The Green Bay Packers head into the 2025 offseason with 39 active players under contract.

That number could shrink depending on how general manager Brian Gutekunst decides to wield his scissors.

And let’s be honest, there’s always some trimming to do.

On paper, the Packers are sitting pretty with around $65 million in cap space next season. As always, the reality is a little less dazzling.

Packers’ cap maestro Ken Ingalls points out that the real number is closer to $25 million once you factor in draft picks, practice squad players, and other financial housekeeping.

Still, $25 million isn’t a bad starting point.

And Gutekunst has shown in the past that he’s not afraid to get creative—or ruthless—when it comes to massaging the cap.

If he wants more flexibility, cutting a few players could be the way to go. Let’s look at three Packers who might find themselves on the chopping block this offseason.

Ben Sims

When everyone is healthy, Ben Sims doesn’t have much of a role on offense. He logged just 224 offensive snaps this season, and most of those came while Luke Musgrave was sidelined.

He isn’t exactly a game-changer in the passing game or as a blocker, and with Musgrave healthy and Tucker Kraft having a breakotu season, there’s just not much room for him in the rotation.

Surprisingly Sims didn’t see much action on special teams, either. His primary contributions came on the kick return unit, a very replaceable role.

Sims is set to make $1.03 million next season, none of it guaranteed.

That’s pocket change in the NFL, but it’s also a roster spot the Packers could use for someone with more upside. Cutting him would save the full amount against the cap.

It’s not personal, it’s business—and this feels like a pretty easy business decision. Sims’ spot on the roster is valuable, even if his production isn’t.

It’s time for Green Bay to free up that $1 million and find a player who can give them a little more bang for their buck.

Jaire Alexander

Cutting Jaire Alexander might be the most emotionally charged decision Green Bay faces this offseason.

We’re talking about one of the most talented cornerbacks in the league, a player who, at his best, can make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.

But as painful as it might be for fans and the organization alike, moving on from Alexander is the correct football decision.

Availability is the best ability, and Alexander just hasn’t been available enough. In three of the past four seasons, he’s played seven or fewer games.

That’s a brutal stat for a player the Packers rely on to be the cornerstone of their secondary—and the payroll.

Speaking of payroll: Alexander’s 2025 cap hit is a jaw-dropping $24.956 million, the third-highest on the team behind Jordan Love and Rashan Gary.

The Packers can save $6.838 million next season by cutting him before June 1. Even more enticing, they’d wipe his entire 2026 cap hit—$27.376 million—off the books. That’s $34 million in total savings, which is hard to ignore for a team looking to get over the hump.

Of course, there’s no denying Alexander’s talent. When he’s on the field, he’s still one of the better cornerbacks in the league, and Green Bay’s defense is more formidable because of him. But the harsh truth is that availability trumps ability.

The Packers can’t afford to keep rolling the dice on Alexander’s health, especially at that price point.

They’ll still need someone to match up against the league’s best receivers. But instead of clinging to the hope of Alexander staying healthy, Green Bay could use that cap savings to find a cornerback who can stay on the field—and maybe even plug other holes on the roster in the process. It’s a tough call, but the right one.

Keisean Nixon

If the Packers decide to part ways with Keisean Nixon this offseason, it could signal a full-scale reimagining of their cornerback room—and maybe even a philosophical shift for the team as a whole.

Nixon is the epitome of what’s plagued Green Bay this past season: talented, yet undermined by critical lapses at the worst possible moments.

Case in point: the Wild Card playoff game against the Eagles. Nixon opened the game by fielding a kickoff three yards deep in the end zone and fumbled it away before the Packers’ offense even had a chance to take the field.

Later, he doubled down on the missteps with a costly personal foul, shoving Saquon Barkley well out of bounds and gifting the Eagles 15 yards.

These moments don’t just hurt in the box score—they’re emblematic of a larger issue. Discipline was a glaring problem for the Packers all season long. Head coach Matt LaFleur needs to tighten the screws, and making an example of Nixon could send a loud, unmissable message to the locker room: accountability matters.

Then there’s the financial aspect. Nixon is under contract for 2025 and 2026, carrying a cap hit of $6.812 million next season. Cutting him would save Green Bay $2.478 million immediately, plus another $7.166 million in 2026.

Those aren’t monumental savings, but sometimes the principle outweighs the dollar signs. Moving on from Nixon wouldn’t just clear some cap space—it would be a statement about the kind of team the Packers aspire to be.

Yes, Nixon has moments where he looks like a key piece, a dynamic returner with an edge in coverage. But for every step forward, there’s a step back.

If the Packers want to reestablish discipline and consistency, cutting ties with Nixon might be the first step toward turning things around.