Packers Restructure Amos to Get Under Cap

The Green Bay Packers' credit-card approach to the offseason continued with Adrian Amos.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers’ credit card approach to roster-building continued on Wednesday. To help get under the salary cap by Wednesday’s deadline, the Packers and safety Adrian Amos agreed to a restructured contract.

Amos was due to receive a $7 million base salary in 2022, his final season under contract. Instead, he’ll play for the league-minimum $1.12 million. The difference was turned into signing bonus and four void years were added to help with the accounting. That sent his cap number down from $11.98 million to $7.28 million – a difference of $4.70 million.

The downside, though, is he will count $7.95 million against the cap in 2023, when he’s no longer on the roster.

It’s possible a contract extension will be worked out to, A, keep a top performer on the team and, B, avoid the massive pile of dead money that would be left behind.

Amos, who will turn 29 on April 29, has been worth every penny of the four-year, $36 million contract he signed as a free agent in 2019. In 2021, Amos started all 17 games and led the defense with 1,048 snaps.

Mr. Consistency was second on the team with 94 tackles, tied for third with two interceptions and fourth with eight passes defensed. He added another interception in the divisional playoff game vs. San Francisco. He missed only six tackles, giving him the sixth-best tackling percentage among safeties, according to Pro Football Focus.

Combined with receiver Randall Cobb taking a pay cut, which sent his cap number down from $9.53 million, the Packers created $10.155 million of space, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates.

Added together, the Packers opened the day with about $1.92 million of cap space, according to OTC’s accounting. They used most of that by signing punter Pat O’Donnell, a former teammate of Amos in Chicago.

Green Bay Packers: Key 2022 Transactions

Extended: QB Aaron Rodgers

The offseason drama is over. Four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers signed a contract extension with the Packers that significantly lessens his 2022 cap charge while tying him to Green Bay through at least the 2024 season.

Re-Signed: LB De'Vondre Campbell

All-Pro linebacker De'Vondre Campbell will return on a five-year, $50 million contract, Packer Central was the first to report. He turned a one-year, $2 million contract into a Year 1 payout of $16.25 million.

Tendered: WR Allen Lazard

The restricted free agent, and coach Matt LaFleur's beloved "goon," was given the second-rounder of almost $4 million. He'll be able to shop himself around the league until April 22.

Extended: OLB Preston Smith

The Packers extended outside linebacker Preston Smith after he recorded nine sacks in 2021. The upcoming season would have been his final one under contract. The extension resulted in more than $8 million of cap savings and includes sack-based incentives.

Released: OLB Za’Darius Smith

Releasing two-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith produced more than $15 million in cap savings. He missed most of last season with a back injury. Smith returned to the Baltimore Ravens on a four-year deal worth $35 million; a lot of money but not even close to the four-year, $66 million contract he signed with Green Bay in 2019.

Released: RT Billy Turner

The Packers released offensive lineman Billy Turner, who started 43 games at three positions in his three seasons with the team. Elgton Jenkins or Yosh Nijman could wind up in the lineup.

Signed: P Pat O'Donnell

One day after Packer Central learned Corey Bojorquez would not be asked back at punter, they signed veteran Pat O'Donnell away from the Bears. Looking at the season-long numbers, it was not a positive move.

Restructured: S Adrian Amos

The Packers took out the credit card again with a restructure for safety Adrian Amos. As it stands, his cap number is lower with the team in 2022 then it will be when he's a free agent in 2023.

Pay cut: WR Randall Cobb

With a huge cap number given his age and productivity, veteran receiver Randall Cobb agreed to a pay cut to stay in Green Bay alongside Aaron Rodgers.

Top 85 NFL Free Agents

Here is a breakdown of the top 85 free agents, and their comings and goings as NFL teams start to throw around wads of hundred-dollar bills.