Za'Darius Smith's deal needs to be restructured for him to remain with Packers

Kenny Clark‘s restructure moved the Packers down to roughly $40M over the expected 2022 cap, and Brian Gutekunst identified another way the team plans to continue its crusade toward cap compliance.

Za’Darius Smith will not be brought back on his current deal, which calls for a $27.7M cap number next season, via ESPN's Rob Demovsky. The Packers have not ruled out keeping the former Pro Bowl edge-rusher, but Demovsky notes the team will not do so at that figure. Smith is coming off a season in which he played in just two games — Week 1 and Green Bay’s divisional-round loss — and one year remains on his contract.

The Packers signed Smith to a four-year, $66M deal in 2019. The ex-Ravens edge defender delivered on the deal over its first two seasons, going to two Pro Bowls and combining for 26 sacks. Last year changed Smith’s course. He and the Packers did not see eye-to-eye regarding a restructure, one that ballooned his 2022 cap figure to this place, and the surgery-inducing back issue Smith encountered stalled his on-field momentum.

Void years would be necessary to lower Smith’s cap number, if he is to stay on his current deal. An extension would be another solution. Smith, 29, is not in the best position to command top dollar on a new deal. It will be interesting to see how the Packers play this, but Gutekunst did indicate he has a good relationship with the veteran pass-rusher, via Green Bay Press-Gazette’s Ryan Wood.

Green Bay has Preston Smith attached to a reworked contract, one that expires after 2022 as well, and Rashan Gary emerged as a starter while replacing Za’Darius Smith last season. Preston Smith‘s cap number ($19.7M) also makes him vulnerable; he also has been the Packers’ less productive edge-rushing Smith when both players are healthy. The Packers have Gary’s fifth-year option decision to make by May; exercising it would keep him under contract through 2023. A midseason pickup, Whitney Mercilus is on track for free agency.