NFL free agency 2022: Packers reportedly release Za'Darius Smith, Billy Turner as shakeup begins in Green Bay

Two starters have just been cut loose by a cap-hungry Packers team

There's a lot of movement happening inside the building of the Green Bay Packers organization as legal tampering begins ahead of 2022 NFL free agency, and not all of it is pretty. The bombshell they were waiting on dropped last week when back-to-back league MVP Aaron Rodgers committed to stay in 2022, but they're now fighting a battle with All-Pro receiver Davante Adams -- who reportedly refuses to sign or play under his franchise tag -- and that's not all. On the same day they gleefully awarded linebacker Preston Smith a four-year extension, they waved goodbye to his pass rush compatriot in Za'Darius Smith.

The Packers reportedly released the latter Smith on Monday, per NFL Network, sending another upper-echelon pass rusher into the free agency mix and freeing up $15.28 million toward the team's salary cap. Smith was set to hit the Packers' cap for $26.7 million in 2022, and reportedly had the option to stick around at this year's owed cash amount, but both sides agreed to instead part ways.

As an important aside, the Packers also reportedly released offensive tackle Billy Turner ahead of the final year of a four-year contract signed with the club in 2019. Turner logged 43 starts in his three seasons with the Packers, and his release yields $3.35 million in savings for the team after they absorb a dead money hit of $5.81 million to let him walk. A durable and capable starter in the league, Turner won't have trouble finding a new home.

For Za'Darius Smith, once half of a two-part pass rush combo with Preston Smith, there will be no shortage of interest pouring in from teams around the league, and that now includes his former team, the Baltimore Ravens, per NFL Network. A former All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler, Smith suffered a season-ending injury in 2021 but is also just one year removed from having delivered 12.5 sacks for the Packers, and that came on the heels of a 2019 season that saw him rack up 13.5 in 16 starts. Now that he's healthy, he'll take his talent elsewhere and isn't expected to last long on the open market.

The shakeup on the Packers roster is likely to continue over the next several days as they work toward appeasing Adams while also having money to please Rodgers in free agency.