NFL Analysis
February 20, 2024
14 min read
2024 NFL Free Agency: 1 Potential Cap Casualty For Each Team
While most fans already are looking at the coming free agent class, it’s important to remember more names will join the mix as teams make cuts before the new league year.
Whether the player is too expensive, is a bad scheme fit for an incoming coaching staff or the team is tight to the cap, these moves are made every offseason, and the free agent pool expands.
Let’s take a team-by-team look at some players who could end up being cap casualties this offseason.
1 Cap Casualty For Each Team
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Cut: RB Nyheim Hines
Cap Savings: $4.6M | Dead Money: $500K
Nyheim Hines missed all of last season due to a non-football season-ending knee injury. The Buffalo Bills are expected to move on this offseason and clear nearly $5 million in much-needed cap space.
Miami Dolphins
Cut: OLB Emmanuel Ogbah
Cap Savings: $13.7M | Dead Money: $4M
Emmanuel Ogbah had a diminished role this past season, playing less than 40 percent of snaps in every game. He finished the year totaling 20 tackles and five sacks.
The Miami Dolphins have a bunch of players on big contracts and some key players to pay this offseason, so keeping Ogbah and his big cap number is unlikely.
New England Patriots
Cut: CB J.C. Jackson
Cap Savings: $14.3M | Dead Money: $0
The New England Patriots traded for J.C. Jackson after his disappointing stint with the Chargers. He appeared in eight games before being placed on the reserve/non-football illness list due to reported mental health issues.
Once New England moves on from him, his entire $14.3 million cap number will be cleared, putting the Patriots near the top of the league in cap space.
New York Jets
Cut: TE CJ Uzomah
Cap Savings: $5.3M | Dead Money: $5.9M
C.J. Uzomah is a great locker room presence for the New York Jets, but he has been a disappointment on the field. He totaled just eight catches for 58 yards and a touchdown this past season.
The Jets are set to move forward with Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert at tight end in 2024.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Cut: OLB Tyus Bowser
Cap Savings: $5.5M | Dead Money: $2M
Tyus Bowser missed all of 2023 because of a knee injury and had just two sacks in nine games in 2022. The Baltimore Ravens have some big decisions to make on several impending free agents.
They will have to make some tough calls moving forward, especially with the big quarterback contract eventually kicking in.
Cincinnati Bengals
Cut: RB Joe Mixon
Cap Savings: $5.75M | Dead Money: $2.75M
Joe Mixon was on this list last year, as well, but he decided to take a pay cut to stay with the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished the season with more than 1,000 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns.
However, just like we said last year, teams have found other avenues to acquire running backs for cheaper. The Bengals could approach Mixon again about taking a pay cut, or else he'd join a loaded free-agent running back group where getting a good deal could be difficult.
Mixon is due a $3 million roster bonus on March 18, so that's a key date to watch.
Cleveland Browns
Cut: RB Nick Chubb
Cap Savings: $11.82M | Dead Money: $4M
After the season, Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said the team will work on keeping Nick Chubb for next season, essentially confirming some change is necessary.
One of the best running backs in the league, Chubb suffered a major knee injury in Week 2, requiring multiple surgeries to repair damage to his ACL, MCL and meniscus. Chubb has a non-guaranteed salary of $11.775 million for the 2024 season.
Chubb is coming off a significant injury, so Cleveland could approach him to adjust his deal. If Chubb declines, things could get interesting.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cut: WR Allen Robinson
Cap Savings: $10M | Dead Money: $1.91M
The Pittsburgh Steelers would like to retain Allen Robinson, who had 34 receptions for 280 yards in his first year with the team. His $10 million non-guaranteed salary will need to be adjusted for that to happen.
Pittsburgh is expected to make changes on both sides of the ball, with pressure mounting after another season without postseason success. Patrick Peterson, Mason Cole and Keanu Neal are cut candidates, as well.
AFC South
Houston Texans
Cut: SAF MJ Stewart
Cap Savings: $2.75M | Dead Money: $750K
The Houston Texans are in a pretty decent cap situation and don’t have any clear-cut cap casualties. MJ Stewart missed the final eight games of the season due to a shoulder injury and was primarily used as a special-teamer when he was on the field.
His entire base salary is non-guaranteed next season, so Houston could move on and potentially bring him back on a lower salary if it wants him to stick around.
Indianapolis Colts
Cut: TE Mo Alie-Cox
Cap Savings: $5.9M | Dead Money: $0
Mo Alie-Cox had just 13 catches for 161 yards, the lowest of his career since 2019. Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen appears to have settled on Kylen Granson as his tight end, and the team should also get Jelani Woods back healthy next season.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Cut: OT Cam Robinson
Cap Savings: $17.2M | Dead Money: $3.8M
Cam Robinson missed four games last year due to suspension and then another four games due to injury. The Jacksonville Jaguars have first-round pick Anton Harrison at right tackle, and Walker Little could handle the left side if the team moves on from Robinson.
