The Parkers are set to offload veteran linebacker De’vondre Campbell, as this will free up $10.5 million in salary cap space.
The Green Bay Packers will release inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell on Wednesday, a move that will result in them gaining more than $10 million in salary cap space, a source told PackersNews.
The Packers will make the move at the start of the NFL’s new calendar year, which starts in conjunction with free agency at 3 p.m. Wednesday. By waiting until Wednesday, they can put a June 1 designation on his release and gain a larger chunk of salary cap room than if they cut him right away.
The Packers have been making moves that will create salary cap room, so they have the option of being a player in free agency. They are likely to pursue safety and potentially play in other positions.
In addition, they have several of their own free agents they want to re-sign, such as cornerback/returner Keisean Nixon, linebacker Eric Wilson, and tight end Tyler Davis.
Teams can start negotiating with free agents starting Monday but can’t sign them until the official start of free agency.
The Packers are changing their defense under recently hired coordinator Jeff Hafley and will be looking for a younger partner for inside linebacker Quay Walker, who is expected to play on the weakside in the new scheme, so he will be free to roam the field.
The 31-year-old Campbell did it all during his All-Pro season in 2021. He signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Packers and was their best all-around player, producing 145 tackles, two sacks, four QB hits, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and five passes defensed in 16 games.
He was named first-team All-Pro, becoming the first Packer to earn that honor since Ray Nitschke in 1966.
The Packers signed him to a five-year, $50 million contract before the following season. He was due to earn a $2.9 million roster bonus on Friday, but the Packers will not be required to pay that upon his release on Wednesday.
Campbell will still count $3.65 million against the cap this year due to charges that were pushed into future years through contract restructures.
A release after June 1 allows the Packers to push $8 million of those remaining cap charges into 2025. Without the designation, the Packers would have gained $2.6 million in cap room instead of $10.57 million.
Injuries caused Campbell to miss 10 games over the ’22 and ’23 seasons, and he was unable to have the impact he did in his first season
