As the Green Bay Packers look to bolster their outside

linebacker unit in the 2019 offseason Clay Matthews Jersey , most of the attention at present is going to the 2019 NFL Draft class. That’s entirely understandable, as this year’s group of edge rushers is both strong at the top and quite deep, with quality players likely available well into day two of the draft. The free agent class will also see some intriguing players coming available, with big names like Jadeveon Clowney, Dee Ford, and Demarcus Lawrence set to see their contracts expire.However, there is a third group of players who are under contract for 2019, but whose cap numbers may make them available this offseason. These are the cap casualties — players who could end up being released and saving their former teams significant amounts of cap space.It just so happens that there are three big names who are good candidates for that type of a move. All three have posted monster seasons in the past, and all of them will be 30 years old or younger in 2019. Let’s take a look at these players, all of whom could provide the Packers with some intriguing abilities if they indeed are released and would sign for the right price.Justin Houston, ChiefsScheduled cap hit in 2019: $21.1MSavings if released: $14MThinking back to 2011, Justin Houston was a common pick for the Packers at #32 in some mock drafts. The former Georgia edge rusher fell to Kansas City in round three, largely due to failing a drug test for marijuana at that year’s Combine. However, Houston made an immediate impact opposite Tamba Hali Blake Martinez Color Rush Jersey , recording 5.5 sacks as a rookie before a truly magnificent three-year stretch that saw him total 43 sacks.Despite some lingering durability questions, Houston is still effective. He’s still averaging 11 sacks per 16 games played over the past four seasons, though he has missed at least one game each year and missed a total of 11 contests in 2016. That stands in contrast to Nick Perry, who has dealt with injury issues of his own but who managed just 1.5 sacks in nine games this year. Houston isn’t worth a $21 million cap hit any more, and so he’s a good bet to be released for cap reasons, but he could be a great pickup for the Packers, who will need veteran help on the edge. Another connection here is that the Packers hired Mike Smith, the Chiefs’ outside linebackers coach in 2018, to the same job for 2019.Robert Quinn, DolphinsScheduled cap hit in 2019: $12.9MSavings if released: $12.9MAnother member of the 2011 draft class, Quinn went 14th overall to the Rams. Like Houston, he had a five-sack season as a rookie before an explosive three-year stretch from 2012 to 2014 — he had 40 sacks in those three years, compared to Houston’s 43. Since then, he has dropped off a bit https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Dave-Robinson-Jersey , and thanks to some unconventional accounting, the Rams were able to trade him to Miami before the 2018 season without much of a salary cap penalty. And since the Dolphins traded for him, they can release him without any dead money on their capFor most of his career, Quinn has been a 4-3 defensive end. However, in 2017 he did have 8.5 sacks in 15 games as the Rams moved to more of a 3-4 defense under Wade Phillips. This season in Miami, he had 6.5 sacks in 16 games. Like Houston, Quinn could be a nice second-tier pass-rush option if he ends up on the open market.Vic Beasley, FalconsScheduled cap hit in 2019: $12.81MSavings if released: $12.81MWith the Falcons releasing kicker Matt Bryant today, writers at The Falcoholic were discussing Beasley as a candidate for a restructure or release as a cap casualty. He is currently under contract on his fifth-year option as a first-round draft pick in 2015, which for now is guaranteed for injury only. However, the Falcons could release him prior to the first day of the league year on March 13th and get off scot-free. Beasley’s Combine performance in 2015 was one to behold, as he tested above the 90th percentile of edge rushers in literally every athletic drill. He translated that into a league-leading 15.5 sacks in 2016. However, Beasley has hardly played up to that impressive season over the past two years. I asked The Falcoholic’s Kevin Knight about what happened, and he responded with the following:Yikes. That’s not a good sign Aaron Jones Jersey , and the stats bear that out: his sack total dropped from 15.5 in 2016 to just five each of the past two years. Still, the Chiefs’ Dee Ford was a speed rush specialist and Mike Smith helped coach him to a career year with 13 sacks in 2018. Maybe he could do something similar with Beasley? GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers‘ last trip to Minnesota altered the course of a promising season for the Green Bay Packers.He broke his right collarbone in Week 6 in 2017 on a hit out of the pocket by Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr. After a 4-1 start, the Packers stumbled the rest of the way and missed the playoffs.Maybe things will change for the better this time for the Packers when Rodgers returns to U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, his first road game against the Vikings since the collarbone injury. At 4-5-1, the Packers desperately need a win to keep their postseason hopes alive.“Yeah, obviously I think about that day, it was a tough day, especially going out there early in the game and the way we were rolling on offense and as a team through the first five games,” Rodgers said after practice Wednesday. “But I feel good. My body feels good.”Different season, different injury.Rodgers is getting better after hurting his left knee in the season opener this year against Chicago. In his first game after that injury in Week 2, the Packers and Vikings tied at 29 .There have been challenging times since then for Green Bay. Rodgers’ mobility was initially limited after the injury, but that has improved.“I’m able to move around the way I want to move around. It’s been a frustrating season at times injury-wise,” Rodgers said. “But you don’t think about getting hurt. You just think about playing and trying to avoid some of those hits outside the pocket.”The Packers are winless in five road games this season. Part of the problem is they haven’t been consistent in third-down situations. (19th in NFL). Now they face the league’s best defense on third down.“We want to win games and we’ve won a lot around here. We’ve got to find a way to get back on track Kenny Clark Color Rush Jersey ,” receiver Randall Cobb said this week.Not having Cobb in the lineup of late because of a hamstring injury has taken away a trusted option. Cobb might be closer to returning after being limited in practice on Wednesday.“Well it hurts Randall not playing,” Rodgers said. “His ability in the slot is why he’s stuck around the league for so long, and will long after this year.”Tight end Jimmy Graham broke a thumb during the first half of last week’s loss at Seattle, though coach Mike McCarthy has said that Graham intends to try to play through the injury. Receiver Geronimo Allison is also on injured reserve with a groin issue.That’s three of Rodgers’ top targets hurt, meaning the Packers have had to rely on rookies Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown more in the passing game.Jake Kumerow, a star in training camp who showed chemistry with Rodgers before the receiver landed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, returned to practice Wednesday. He could be a step closer to being activated.“He’s a talented guy and I think most of us were wondering if he was going to be back on the field this year,” Rodgers said.INJURY REPORTS Kentrell Brice (ankle) was a limited participant. Among those missing practice were CB Bashaud Breeland (groin), S Raven Greene (ankle), CB Kevin King (hamstring) and LB Nick Perry (knee).