Before the NFL’s free agency frenzy can begin, teams have to take stock of their financial standing and weigh some difficult moves.
All 32 teams must be compliant with the league’s salary cap by the start of the new league year on March 12. For some, the coming days and weeks might simply entail restructuring contracts and clearing end-of-roster deals to clear that bar. For others, however, the process will necessitate releasing some notable players in cost-cutting moves. The sequence is sure to reshape free agency, as players who are released will be free to sign with other organizations immediately, giving them a head start on their peers with expiring contracts.
While more could become clear after the NFL scouting combine next week, here are some of the biggest names who could be cut soon (all cap figures courtesy of Over The Cap):
Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons
General manager Terry Fontenot claimed at the end of the season that Atlanta is ‘very comfortable’ with the notion of retaining Cousins as a backup to second-year signal-caller Michael Penix Jr., who took the starting reins in Week 16. But is that merely a bluff? While the Falcons would be saddled with a $65 million dead cap hit if they release the 13-year veteran, they can avoid his $10 million roster bonus for 2026 becoming guaranteed so long as they move on by March 17. Cousins seemed to be pushing his way to the exit by revealing earlier this month on ‘Good Morning Football’ that he injured his right shoulder and elbow in Week 10, contradicting the narrative he and the team pushed during the season. With Cousins holding a no-trade clause, a release with a post-June 1 designation looks to be the most reasonable solution.
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Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints
With the league’s youngest coach in Kellen Moore now at the controls, the Saints are set up for what would appear to be a transition year. The extent of the team’s reset, however, will likely be revealed by how it handles Carr, whose 2025 cap hit of nearly $51.5 million necessitates some sort of action. The 11-year veteran has already shot down the possibility of a pay cut, and he also holds a no-trade clause in his contract. Yet unless New Orleans is prepared to embrace the full teardown it has long resisted, dropping him might not be a very appealing option given the looming dead cap hit of more than $50 million. Moore remained noncommittal when addressing Carr’s future in his introductory news conference, but the organization – which is more than $54 million overdrawn for the cap – will need to choose a path soon.
Kyle Juszczyk, FB, San Francisco 49ers
In 2024, the all-purpose standout said he was ‘hurt’ by general manager John Lynch’s request that he take a pay cut. This time around, he might not be given a choice in the matter of his future with the franchise. Juszczyk, who turns 34 in April, might be a luxury for a team that has been preparing to reconfigure its financial outlook around what should be a sizable extension for quarterback Brock Purdy. The nine-time Pro Bowler has been an essential part of Kyle Shanahan’s system, but his cap figure is set to be just short of $6.5 million.
Davante Adams, WR, New York Jets
His close friend Aaron Rodgers has already been dismissed by the new regime, though not officially yet. Adams seems bound to be next headed out of own. The six-time Pro Bowl selection has the largest cap hit of any non-quarterback at $38.34 million, and the Jets could clear nearly $30 million by parting ways. Adams could try to reunite with Rodgers in the quarterback’s next landing spot, or he could move on and capitalize on a free agent market that could be light on top-flight pass catchers.
Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks
At nearly $31 million, his 2025 cap hit is currently set to be the fourth largest of any receiver. That figure seems untenable for a 32-year-old who finished third on the team in catches (49) and receiving yards (600). Between the emergence of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and coach Mike Macdonald’s pivot to a run-led offense likely leading to fewer three-receiver sets, it makes plenty of sense for Seattle – which is currently more than $13 million over the cap – to grant itself $17 million in cap savings by releasing Lockett.
Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
The Super Bowl 56 MVP broke some news when he revealed earlier this month that the Rams were working to deal him. But with a $12.5 million salary – and a $7.5 million roster bonus due March 16 – Kupp might not have a robust trade market, even if the Rams are willing to pay a sizable chunk to facilitate a deal. His outlook could change, however, if he hits the open market as a free agent, as he would be an enticing No. 2 target capable of making his mark over the middle and as a blocker. Releasing him outright would afford Los Angeles $7.52 million in cap space while leaving the team with a dead cap hit of more than $22.2 million.
Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Kirk’s surprising four-year, $72 million contract in March 2022 helped accelerate the explosion of the receiver market. While that deal no longer seems quite as outlandish as it did initially, the slot receiver hasn’t been able to recreate the highs of his debut campaign in Jacksonville, notching just 27 catches for 379 yards in eight games before suffering a season-ending broken collarbone. With first-year coach Liam Coen installing a new offense and Brian Thomas Jr. firmly in place as the focal point of the passing attack, there’s little reason to forge ahead with a player who has a cap hit of more than $24 million and whose release could clear up more than $10 million in space.