Tennessee Titans
Cut: OT Andre Dillard
Cap Savings: $2.88M | Dead Money: $7.79M
The Tennessee Titans enter the offseason near the top of the league in salary cap space, and there aren’t many glaring cap casualties on their books. Andre Dillard signed a three-year, $29 million contract last offseason, a deal many questioned at the time, but the Titans felt he could be their answer at left tackle.
Things didn’t work out, and he had his fair share of struggles. The thing is, Dillard already has $3 million of his base salary guaranteed for 2024, and he has another $3 million that becomes fully guaranteed on March 13.
Tennessee could swallow the mistake and just move on or could give him another try with the well-respected Bill Callahan now coaching its offensive line.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Cut: WR Tim Patrick
Cap Savings: $9.5M | Dead Money: $6M
The Denver Broncos are expected to move on from Russell Wilson this offseason, taking on an NFL record $85 million in dead money. Aside from Wilson, Denver has several players it needs to make decisions on, including SAF Justin Simmons and OT Garrett Bolles.
Tim Patrick is a little more straightforward, as he’s missed each of the last two seasons due to season-ending injuries suffered at practice. His $9.5 million base salary is non-guaranteed, and there’s no chance Denver will keep him on that price tag.
Kansas City Chiefs
Cut: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Cap Savings: $12M | Dead Money: $2M
Marquez Valdes-Scantling had his downs this past year, but he fully redeemed himself down the stretch and into the postseason as the Kansas City Chiefs won their second consecutive Super Bowl.
The Chiefs are likely to revamp their receiver room this offseason, and keeping Valdes-Scantling when they can clear $12 million in space is highly unlikely.
Las Vegas Raiders
Cut: QB Jimmy Garoppolo
Cap Savings: $11.2M | Dead Money: $17M
Jimmy Garoppolo was going to be cut regardless. Still, he recently got hit with a two-game PED suspension, which will void $11.25 million in 2024 guarantees, giving the Las Vegas Raiders even more breathing room to get out of his contract.
The previous regime signing Garoppolo was questionable from the start, especially with his injury history, and the experiment was quickly shut down as soon as Josh McDaniels was fired.
The Raiders are also likely to move on from WR Hunter Renfrow, a move that would save another $8 million.
Los Angeles Chargers
Cut: WR Mike Williams
Cap Savings: $20M | Dead Money: $12.4M
The Los Angeles Chargers have four players — Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams — with cap hits over $32 million for next season.
New general manager Joe Hortiz and coach Jim Harbaugh will have some major decisions to make to fix a messy cap situation. They will have to do something with at least one of those players.
Williams is coming off an ACL tear and has just one year remaining on his deal. Multiple people around the league believe Harbaugh would prefer Allen over Williams if that’s what it comes down to.
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys
Cut: LB Leighton Vander Esch
Cap Savings: $2.14M | Dead Money: $2.25M
Leighton Vander Esch missed the final 12 games of the season because of another neck injury, which could put his playing career in jeopardy.
The more interesting name for the Dallas Cowboys could be WR Michael Gallup, who has underperformed since signing a five-year, $62.5-million deal in 2022. He has a $4 million injury guarantee trigger on March 18.
New York Giants
Cut: G Mark Glowinski
Cap Savings: $5.6M | Dead Money: $1.5M
Mark Glowinski was in and out of the starting lineup this past season because the coaching staff believed he wasn’t a dependable starter anymore.
The New York Giants' offensive line will again undergo reshuffling, and Glowinski is not expected to be part of that group anymore.
Philadelphia Eagles
Cut: S Kevin Byard
Cap Savings: $13M | Dead Money: $1.3M
Kevin Byard was acquired from Tennessee before the trade deadline and ended up starting 10 games for the Philadelphia Eagles.
While he didn’t play poorly, Byard also wasn’t the All-Pro player he once was, making letting him go an easy call for Howie Roseman to clear $13 million.
Washington Commanders
Cut: TE Logan Thomas
Cap Savings: $6.54M | Dead Money: $1.75M
New Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters is taking over a team that will have more than $70 million in salary cap space this offseason, so he doesn’t have to make any immediate moves.
It’s fair to wonder what type of role — if any — Logan Thomas would have in a Kliff Kingsbury–led offense, so Thomas would be a logical cut candidate.
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Cut: RB Travis Homer
Cap Savings: $1.88M | Dead Money: $225K
The Chicago Bears have already released SAF Eddie Jackson and OG Cody Whitehair, who were the easy cap casualties.
