How the Packers are Spending Cap Space in 2013

A breakdown of how the Packers are currently spending their 2013 cap room, sorted by position. Also, top cap hits for player and position.

Quarterback

Aaron Rodgers $9,750,000
Graham Harrell $630,000
B.J. Coleman ($405,000)

Rodgers is due for a huge pay raise, which will eventually alter this number, likely drastically. As it stands now, the Packers will spend just the 18th most cap room on the quarterback position in 2013.

Salary cap charge: $10,785,000

Running Back

John Kuhn $2,543,750
Alex Green $691,250
James Starks $655,075
DuJuan Harris $555,000
Brandon Saine $555,000

Kuhn, an overpaid fullback, will make more than the four other running backs combined. The Packers monetary commitment to the position is reflective, both in offensive importance and resulting production.

Salary cap charge: $5,000,075

Receiver

Jordy Nelson $3,975,000
James Jones $3,750,000
Randall Cobb $875,297
Jarrett Boykin $480,000
Jeremy Ross ($480,000)

The contracts for both Nelson and Jones have been stealing for the Packers over the last two seasons. Cobb still makes very little on his rookie deal. Not having a top dog like Greg Jennings in the mix keeps this number relatively low.

Salary cap charge: $9,560,297

Tight End

Jermichael Finley $8,250,000
Andrew Quarless $1,368,606
D.J. Williams $604,500
Ryan Taylor $569,794
Brandon Bostick ($405,000)

The shocking development here is that the Packers—as it stands right now—will pay the tight end position more in cap money next season than quarterback (or any other offensive position). Finley's bloated one-year deal is the obvious reason why.

Salary cap charge: $11,197,900

Offensive Tackle

Bryan Bulaga $2,125,500
Derek Sherrod $ 1,800,546
Marshall Newhouse $1,360,462
Don Barclay $480,833
Andrew Datko $405,000

The Packers rank in the bottom 10 of the NFL for money spent on the offensive tackle position, despite spending first-round picks there in two of the last three drafts.

Salary cap charge: $5,691,508

Offensive Guard

Josh Sitton $5,550,000
T.J. Lang $3,100,000
Greg Van Roten $480,000
Joe Gibbs ($405,000)

Both Sitton and Lang earned the money the make, which together puts the Packers above the league average for starting guards pay.

Salary cap charge:  $9,535,000

Center

Evan Dietrich-Smith $1,323,000
Garth Gerhart ($405,000)

Salary cap charge: $1,728,000

Dietrich-Smith was offered the original-round restricted tender, at a price of just $1.323 million. If he's the starter in 2013, that number will rank below the average starting center salary.

Defensive Line

Ryan Pickett $6,700,000
B.J. Raji $6,595,000
Mike Neal $920,000
Jerel Worthy $897,319
C.J. Wilson $642,590
Mike Daniels $555,146
Johnny Jolly $555,000
Jordan Miller ($405,000)

Salary cap charge: $17,270,055

Pickett and Raji will make up almost 77 percent of the total defensive line salaries. Both rank in the top five of Green Bay's 2013 cap hits (No. 4 and 5, respectively). Jolly will make minimum, if he cracks the roster.

Outside Linebacker

Clay Matthews $4,910,000
Nick Perry $1,704,375
Dezman Moses $481,166
Micah Johnson ($405,000)

Salary cap charge: $7,500,541

Like Rodgers, Matthews is due for a massive pay hike that should put him among the top paid players at his position. Perry and Moses combined for roughly $2.2 million in 2013 compensation, which is nearly half of what Erik Walden will receive from the Indianapolis Colts.

Inside Linebacker

A.J. Hawk $5,200,000
Desmond Bishop $4,764,000
Brad Jones $2,500,000
Rob Francois $725,000
D.J. Smith $580,788
Jamari Lattimore $556,667
Terrell Manning $522,870

Salary cap charge: $14,849,325

The Packers have invested significant funds and roster space to the inside linebacker position. The money for Hawk, Bishop and Jones is starter worthy.

