2026 Cap Projections and changes

[OldSchool101]

So I’m seeing some minor conflicting reports on an exact Cap number. It’s a moving target as anything that changes on the Top 51 list and it has a corresponding change because the bottom of that list rotates. Two popular projections of our Cap currently being from -$1.4Mil (PFF) to -$1.6mil (OTC) to about -$4.3mil (Spotrac) over the current allowable. For the sake of argument we’ll say we’re somewhere around -$2.5Mil +-

Elgton Jenkins ($19.5Mil +) is the most obvious way to get cap correct and Quickly. Him alone being cut adjusts our Cap to +17.0Mil area.

Aaron Banks is another Avenue. He’s projected to free up $10.6Mil in restructure. His is arguably one of the top contracts in the list of players retained who can allow us room.

****Rashan Gary has the ability to free up between $8.4Mil area in restructure. I’m leaving him out of these moves because his contract is volatile. There’s even an outside chance he’s a cut or release and that elevates to pre or post June decision freeing $11-19Mil cap. It’s a risky move, but it will be much about how he’s viewed internally in forecasting his impact. I have no idea about that other than my guess is he stays and is offered a restructure. ****
Love could free up around $7.3Mil

Xavier around $5.8mil

Hobbs around $4.6Mil

Tom around $2.7mil

Now I’m not suggesting we will or we should use every avenue. Only stating that there are logical ways to create room. We also have several of our own players we might want to retain (Quay) etc) or extend (Kraft). The smaller FA adds, like Niemann we don’t have to be as concerned because of the $850/900K offsets are bottom equivalent within 25% margin. We can really just keep several of those guys without any real meaningful impact to our projections.

Keep in mind we have a draft class to sign and we tend to keep around $5M+-- reserves for any emergency signing needed. Here we have a rare and unique advantage (if you will allow me to call us not having a Day1 advantage) In 2026 there will be a very minimal impact on how this class affects our Cap. As each player gets added to the Roster, the bottom 51st accounting drops off. The #52 overall has a projected $1.67mil hit, but keep in mind the corresponding player dropping off the list offsets to create only around $700K added (these are rough estimates, but close)
Then as each player gets drafted that number differential diminishes in fashion. So while we are light in draft capital #26 ranked. We do close the cap gap with 20+ other teams immediately after this Draft. We are light on draft equity, but we become more normalized on usable FA $$$ and easily fall out of that bottom 10 and into the middle 3rd of the league.

 

[OldSchool101]

I saw 1 late January report that claimed if GB used every reasonable tool we could add just over $51Mil in Cap. Or close to a +$45Mil surplus after the draft class gets added and we apply our Negative. Meaning we’d have around $40Mil to apply after paying the Top 51, + Reserve $, + erasing and current deficit.

Will we need that? No.
Are we a team that is “poached” in the Cap space spectrum? Not anywhere close and it’s been misreported a little bit. Mostly because the outside of the Cap & onion looks a little withered. Inside she’s a good onion, just peel a few layers off.

I think The Packers will create enough to resign 2 of either Sean, Quay or even possibly Doubs (Each signing will offset $900K also off bottom) and they’ll role a few million each into the future. As already mentioned there could be a splash move also. Such as us unexpectedly trading a Player who is deemed mildly redundant (Reed). It being a method of focusing on the weakest links. That could create a near exchange of cap collateral without much meaningful negative cap impact. Plus net us a Day 2 selection that again, barely impacts the global $$ scenario.

I say all this to verbosely display it’s not all doom n gloom. Brian can go out and resign 1/2 of his incumbent FA players outside of maybe Elgton or Walker. In my estimation those 2 are fiscally problematic (nothing personal!) and without any terrible extended measures at all, Gute could go make 1 splash signing in that $15-$20Mil annual type neighborhood OR even 1-2 OUTSIDE FA’s in that Amos/Turner type move $7-8Mil annual each.
E.G, Maybe get a starting DT and pocket $8-10Mil for a secret Trade deadline, high level, prorated contract upgrade if he sees fit to fine tune the roster if it’s SB worthy. A smaller version of what he did in 2025 with Micah.

 

[Voyageur]

I saw where Gutekunst said that Josh Jacobs would be back with the team next year, that's an important part of their plans.

 

[OldSchool101]

I saw where Gutekunst said that Josh Jacobs would be back with the team next year, that's an important part of their plans.

That’s fantastic. That Josh is perfect for this team. He’s durable, he’s a big play waiting to happen. Triple threat. Run threat /Pass threat /Lockerroom presence

 

[mradtke66]

I'm not going to claim to know everything, but I suspect that Banks sticks this year due to so much of the line being in flux.

New LT
Possible new C
Super Young RG
Chance Tom starts training camp on the PUP

I'd like to return at least 1 veteran in the same spot for next year.

 

[OldSchool101]

I'm not going to claim to know everything, but I suspect that Banks sticks this year due to so much of the line being in flux.

New LT
Possible new C
Super Young RG
Chance Tom starts training camp on the PUP

I'd like to return at least 1 veteran in the same spot for next year.

So just imo. Banks was injured early on and him trying to adapt caused some instability. I’m not giving him a total pass and I was critical of him earlier season. However his grades did improve towards the end of the season and that’s consistent with him both becoming more comfortable in system and responsibility and him healing up also.

Let’s be clear. So far Banks was a mistake but more due to $$. His level of play should’ve been 1/2 his cost thus far. In 2026 he’s not a true cut candidate we’d barely save any $$. Then we’d have to overlap by paying his replacement. So unless we find someone better for under <$5Mil and risk going through this all over again? I think you’re right he stays.

I’ve got banks as a medium floor to medium high ceiling. So far he just was improving to his floor expectation. Brian missed on Banks as there were a nice grouping of Interior OL switching teams and they ended up higher graded at around 50% of Banks $$

 

[OldSchool101]

So sounds like Gary is departing. First of all wish him the best he was a consummate professional and great teammate from all accounts I’ve seen.

Don’t mean to sound harsh but Just updating this, should be somewhere in that $15-17m plus cap$.

 

[OldSchool101]

Banks just restructured to free up Cap $$