5 players John Lynch, 49ers would absolutely trade for in 2022
By Peter Panacy
49ers trade target No. 4: EDGE Za’Darius Smith, Packers
While nowhere near as extreme as the Saints’ cap situation, the Green Bay Packers aren’t exactly swimming in cap space this offseason, currently projected at $26.4 million over the cap. And if they want to retain quarterback Aaron Rodgers on a new and expensive contract while also potentially tagging pending free-agent wide receiver Davante Adams, there’ll have to be some players jettisoned in one way or another.
Just like Marcus Davenport, high-quality edge rushers aren’t cheap, and veteran EDGE Za’Darius Smith has been a tremendous defensive asset for Green Bay for a long time now before appearing in just one game in 2021 because of injury.
That injury might prevent him from discussing another lengthy contract extension, and he might now want to test the free-agent waters in 2023 while spending the final year of his current contract playing for a Super Bowl contender.
If a team like the 49ers somehow (and that’d be a big somehow) managed to win a Smith trade sweepstakes with Green Bay, they’d have to take on $15.3 million of his post-trade salary.
That’s pretty affordable for one of the better pass-rushers in the NFL right now.