Green Bay signaled its intention to ride out the contract. A post-June 1 release next offseason could spread the $26.288 million dead cap across two years, but at this point, Banks would need to play poorly or face significant injury concerns for the Packers to seriously consider cutting ties.

Center Sean Rhyan

Sean Rhyan signed a three-year, $33 million contract this offseason, but the deal actually functions as a one-year commitment. Rhyan will make $14 million in 2026, then $9 million in 2027 and $10 million in 2028, with nothing guaranteed beyond this season. If the Packers released him next offseason, the cap hit would be $12.666 million with only $7.333 million in dead money, creating meaningful savings.

The variable here is rookie fifth-rounder Jager Burton. If Burton develops quickly enough to surpass Rhyan on the depth chart, the Packers could comfortably transition to the younger option and pocket the cap relief.

Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave

The Packers signed Hargrave to a two-year, $23 million deal with $10.5 million fully guaranteed through his signing bonus. He’s making $13 million this year and is projected for $10 million in 2027. Releasing him next offseason would cost only $5.25 million in dead cap while opening $10 million in cap space.

Hargrave is 33 and will be 34 next offseason. The Packers built this contract with a potential one-year exit in mind. His performance in 2026 and the state of the defensive tackle depth chart will determine whether Green Bay exercises that flexibility.

Linebacker Zaire Franklin

After acquiring Franklin via trade from the Indianapolis Colts, the Packers restructured his deal into a two-year, $18 million contract at $9 million per year. The signing bonus is just $3.75 million, making the second year easy to shed. Releasing Franklin next offseason would leave only $1.875 million in dead money against a projected $10.88 million cap hit, freeing up significant space.

Franklin arrived as a short-term fix as the Packers expected to lose Quay Walker this offseason. Green Bay doesn’t have many proven options at linebacker beyond Franklin and Edgerrin Cooper. If Franklin plays well, he stays. If the Packers can find younger answers at the position, the contract gives them a clean path forward.