Travis Homer should be another one. He played mostly on special teams, which wasn't the expectation Chicago had for him when the team signed him to a two-year contract in 2023.
Detroit Lions
Cut: S Tracy Walker
Cap Savings: $5.5M | Dead Money: $7.3M
Tracy Walker signed an extension with the Detroit Lions after the 2021 season, but a torn Achilles limited him to three games in 2022.
This opened the door for some younger players to prove themselves on the back end of Detroit’s defense, including Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu. Walker ended up playing in 50 percent of the snaps this past season. Detroit may want to keep him, but he might have to take a pay cut.
Green Bay Packers
Cut: OT David Bakhtiari
Cap Savings: $20.9M | Dead Money: $19M
David Bakhtiari has a huge $40 million cap number next year, and the Green Bay Packers could clear half of it if they release him.
It’s been an unfortunate last few years for Bakhtiari, who has played in just 13 games in three seasons due to recurring knee issues. It’s unclear if Bakhtiari even wants to continue playing, but the only way he stays in Green Bay is if there is some sort of pay cut.
Minnesota Vikings
Cut: S Harrison Smith
Cap Savings: $11.3M | Dead Money: $7.8M
Harrison Smith took a pay cut last year to stick around with the Minnesota Vikings, and he could be presented with a similar situation again this offseason.
His $14.45 million base salary is all non-guaranteed. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah started a mini teardown last year of some of the aging veterans, and he could look to finish it off this offseason.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
Cut: QB Taylor Heinicke
Cap Savings: $6.96M | Dead Money: $2M
The Atlanta Falcons are expected to hit the reset button at quarterback as new coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson take over.
Taylor Heinicke started four games this past year and could be a viable backup quarterback option, but with nearly $7 million in savings by cutting him, Atlanta could look elsewhere.
Carolina Panthers
Cut: WR Terrace Marshall Jr.
Cap Savings: $1.44M | Dead Money: $381K
The Carolina Panthers' salary cap situation is rough when you look at all the contracts they have on the books. They have guaranteed money owed to players such as Hayden Hurst, Andy Dalton, Miles Sanders and Shy Tuttle — all guys who would be easy cut candidates otherwise.
Meanwhile, Terrace Marshall got permission to seek a trade last year, but nothing came to fruition. He and his agent want a fresh start elsewhere, and Carolina’s new regime could finally give it to him.
New Orleans Saints
Cut: S Marcus Maye
Cap Savings: $1.1M | Dead Money: $8.4M
As they are every year, the New Orleans Saints are way over the salary cap and will have to restructure a bunch of deals to get under the cap.
Marcus Maye has missed a full season’s worth of games due to suspension and injury since signing in New Orleans two years ago.
His entire $7 million base salary for 2024 is non-guaranteed, and New Orleans might decide to just pull the plug instead of kicking more dead money into the future.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cut: WR Russell Gage
Cap Savings: $6.4M | Dead Money: $6.9M
Russell Gage missed the entire past season with a knee injury suffered during training camp. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers found younger and cheaper options that helped replace him alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
The Buccaneers have several key impending free agents they need to pay, so they are likely to move on from Gage.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Cut: G Dennis Daley
Cap Savings: $1.6M | Dead Money: $175K
Dennis Daley appeared in five games with one start in his first season with the Arizona Cardinals but didn't play too well, allowing two sacks in 144 snaps.
Budda Baker and DJ Humphries are some bigger names to keep an eye on in Arizona.
Los Angeles Rams
Cut: OT Joseph Noteboom
Cap Savings: $5M | Dead Money: $15M
Joe Noteboom has struggled to stay on the field. When he is on the field, it hasn’t been great.
The Los Angeles Rams ate significant dead money last year, and they might have to do it again if they part ways with Noteboom.
San Francisco 49ers
Cut: CB Isaiah Oliver
Cap Savings: $2.4M | Dead Money: $1.4M
Isaiah Oliver appeared in all 17 regular season games in 2023, but his role diminished as the season progressed; he didn’t play any snaps in the postseason.
Oliver was considered a signing influenced by Steve Wilks. Wilks is no longer the team’s defensive coordinator, so it’s a safe bet Oliver will likely not be with the San Francisco 49ers next season.
Seattle Seahawks
Cut: SAF Jamal Adams
Cap Savings: $6M | Dead Money: $20.8M
The relationship between Jamal Adams and the Seattle Seahawks has soured in the last year, and it feels like both sides will be looking for a fresh start.
Still just 28, Adams has played in just 10 games during the last two seasons and hasn't played a full season since 2018. He wants to continue playing.
