USAT: Packers Wire audio clip

USAT: Packers Wire

Feb 26, 2022

The Green Bay Packers restructured a third contract to help trim commitments from the 2022 salary cap. - According to Field Yates of ESPN, the Packers restructured the contract of left tackle David Bakhtiari, clearing almost $9.3 million on the salary cap this season and providing much-needed relief as Brian Gutekunst and Russ Ball attempt put all the financial puzzle pieces together this month. - As was the case for Kenny Clark and Aaron Jones, the Packers converted Bakhtiari’s base salary and roster bonuses into a signing bonus and added void years to maximize the savings in 2022. Bakhtiari had $11.58 million of money (including a $9.5 million roster bonus) converted into a signing bonus, allowing the Packers to spread out that charge over five years on the cap and save the maximum amount. - The restructure reduces Bakhtiari’s cap number in 2022 to $12.9 million but increased his cap hits in future years. His cap number inflates to $28.6 million in 2023 and $32.6 million in 2024, per Over the Cap. - The Packers added two void years in 2025 and 2026. Roughly $4.6 million in dead money will be due on the cap when the deal voids following the 2024 season. - Overall, the Packers have cleared around $23.2 million from the salary cap by restructuring Bakhtiari, Clark and Jones. All three moves were expected for a team attempting to shed around $50 million to open the offseason. - Bakhtiari, who turns 31 in September, played in only one regular-season game (27 snaps in Week 18) during the 2021 season while recovering from reconstructive knee surgery. He suffered an ACL tear before Week 17 in 2020. - The restructured deal all but guarantees Bakhtiari will be on the roster for the next two seasons, confirming the Packers’ belief that the All-Pro left tackle will return as a healthy and dominant player in 2022 and beyond. - The Packers still need to shed more cap dollars and are expected to restructure several more contracts before the start of the new league year on March 16. - - RelatedHow restructuring Kenny Clark's contract saved almost $11M on Packers' salary capPackers leaving all options open with soon-to-be free agent WR Davante AdamsPackers expecting to restructure 'many more' veteran contracts this offseason - - List - - How the Packers can stay all-in for 2022 while saving $90 million on the salary cap - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Packers Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Packers Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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