The Packers went big. According to Field Yates, the team restructured the contract of Za'Darius Smith to generate $7.38 million in additional cap space. Many expected the team to extend his deal, but instead they reduced his base salary from $10,750,000 to $990K and converted all of his $5 million roster bonus to a signing bonus.
The move reduced his salary cap number from $22 million to $14.62 million, but it increased his cap number from $20.75 million to $28.13 million with a potential dead money charge of $12.38 million. It is very difficult to envision Smith playing with a $28.