The Green Bay Packers became instant contenders by swinging a blockbuster trade for Micah Parsons, but the cap ramifications for signing him are likely to be felt as early as next March.
In assessing what the trade for Parsons means for Green Bay, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell did not discount the impact of the trade, seeing the case for the Packers being the best team in the NFC Conference with the addition of Parsons.
However, the clock is officially ticking in Green Bay before Parsons’ massive four-year, $188 million contract implodes the rest of the roster.
Some business decisions will need to be made, and one that Barnwell sees coming as soon as the 2026 offseason is the release of two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins.
“With [Jordan] Love and Parsons combining to average $102 million per season at the top of the roster, the Packers will have to make some tougher choices in the years to come. The writing might have already been on the wall at receiver after Gutekunst used picks on Matthew Golden and Savion Williams this April, but it’s difficult to imagine the Packers retaining the likes of Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs or Christian Watson on second contracts,” Barnwell wrote on August 28. “It would hardly be a surprise if the Packers move on from 29-year-old center Elgton Jenkins after the season, a decision that would save the team $20 million in 2026, albeit at the expense of its most versatile lineman.”
Jenkins is a versatile piece to the Packers’ offensive front, playing primarily left guard but also starting at both tackle spots and right guard. However, Green Bay is prepared with its investment in offensive line prospects in past drafts.
Micah Parsons’ Contract Details Reveal Packers Timeline for Contention
The initial reaction to Parsons’ $47 million average annual value of his new contract was that Green Bay had hemorrhaged the future for just one season.
But with the contract details reported, the timeline has come into frame.
Parsons has cap hits of $19.2 million and $26.8 million in 2026 and 2027, respectively, before his cap hits balloon to over $60 million a season in the final two years of his extension.
That aligns with Jordan Love’s contract, which sees manageable cap hits through the 2027 season before a $75 million cap hit for the 2028 season.
The Training Wheels Are Off for Jordan Love
GettyJordan Love of the Green Bay Packers on June 10, 2025.
Approaching his third season as a starter, Love has witnessed the Packers go all-in with the Parson trade.
They bucked many historical trends, selecting a first-round wide receiver and giving up draft assets in a blockbuster trade.
They have no first-round picks the next two seasons, meaning the roster as it stands will be giving Love his best chance at making a run at a Super Bowl.
The 2028 offseason will be a crossroads for the franchise to determine Love’s future. He has three swings to see how far he can take the Packers now that they’ve made their all-in move.
After the 2027 season, Love’s massive $75 million cap hit will not stand. If he succeeds, an extension would be in order before then.
If not, the cost to cut him would be $16.7 million in dead cap.
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