Cornerback

Tramon Williams $8,500,000
Sam Shields $2,023,000
Jarrett Bush $1,783,333
Casey Hayward $752,201
Davon House $630,145
Chaz Powell ($405,000)
James Nixon ($405,000)

Salary cap charge: $14,498,679

Only Rodgers will have a higher cap hit than Williams' $8.5 million in 2013. Shields earned his pay bump, and is currently scheduled to make money equal to the second-round restricted tender.

Safety

Morgan Burnett $1,541,775
M.D. Jennings $555,833
Jerron McMillian $555,146
Sean Richardson $481,667

Salary cap charge: $3,134,421

With Burnett (still on rookie deal) and three second- or third-year players, safety represents the Packers' cheapest defensive position.

Specialists

Mason Crosby $3,150,000
Tim Masthay $1,105,000
Brett Goode $821,250
Giorgio Tavecchio ($405,000)

The Packers spend more on specialists than the following positions: Running back, offensive tackle, center, outside linebacker and safety.

Salary cap charge: $7,578,858

**Numbers in parentheses do not qualify under the team's top 51 contracts, which, along with dead money, are the only charges counted against the cap during the offseason.

Top Cap Hits, by Player

1. QB Aaron Rodgers $9,750,000
2. CB Tramon Williams $8,500,000
3. TE Jermichael Finley $8,250,000
4. DL Ryan Pickett $6,700,000
5. DL B.J. Raji $6,595,000
6. G Josh Sitton $5,550,000
7. ILB A.J. Hawk $5,200,000
8. OLB Clay Matthews $4,910,000
9. ILB Desmond Bishop $4,764,000
10. WR Jordy Nelson $3,975,000

Top Cap Hits, by Position

1. Defensive line  $17,270,0552
2. Inside linebacker  $14,849,325
3. Cornerback  $14,498,679
4. Tight end $11,197,900
5. Quarterback $10,785,000
6. Receiver $9,560,297
7. Offensive guard $9,535,000
8. Specialists $$7,578,858
9. Outside linebacker $7,500,541
10. Offensive tackle $5,691,508

Zach Kruse is a 24-year-old sports writer who contributes to Cheesehead TV, Bleacher Report and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He also covers prep sports for the Dunn Co. News. You can reach him on Twitter @zachkruse2 or by email at [email protected].

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Comments (23)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Bearmeat's picture

March 30, 2013 at 02:27 pm

The Packers need to cut Kuhn and Crosby.

Am I the only one that thinks GB will be just fine at OT as it stands right now?

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jeremy's picture

March 30, 2013 at 02:31 pm

I think so too. Buluga is a starter and one of the other three will step up on the other side.

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Chad Toporski's picture

March 30, 2013 at 03:11 pm

Cutting Crosby would only save them about $1.3M.

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cow42's picture

March 30, 2013 at 03:37 pm

and williams

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ArodMoney's picture

March 31, 2013 at 12:08 am

You are not a Packers fan. Williams has had no opportunities to prove his worth. CheeseheadTV should cut you. Please leave.

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djbonney138's picture

March 31, 2013 at 12:36 am

As much as I love to yell KUUHHHNN at my tv seeing how much he gets paid comparatively is a little shocking.

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cow42's picture

March 31, 2013 at 07:13 am

tramon williams hasn't opportunities?
huh?

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ArodMoney's picture

March 31, 2013 at 02:27 pm

I thought you meant DJ Williams, because who in their right mind would say Williams instead of Tramon.

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jeremy's picture

March 30, 2013 at 02:28 pm

Hard to believe their d-line is so highly paid. At least Raji's cap hit isn't likely to grow.

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kennypayne's picture

March 30, 2013 at 05:03 pm

Finley, T. Williams, Kuhn, Crosby, and of course AJ Hawk. Anyone think these guys are not grossly overpaid?

I just can't believe how much money TT has paid to Hawk given how little he does.

Cue the you only overpay in free agency brigade.

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Idiot Fan's picture

March 30, 2013 at 08:25 pm

I'm not really a Hawk defender, but my understanding is that he plays the Bart Scott role in this defense, which is to take on blockers. As such, stats don't always convey what he does. I'm sure he is overpaid, but he's reliable and available, which is more than we can say for some guys.

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some guy's picture

March 30, 2013 at 07:03 pm

really need to get rid of Ryan Pickett

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Point Packer's picture

March 30, 2013 at 08:03 pm

No. To this point, he's been worth every penny GB pays him. Cutting Tramon would make more sense as we have depth at CB.

