The Green Bay Packers are 11-4 and on their way to the NFL Playoffs for the second season in a row. While there have been many reasons for the team’s success this year, the free agent signings of running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney cannot be overlooked. Indeed, both Jacobs and McKinney have played major roles in their first year with Green Bay.
McKinney is tied for the NFL lead in interceptions (seven) while Jacobs is fourth in the league in rushing yards (1,216). Both players were rare high-profile free agent signings by the Packers, a team that does not always make big splashes on the open market.
And in 2025, they could make even more.
The Green Bay Packers Have Over $60 Million of Salary Cap Space in 2025
At the end of the 2022 NFL season, it did not look like the Packers were in a great spot, both on the field and financially. Trading four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers alleviated some space, but Green Bay still had a hefty dead cap hit from his contract. The same was true when the Packers decided to part ways with left tackle David Bakhtiari.
But in 2025, Green Bay’s financial outlook is a lot brighter. They will finally be free of the dead cap hits from previous players and have spent a great deal of resources in drafting young and affordable players. As a result, they will have $63.3 million in cap space in 2025, which also accounts for Jordan Love‘s $55 million annual salary as part of his four-year $220 million extension that he signed after training camp started (he will carry a $29 million cap hit in 2025).
Of course, some of this cap space may be used to give extensions to some of their current players. Wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson will be entering the final years of their rookie contracts next season, as will star offensive tackles Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker. Offensive guard Sean Rhyan, too, seems to be worthy of a contract extension after his stellar play this season.
The Packers likely will not give every single one of the aforementioned players a second contract, but it stands to reason that most of them will. That being said, Green Bay will still have a plethora of cap space left afterwards, and fans have a good idea of one big name they would like to see the team pursue.
Green Bay Packers Fans Would Like to See the Team Acquire Las Vegas Raiders Star Pass Rusher Maxx Crosby
Las Vegas Raiders Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby is one of the most feared defensive linemen in the NFL. Unfortunately, his 2024 season was cut short due to needing surgery on his foot. In 12 games this year, he had 7.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss, a statistic in which he led the NFL in each of the last two years (22 in 2022 and 23 in 2023).
And he has no guaranteed money left on his contract after this season. In fact, the Raiders would save $18 million in their own salary cap if they were to release or trade him.
What is more, it sounds like Crosby may be ready to move on from Las Vegas:
In a recent podcast, the three-time Pro Bowler expressed his frustration with constantly losing with the Raiders as well as the instability surround the coaching staff. He also said that he is looking forward to the conversations that will be had between himself and the front office as they weigh their options for the future.
Packers fans would like it if he ended up in Green Bay now that the team has so much cap space with which they could extend him:
As one can see, many fans are hopeful that former Raiders Rich Bisaccia, Jacobs, and Keisean Nixon would help recruit Crosby to Green Bay.
Since he is still under contract and one of the best players at his position in the NFL, it is not likely that the Raiders would simply release him. However, he could be traded and, while he would cost multiple draft picks, Green Bay has the resources to make a deal if they wanted to.
As pointed out above, they also have the salary cap space to sign him long-term as well.
Such a move would be a deviation from the way the Packers generally build their roster, but it would certainly boost their defense and make them better in the short-term.
The big question is whether Brian Gutekunst would be willing to trade away some of his precious draft capital.