Evan Engram, TE, Jaguars
His departure might not be quite as clear-cut as Kirk’s, but Engram is facing a similar situation. The two-time Pro Bowler is closer to his peak after recording career bests of 114 catches and 963 receiving yards in 2023, but he averaged a career-low 7.8 yards per reception last season and missed eight total games with hamstring and labrum injuries. Brenton Strange, a second-round pick in 2023, already established himself as a capable replacement last season by tallying 40 catches for 411 yards.
Jack Conklin, OT, Cleveland Browns
Still boxed in by Deshaun Watson’s contract, Cleveland has a pressing need to free up its books and few avenues to do so. A sensible starting point would be bidding farewell to Conklin, the two-time All-Pro who missed five games last season and played in just one in 2023 after tearing multiple knee ligaments. Dawand Jones could take over as the starter on a line that could be facing massive changes.
David Onyemata, DT, Falcons
Dropping Grady Jarrett is also a possibility for an organization that is currently almost $12 million overdrawn, as his departure would free up $16.25 million. But splitting with the two-time Pro Bowler could prove difficult for a defense still in desperate need of difference-makers up front, so the alternative could be dropping Onyemata. The run-stuffing nose tackle’s $16.25 million is exorbitant for a player of his skill set, and 2024 draft picks Ruke Orhorhoro (second round) and Brandon Dorlus (fourth round) might represent the future on the interior.
Jonathan Allen, DT, Washington Commanders
Ditching a proven interior pass rusher might seem antithetical to Washington’s offseason mission, especially with the team having the third-most cap space ($75.2 million) of any franchise. But Allen is set to carry a $22.35 million cap hit, and his play isn’t in line with the other elite talents at his position in that category. With 2024 second-rounder Jer’Zhan Newton waiting in the wings as a potential replacement to put alongside Daron Payne, the Commanders could move on and pocket $16.47 million in cap savings.
Joey Bosa, OLB, Los Angeles Chargers
The Bolts clung onto both of their high-priced pass rushers last offseason, as both Bosa and Khalil Mack accepted pay cuts to stay in place. The outlook is significantly murkier in Year 2 for Jim Harbaugh, with Mack set to test free agency and Bosa carrying a $36.47 million cap hit that ranks as the highest of any defender. That figure is hard to swallow for a player who, despite replacing the injured Mack as a Pro Bowl selection this year, has started just 18 games the last three seasons due to injury. While Los Angeles has more than $63 million in available cap space, the $25.36 million in savings might be too much to pass up, especially if the team brings back Mack.
Von Miller, OLB, Buffalo Bills
Miller rediscovered a spark in 2024, recording six sacks after failing to notch one in 2023. Still, a situational pass rusher who hasn’t cracked more than a third of the defensive snaps since he arrived in 2022 isn’t likely what the Bills bargained for when they handed the eight-time Pro Bowl selection a six-year, $120 million deal. Renegotiating the contract might be the preferable route for both parties, but something has to give for a team that again faces a tight cap situation this spring.
Jaire Alexander, CB, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay might have reached its breaking point with Alexander, who became the highest-paid cornerback in 2021 but has played just seven games in each of the last two seasons. ‘(T)here’s frustration, I think, on both sides, from the fact that he can’t get out there,’ general manager Brian Gutekunst said in January after the Packers’ wild-card exit. With Keisean Nixon openly pushing to be given the No. 1 cornerback job and moved off kick-returning duties, it seems clear that many in and around the organization expect the team to be moving on from the two-time Pro Bowler.
Jamel Dean, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Zyon McCollum enjoyed a breakout season in Tampa and now could be positioned for a big payday with an extension this offseason. But with less than $1 million in available cap space, the Buccaneers have to be mindful about their overall financial picture. That could prompt them to take a closer look at Dean, whose $15.1 cap hit could be rich for a player who has topped out as a solid starter. But the four-time defending NFC South champions might be reticent to detract from their secondary given the overall shaky state of their 29th-ranked pass defense.
Darius Slay, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
The changing of the guard on the back end of Philadelphia’s defense began last April, when Howie Roseman broke from past precedent to use his first two draft picks on cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. With both having finished as Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists, could the new Super Bowl champions turn the page on Slay? The 34-year-old has indicated that next season will be his last and acknowledged the possibility his days with the Eagles might be over. While Roseman might be reticent to part with a player who still played a critical role in the Eagles’ title run and is only one year removed from his last Pro Bowl campaign, keeping together the core of the roster as several key contributors hit free agency could prompt some difficult decisions.