5 Players the Green Bay Packers Should Cut During 2016 Offseason

5 Players the Green Bay Packers Should Cut During Offseason

The Green Bay Packers are headed for the playoffs again this year, and it's just a matter of seeding at this point. Looking toward 2016 most of the team's key players should be back, but here are five players the Packers should cut during the offseason.

5 Players the Green Bay Packers Should Cut During Offseason

The Green Bay Packers are headed for the playoffs again this year, and it's just a matter of seeding at this point. Looking toward 2016 most of the team's key players should be back, but here are five players the Packers should cut during the offseason.

5. LB Jayrone Elliott

Elliott has shown promise this season (three sacks), but his playing time has been inconsistent and he's now sidelined by a quad injury. It's worth wondering if the 2014 undrafted free agent would find a better opportunity elsewhere, and if Packers' general manager Ted Thompson would oblige by letting him go.

5. LB Jayrone Elliott

Elliott has shown promise this season (three sacks), but his playing time has been inconsistent and he's now sidelined by a quad injury. It's worth wondering if the 2014 undrafted free agent would find a better opportunity elsewhere, and if Packers' general manager Ted Thompson would oblige by letting him go.

4. TE Kennard Backman

Backman has only been active for six games so far this season, with zero catches. He has three years left on his contract, at a bargain basement rate, but Backman has no place on Green Bay's tight end depth chart next year.

4. TE Kennard Backman

Backman has only been active for six games so far this season, with zero catches. He has three years left on his contract, at a bargain basement rate, but Backman has no place on Green Bay's tight end depth chart next year.

3. P Tim Masthay

Masthay enters this week 13th in the league in net punting average this season (40.1 yards), but the Packers worked out two punters on Dec. 18 and that could point to a change during the offseason. A middle of the road punter with a middle of the road salary for 2016 ($1.2 million base), the Packers should not feel tied to Masthay heading into next season.

3. P Tim Masthay

Masthay enters this week 13th in the league in net punting average this season (40.1 yards), but the Packers worked out two punters on Dec. 18 and that could point to a change during the offseason. A middle of the road punter with a middle of the road salary for 2016 ($1.2 million base), the Packers should not feel tied to Masthay heading into next season.

2. OG/OT T.J. Lang

Lang has been a reliable, versatile starter for Green Bay, as he is on track to start at least 15 games for the fifth straight season. But a $4.6 million base salary for 2016 seems steep, and the Packers can save $5.1 million against the salary cap by cutting Lang as they look to upgrade their offensive line during the offseason.

2. OG/OT T.J. Lang

Lang has been a reliable, versatile starter for Green Bay, as he is on track to start at least 15 games for the fifth straight season. But a $4.6 million base salary for 2016 seems steep, and the Packers can save $5.1 million against the salary cap by cutting Lang as they look to upgrade their offensive line during the offseason.

1. OT Bryan Bulaga

A knee and ankle injury this year can be added to Bulaga's laundry list of injuries, and after a healthy 2014 (15 regular season starts) he still hasn't played all 16 games since his 2010 rookie season. The 26-year old has a reasonable base salary next year ($950,000), but that escalates to $5.4 million in 2017 and climbs from there in 2018. Cutting ties with Bulaga would not really become a money decision until the 2017 offseason, but the Packers can't rely on his durability at all and they would be wise to get ahead of the curve.

1. OT Bryan Bulaga

A knee and ankle injury this year can be added to Bulaga's laundry list of injuries, and after a healthy 2014 (15 regular season starts) he still hasn't played all 16 games since his 2010 rookie season. The 26-year old has a reasonable base salary next year ($950,000), but that escalates to $5.4 million in 2017 and climbs from there in 2018. Cutting ties with Bulaga would not really become a money decision until the 2017 offseason, but the Packers can't rely on his durability at all and they would be wise to get ahead of the curve.