One of the first unrestricted free agents signed by Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst will be returning to the Pack but at a reduced rate. Veteran linebacker Preston Smith is the latest veteran to have his contract restructured to create more salary cap space for the team. Smith joined Green Bay from Washington in 2019, along with three other free agents signed by Gutekunst that off-season, Za’Darius Smith, Adrian Amos and Billy Turner. Preston is the last one still with the team, entering his 6th season as a Packer. He’s been a dependable pass rusher throughout his tenure and seemed to enjoy his role as a senior leader on the defense a year ago. Smith was scheduled to make 12.4 million dollars in 2024 but along with a pay cut, the Packers reportedly spiced his deal up with reachable incentives for playing time and production. The changes create another 2.4 million dollars in salary cap space heading into the off-season and after Gutekunst and the Packers restructured Rashan Gary’s deal earlier in the week, they’ll have more than 7 million dollars in cap room with free agency beginning in early March.
A cap casualty in Kansas City was former Green Bay wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. He was cut Wednesday opening up 12 million dollars in cap space. MVS spent years in Green Bay before signing with the Chiefs. While he made several big plays, including a touchdown catch in Kansas City’s Super Bowl LVIII victory over San Francisco earlier this month, he had just 21 receptions during the regular season.
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