Packers restructuring Xavier McKinney's contract to clear cap room
· Yahoo Sports
The Green Bay Packers will restructure the contract of All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney to clear cap space entering the new league year, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
McKinney, who is entering the third year of the four-year deal he signed with the Packers in 2024, is schedule to earn a $4.25 million base salary in 2026. The Packers will convert most of this base salary into a signing bonus, pushing cap dollars into the future via proration of the added signing bonus.
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More than likely, the Packers will convert the max amount of the $4.25 million allowable -- leaving McKinney with a minimum base salary of $1,215,000 and pushing $3,035,000 into the future. This will provide a small but meaningful reduction in his 2026 cap number, which was scheduled to be a little under $19.1 million.
McKinney also has a roster bonus of $8.5 million due third day of the new league year.
McKinney's current contract runs through the 2027 season, but given his level of play and importance, he'll be an extension candidate as soon as next offseason.
According to Over the Cap, the Packers were roughly $5 million over the 2026 salary cap before the McKinney restructure.
This will likely be the first of several moves designed to clear salary cap space as the Packers approach the new league year. The team has several in-house free agents to consider, and general manager Brian Gutekunst was certain he would have flexibility entering free agency. A team with roster holes to address but lacking draft capital will need to create financial flexibility before the free agent frenzy begins next week.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers restructuring Xavier McKinney's contract to clear cap room