$15 million Packers player confirms departure after refusing pay cut request

The Green Bay Packers appear ready to move on from veteran kicker Brandon McManus after failed negotiations to restructure his contract following a disappointing 2025 season.

Sources close to the situation confirm the organization approached McManus about a potential pay cut in the wake of his late-season struggles. The veteran declined. Shortly afterward, the Packers informed him that he would be permitted to explore trade opportunities ahead of the new league year.

McManus signed a three-year deal in the 2025 offseason worth up to $15.3 million. He still has two years remaining on that contract, with a $1 million roster bonus due at the start of the new league year in mid-March. Green Bay must decide whether to retain or release him before that payment triggers.

Financially, this is not a simple “free cut.” Releasing McManus would carry approximately $3–3.3 million in dead cap, resulting in only about $2 million in cap savings. Still, league analysts believe the move remains feasible given the broader roster adjustments expected this spring.

Performance played a major role in the tension.

McManus converted 24 of 30 field goal attempts in 2025, finishing at 80% — among the lower percentages for starting kickers. He missed six field goals and one extra point during the regular season while battling a quad injury that sidelined him for several games.

The postseason, however, proved decisive.

In the Packers’ 31–27 Wild Card loss to the Chicago Bears, McManus missed two field goals and one extra point — leaving seven points on the field in a four-point defeat. The performance drew sharp criticism from fans and media, with several outlets labeling it one of the most costly kicking displays of the season.

Complicating matters further, special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia — long viewed as McManus’ strongest advocate within the organization — departed this offseason. That shift reduced internal loyalty that may have otherwise protected the veteran kicker.

Meanwhile, Green Bay signed Lucas Havrisik to a futures contract following the playoffs and is widely expected to bring in additional competition at the position. Multiple team-focused outlets, including Cheesehead TV, Dairyland Express, Forbes, ClutchPoints, and Acme Packing Company, have listed McManus as a leading cap casualty candidate.

For now, McManus remains on the roster. But with pay-cut discussions stalled and trade permission granted, the writing appears on the wall.

After a season defined by missed opportunities, both sides seem ready to turn the page.