The Green Bay Packers will add almost $10 million in dead money on their 2024 salary cap after the contracts of safety Darnell Savage, offensive tackle Yosh Nijman and cornerback Keisean Nixon voided on Monday.
The bill eventually comes due on restructures using void years, a common salary cap mechanic used by the Packers and many other NFL teams. While void years allow teams to spread out cap hits, all the prorated money accelerates onto the cap when the deal eventually voids.
Extensions are possible to avoid the dead money acceleration but increasingly rare across the league.
For Savage, the dead money bill is $5,456,800. He had void years added to his fifth-year option in 2023.
For Nijman, the dead money bill is $2,543,200. He had void years added to his one-year restricted tender in 2023.
For Nixon, the dead money bill is $1,480,000. He had void years added to his one-year deal in 2023.
The total charge? $9,480,000 in dead money.
While not a debilitating amount, the $9.48 million in dead cap from the three voided contracts would represent the 10th biggest hit on the Packers’ 2024 salary cap.
Savage, Nijman and Nixon will be unrestricted free agents. The Packers can sign any of the three, but the new contract will only add to the dead money salary cap charge in 2024. If they sign elsewhere, the Packers will still count all three on the cap.
In previous years, the Packers re-signed linebacker De’Vondre Campbell and tight end Robert Tonyan after they had a voided contract.
The Packers lack experience and depth at safety, but it’s unclear if Savage fits what new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is looking for at the position. Nixon is an All-Pro returner and was the full-time starter in the slot in 2023, but he may have opportunities elsewhere. Nijman got passed up by Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker at offensive tackle and will almost certainly move on.
The Packers now have over $15 million in dead money on the 2024 cap. Trading Rasul Douglas at the trade deadline last year added over $5 million in dead money.
Dead money has become an increasingly big part of the Packers’ salary cap puzzle in recent years. The team carried over $65 million in dead money on last year’s cap, mostly due to trading away Aaron Rodgers. Voided contracts for Tonyan, Adrian Amos, Randall Cobb, Mason Crosby and Marcedes Lewis also factored in.
