The Green Bay Packers have once again turned to a familiar salary cap strategy with the recent signing of linebacker Isaiah Simmons. According to OverTheCap.com, Simmons agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.17 million in base salary, along with a $167,500 signing bonus.
While the total compensation adds up to $1,337,500, Simmons’ impact on the cap will be lower—just $1,197,500—thanks to the NFL’s veteran salary benefit rule.
This benefit allows teams to sign experienced players without bearing the full cap burden of their salaries. To qualify, the deal must be a one-year contract, include only the veteran minimum base salary for a player with at least four accrued seasons, and have bonuses totaling no more than $167,500.
Because Simmons meets all those criteria, his cap charge is based on the two-year veteran minimum salary, which is $1.03 million for the 2025 season. Adding the $167,500 bonus brings the total cap hit to $1,197,500.
This provision encourages teams to keep veterans on their rosters by lessening the financial incentive to replace them with less expensive, less experienced players. The Packers have used this approach regularly, most notably with linebacker Eric Wilson, who played under similar contracts in 2023 and 2024. Wilson has since signed a more lucrative deal to return to the Minnesota Vikings in 2025, which includes a $1 million signing bonus and additional incentives.
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