GREEN BAY, Wis. -- This week, we looked at the Green Bay Packers' upcoming free agents on both the offensive side of the ball and the defensive side and noted that general manager Ted Thomson has some difficult choices to make.
He's also facing some decisions about players under contract for next season.
Not that the Packers are hurting for salary-cap space -- they already have $18,361,430 in available room for 2015, according to ESPN Stats & Information salary data -- but they could pick up a lot more room if they decide to release some players already under contract.
If the Packers make salary-cap related moves, they usually do so before free agency begins in March.
Here's a look at three possible salary-cap casualties:
A.J. Hawk, LB
2015 salary-cap charge: $5.1 million
Cap savings if released: $3.5 million
Why he could be released: In his ninth season, the former first-round pick saw his role greatly reduced late in the season. He played only 31.1 percent of the defensive snaps over the final seven games (including playoffs). In the first 11 games, he played 94 percent of the snaps. He has only the 2015 season remaining on his contract. If the Packers released him, they would have to absorb $1.6 million -- the remaining proration from his last signing bonus -- on their salary cap, but they would wipe out his $2.45 million base salary and bonuses of $800,000 (roster) and $250,000 (workout). Age and a lack of speed appears to have caught up to Hawk, who turned 31 this month. However, injuries could have been a factor. Although he denied he was hurt, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, one of Hawk's best friends on the team, said several times during the season that Hawk was battling health issues.
Brad Jones, LB
2015 salary-cap charge: $4.75 million
Cap savings if released: $3.75 million
Why he could be released: Like Hawk, Jones' role was significantly reduced as the season went on. He played every snap in the season opener, then missed three games because of a quadriceps injury. When he returned, he played only 15.9 percent of the defensive snaps the rest of the reason. Those snaps came mostly as the lone inside linebacker in the dime package, but he was benched from that role before the NFC Championship Game and didn't play a snap on defense in that game. He has only the 2015 season remaining on his contract. The Packers would wipe out his $3.25 million base salary and $500,000 in bonuses by releasing him. They would have to count only $1 million -- the remaining proration from his last signing bonus -- on their cap.
Julius Peppers, OLB
2015 salary-cap charge: $12 million
Cap savings if released: $7 million
Why he could be released: Peppers had a productive season with 9.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and two interceptions, including playoffs, while playing 73.8 percent of the defensive snaps. But the three-year, $26 million contract he signed last March was structured so that the Packers could move on after one year and save cap space if they desired. On the flip side, if they keep him, it will be costly. His base salary for 2015 would be $8.5 million, and he has another $1 million in bonuses. That $9.5 million would be wiped off the books if he were released, and the Packers would have to count $5 million in remaining signing bonus proration (or they could designate him as a post-June 1 cut and count $2.5 million on 2015, and the other $2.5 million on the 2016 cap).