Packers Cut Nick Perry, Sign Four Free Agents Today

GREEN BAY, WI —The Green Bay Packers are reportedly wasting little time in the early days of the 2019 free agency season, as reports have the Packers signing four players to lucrative contracts while making one notable subtraction.

According to reporter Ian Rapoport, Green Bay signed former Chicago Bears safety Adrian Amos to a four-year deal worth $37 million. The Packers also signed Baltimore Ravens edge rusher Za'Darius Smith and linebacker Preston Smith. Rapoport says the Packers also signed an offensive lineman to protect Aaron Rodgers, with the expected addition of Billy Turner.

The Breakdown:

• Za'Darius Smith: Four-year deal worth $66 million. $34.5 million to be paid out in first 2 years including a $20 million signing bonus.
• Adrian Amos: Four-year deal worth $37 million with $21 million to be paid out in the first two seasons.
• Billy Turner: Four-year, $28 million deal with a max value of $29.5, including $11 million in year one.
• Preston Smith: Four-year deal worth $52 million, with $16 million fully guaranteed at signing.

ESPN Staff Writer Bill Barnwell wasn't a fan of either Smith signing - at least at the rate the Packers are reportedly paying, saying, "It's not an optimal use of resources to take expensive swings at young contributors with upside when the Packers already were well-positioned to take much cheaper swings at promising players. Adding one edge rusher in free agency made sense, but two is probably overkill."

Players At A Glance:

In Amos, the Packers get a highly-regarded safety who spent four years with the Chicago Bears. He started 15 games in 2018, notching 59 solo tackles, nine passes defended, two interceptions, two sacks and one fumble recovery. Pro Football Focus reported that Amos was the eighth-best safeties in 2018.

Preston Smith is a 6-foot-5, 265-pound linebacker who played the last four seasons with the Washington Redskins, He recorded four sacks in 2018 with one interception. He recorded 30 solo tackles for Washington last year as well. He recorded career highs in sacks in 2015 and 2017 with eight sacks each year.

Turner is a 27-year-old guard who was drafted in the 2014 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound blocker is a native of Shoreview, Minnesota and played in college at North Dakota State. He started 11 games for the Denver Broncos in 2018, splitting time between right tackle and left guard.

Za'Darius Smith also spent four years with his first team, the Baltimore Ravens. Last season was considered a breakout season for the 26-year-old outside linebacker. Smith, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 274-pounds, recorded 8.5 sacks last year and 45 combined tackles. His sack total led the Ravens last year.

Packers Cut Perry

While the additions of Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith are sure to beef up Green Bay's pass rush, the Packers also officially parted ways with longtime end Nick Perry.

Perry signed a five-year, $60 million contract after the 2016 season. In less than two seasons following that deal, Perry has collected 8.5 sacks in 21 games. Cutting Perry this off-season effectively wipes the final three years of his contract off the books.

According to the Acme Packing Company, the remainder of Perry's signing bonus, $11.1 million, would have been spread out over the final three years of that contract, but now all comes due in 2019, resulting in an eight-figure cap hit for 2019. He would have been paid $14.4 million in 2019.

Packers Free Agents

The Packers currently have 13 free agents who played with the team last season. They have yet to be signed by other teams. The conventional wisdom is that OLB Clay Matthews won't be re-signed. Several others may be picked up, though free agency will have to play out. We will update this list as more information becomes available.

Unrestricted free agents

• CB Davon House
• CB Bashaud Breeland
• LB Jake Ryan
• S Eddie Pleasant
• S Ibraheim Campbell
• OLB Clay Matthews
• WR Randall Cobb
• DL Muhammad Wilkerson
• TE Marcedes Lewis
• TE Lance Kendricks
• OL Byron Bell

Restricted free agents

• WR Geronimo Allison
• S Kentrell Brice