3 Difficult Roster Decisions the Packers Will Be Faced With in 2021

The Green Bay Packers have Aaron Rodgers under contract through the 2023 season. That means the team must make a huge push each and every year to chase another Super Bowl victory. While it appears the heavy lifting for the 2020 offseason is finished and the roster is settled, 2021 is a whole different animal for the front office.

Sure, if the Pack win the Super Bowl in 2020, these won't be as magnified considering they'd be coming off a championship season. But if they don't? It's not going to be easy keeping all of these guys in town.

3. David Bakhtiari

Green Bay Packers LT David Bakhtiari has been with the team since 2013. / Al Bello/Getty Images

The Packers drafted David Bakhtiari in the fourth round back in 2013. He has since started all of his 106 career games, made two Pro Bowls, and is a four-time All-Pro. The left tackle signed a four-year extension in 2016 that's paying him $14.7 million in the final year of the deal. Rodgers' cap hit goes up $15 million in 2021. Can the Packers afford to pay Bakhtiari $15-17 million annually as well? 2020 will be his eighth season. If he declines at all or deals with injuries, he could be walking this time next year, just like Bryan Bulaga did this offseason.

2. Kevin King

Green Bay Packers DB Kevin King is set for a huge raise in 2021. / Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

Kevin King is still on his rookie deal that expires after the 2020 season. He's only making $2.25 million after starting 14 games in 2019 and finishing with 66 tackles and five interceptions. Adrian Amos, Jaire Alexander, and Darnell Savage will combine to make over $17 million in the secondary in 2021. King himself could command somewhere near $10 million in free agency based on his play thus far. The Packers may be financially forced to let King go and find another young corner in the next couple of drafts considering he's the least productive of the bunch in the defensive backfield.

1. Kenny Clark

Green Bay Packers DT Kenny Clark is ready for his big payday. / Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Kenny Clark made the Pro Bowl this past season and is making $7.69 million in 2020 on his fifth-year option. That number is likely going to skyrocket assuming the big man logs another successful campaign. He had six sacks and 62 tackles in 2019 and started all 16 games. Teammate Dean Lowry is already set to make $6.3 million in 2021. Clark getting a raise of $7-10 million annually may just not be in the budget if the focus is on surrounding Rodgers with more talent. With Preston Smith and Za'Darius Smith also taking home huge salaries in the next couple years, Clark may be hard to retain.