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Evan's picture

March 30, 2013 at 09:07 pm

Blasphemy.

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Montana Packer's picture

March 31, 2013 at 11:11 am

Pickett amy be old but he is still the best lineman we have. New guys didn't show much last year. Love Kuhn but he is overpaid and easily replaced. Tramon too given Casey and House but give him another year to recover. Need to get Shields signed.

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markinmadison's picture

March 30, 2013 at 09:29 pm

You have to think Williams will be cut after this year. Finley is as good as gone for 2014, unless he underperforms so badly that no one will outbid the Pack for his services. Jones will need a contract upgrade.

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dawg's picture

March 31, 2013 at 12:11 am

Packers sign FA. L. Means, CB, who did not play in 2012!
Has good speed, 4.4, 180lbs. and does not lead w/ the crown of his helmet!
Defense good to go!
Water boy signs at LT, to replace Newhouse, and car salesmen takes over at RB for 2013.
Falcons, 9ers and hawks chuckle, those bastards!

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Ruppert's picture

March 31, 2013 at 08:51 am

This team spends more money on a below average kicker and a slightly above average punter than it spends on running backs and O Tackles???

Well THAT makes sense...

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redlights's picture

March 31, 2013 at 12:36 pm

Crosby will stay because of risk/reward. Lambeau is one of the most difficult places to kick; Crosby does well enough, anyone else would be question marks, as well.

What are thoughts on Shields? I assume he hasn't signed because he thinks he's worth more. So after AR and CM, will GB offer a 4 year deal? I was thinking 4 years, low signing bonus, and base salary of 3, 5, 7, and 9 million each year. Maybe tie some of the base to a per game incentive.

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Stroh's picture

March 31, 2013 at 01:24 pm

Shields is the Packers property for at least another year unless they remove the tender. He's restricted FA so his options are limited. Alot of guys don't sign tenders immediately. He'll sign the tender then during the year of next offseason they get him locked up long term. I can't see him leaving anytime soon. This is just how the restricted FA thing goes... They don't sign it till they have to, then play it out and get re-signed. I doubt they sign him this year to a long deal.

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redlights's picture

April 01, 2013 at 04:02 am

Cheaper to extend now, next year he is unrestricted. While he had a down year in 2011, his speed is hard to replicate.

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Stroh's picture

April 01, 2013 at 11:49 am

With Rodgers and Matthews getting new contracts, the possibility of re-signing Shields this year are about slim and none. Its not unusual for restricted FA to get to the contract year before getting a deal done. Theres a possibility of getting Shields done during the season too. He and Raji would probably be the priorities next season. An extension w/ Finley would also lower his cap number.

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DrewTheDraftGuru's picture

April 01, 2013 at 07:27 am

1) The Top 51 is what counts against the cap in the offseason. In the end, the whole 53-man roster, the practice squad, injured reserve, etc. all counts against the cap.

2) For as good as TT is supposed to be with contracts, it's a little surprising that our top contracts are really players that aren't the top at their position. We just dumped Woodson who was massively overpaid last year, but outside of that Pickett, T. Williams, Hawk, and Finley are all players that could be gone in a year or two and all rank within the Top 7 right on the team right now. The nice thing is that TT generally has a way out of those contracts.

3) There are some very good FB's coming out of the draft this year, and I could see us replacing Kuhn either this year or next unless Kuhn is willing to take a pay cut. I really like Trey Milliard OKLAHOMA who will come out next year, and this year I'd have to say my favorite is Kyle Juszczyk HARVARD. He's an H-back type of FB. Lonnie Pryor FLORIDA ST is undersized but can run and actually block pretty well for his size, Tommy Bohanon WAKE FOREST is strong (36 bench reps at the Combine), and Zach Line SOUTHERN METHODIST who rushed for almost 1,300 yards this year. So there are lots of options to replace Kuhn with to save money.

4) I think the team wants to stay with Crosby, and I like Crosby, but he needs to take a pay cut. We should use his competition and last year's performance to leverage the pay cut.

5) As for the DL pay, where do the Packers stand among other teams? Are they dishing out a lot of money at the position, or is that money pretty average?

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