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What the Packers can still do with their remaining cap space before the season starts after free agent moves and the Jaire Alexander release

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Wendell Ferreira | Last updated Jul 17, 2025 9:33 AM ET

The Green Bay Packers are fifth in cap space in the NFL at this moment. Even after an effort to absorb the entire Jaire Alexander's dead money in 2025, the team still has $35.5 million available this season, only behind the New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and Arizona Cardinals.

For a franchise that had so many financial hurdles over the past few seasons due to an overspending in Aaron Rodgers' twilight years, it's a completely different situation. Even considering that part of the current cap space will go to procedural moves throughout the season, the team could realistically spend around $20 million, even $25 million over the next few months.

Let's talk about how the Packers can use the available cap space.

Zach Tom extension

This should be a top priority for the Packers. The starting right tackle was third in All-Pro votes at his position last year, and he's an ascending star at a premium position entering the final year of his rookie deal. So, it's no surprise that Green Bay is working on it.

"We've had really healthy conversations with Zach about locking him up," Gutekunst told Cheesehead TV a month ago. "And certainly that's something we'd like to do."

Tom is making $3.406 million this year due to the Proven Performance Escalator, with a $3.532 million cap hit. Even if the Packers decide to backload his deal, there would be some type of extra cap impact in 2025. And this is something the Packers should be ready to absorb.

Elgton Jenkins' adjustment

At this moment, Jenkins is slated to make $12.8 million this season, with a $17.6 million cap hit. However, he wants a contract adjustment before moving from left guard to center. There are multiple ways of approaching it from a team perspective, which could include a contract extension that would actually lower his cap hit.

But the Packers don't tend to give extensions to non-quarterbacks with more than a year left on their deals. Therefore, possible solutions would include adding incentives to his current deal—and likely to be earned incentives would hit the cap in 2025—or maybe even anticipating part of his 2026 salary to this year, delaying a definitive contract resolution until next offseason. Both scenarios would slightly increase his cap hit in 2025, and the Packers have the space to pull the trigger.

Smaller signings

The Packers have already made their two big free agent signings, adding guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs to four-year deals. The team also signed Mecole Hardman, Isaiah Simmons, Kristian Welch, and Gregory Junior to contracts close to the veteran minimum.

Based on how general manager Brian Gutekunst tends to operate, new small signings or waiver claims can still happen before the regular season. That won't affect the cap too much, and the team obviously has the flexibility to do it.

Rollover

Now that the Packers released Jaire Alexander, the 2026 cap outlook is much more comfortable, with more than $17 million in projected cap space. Nevertheless, with looming extensions and several important free agents next offseason, Green Bay will need it.

So it makes sense for the Packers to be more prudent with their spending this year, rolling some money over to next year's cap. In the NFL, unused cap space is moved to next year's spending power. From 2024 to 2025, for example, the Packers rolled over $15.11 million, which is added to the NFL-wide salary cap of $279.2 million.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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