New Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has some decisions to make regarding a trio of Packers veterans, namely wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, as well as linebacker Clay Matthews. All three are signed to big deals, and the Packers might have to sacrifice at least one of them in order to open up more cap space this offseason.
But as ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reports, Gutekunst would prefer to hold onto all three, whom he considers “really good players.”
“If you have really good players, you need to keep really good players,” Gutekunst said Wednesday at the NFL scouting combine. “And you don’t let them walk out the door just for that reason.”
Gutekunst still thinks highly of Nelson despite a massive dip in his numbers last season. The 32-year-old had just 53 receptions for 482 yards – down significantly from his 97 catches for 1,219 yards in 2016 – with six touchdowns. He didn’t catch a single touchdown pass after Aaron Rodgers went down with his collarbone injury in Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Packers have stated that they will be more aggressive in free agency this offseason than in past years. However, Rodgers’ impending contract extension will likely eat up some of their cap space, so they’ll need to find ways to open up more money for those new signings.
Wide receiver seems like the most logical place to make potential cuts. The team just signed Davante Adams to a new long-term deal in December, which has made the deals for Nelson and Cobb more onerous. Restructuring those deals would be the ideal scenario for the Packers since they wouldn't need to cut them. But if neither agrees, Gutekunst’s hand could be forced into making a tough decision.
Follow Us
Subscribe