Updated Potential 2026 Cap Casualties For Every Team

By
Logan Ulrich
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Since the last time we explored this topic back in November, a ton has happened all across the NFL to change the picture. There was over a month of regular-season action that players added to their tape, good, bad or in between. Eighteen teams missed the playoffs and another 10 have since been eliminated. Nine teams will have different head coaches and two of those will also have new general managers, and nothing prompts roster turnover quite like a regime change. 

So here’s a refreshed look at the potential salary cap casualties around the league as 28 teams have turned their attention to the offseason. 

San Francisco 49ers

The biggest decision for the 49ers will be what to do with Huff. San Francisco inherited the final two years of a three-year, $51 million deal he signed with the Eagles in 2024, $17.1 million of which is due in the final year in 2026. None of that is guaranteed. Huff started strong with four sacks in the first seven games but has been on a drought since mid-October. 

Those two numbers are hard to square. However, some others paint a better picture. Huff remained 12th in ESPN’s pass rush win rate and hit second-best marks for his career in quarterback hits and pressures (albeit on a career-high in snaps). While $17 million seems like a lot, it might not be too far off what Huff would command as a free agent considering the market for pass rushers has skyrocketed. The top guys command quarterback money, and it’s raised the level for everyone beneath them. 

Most of Huff’s money is in an option bonus that is due March 13. If the 49ers are content with the value, he’ll only count $5.4 million against their cap this year thanks to how the Eagles structured the contract. If not, that serves as a deadline for a decision.

Chicago Bears

  • TE Cole Kmet ($8.4M)
  • RB D’Andre Swift ($7.5M)

The breakout of Bears first-round TE Colston Loveland down the stretch has cemented him as a big piece of the offense going forward. It also means a smaller role for Kmet, who probably is one of the 32 best tight ends in the league but will be relegated to No. 2 duties behind Loveland. His current salary is not tenable for that role, so something will have to give. 

Swift very well could have played his way into the team’s 2026 plans. He set new career highs in rushing yards, yards from scrimmage and rushing touchdowns in 2025, and the Bears were third in the NFL in rushing. Anecdotally, Swift looked like he was running as hard as he ever had, refuting criticisms from other stops that he would go down on contact too easily. While $7.5 million is notable savings for a running back, it would be surprising if the Bears just outright replaced him. 

I’m not sure if the Bears will want to drastically shake up the roster after the success of this past year, but it is worth noting the major cash due to a couple of defensive centerpieces. Bears LB Tremaine Edmunds is due $15 million in 2026, while CB Jaylon Johnson is due $16 million. Neither is guaranteed, which makes those notable numbers for a Chicago team that enters the offseason needing to clear space on the books. 

Both missed time in 2025, four games for Edmunds and 10 for Johnson. Edmunds was solid when he was on the field this past year, picking off four passes and breaking up a total of nine as one of the better coverage linebackers in the league. Johnson was coming off two straight Pro Bowls before a bad groin injury, and has more connections to the current regime than Edmunds. It would qualify as a big surprise if either were cut as things stand today, which is why I didn’t list them above, but they’re worth watching. 

Bears K Cairo Santos was on the last version of this list. He just turned 34 and had his worst field goal percentage since arriving in Chicago in 2020. However he ended the year on a hot streak and was praised by HC Ben Johnson for his reliability after the playoff win against the Packers. Teams always have an eye out for younger and cheaper alternatives at kicker but Santos won’t be a priority cut. 

Cincinnati Bengals

Ordinarily a year like the Bengals had on defense would be cause for a massacre of cuts, both to players and the staff. But Cincinnati doesn’t operate like most teams, as evidenced by the Bengals being the only AFC North franchise to retain their head coach this year. 

Slaton and Hill headline the list of potential cuts. Slaton was signed this offseason as a run-stuffing nose tackle. Cincinnati finished the year last in run defense, conceding 2,500 yards on the ground. There you have it, right? But Paul Dehner Jr. of the Athletic unearthed a fascinating nugget that the Bengals’ rush defense went from awful to absolutely miserable when Slaton was off the field. Hill’s numbers were right in line with his career averages, so the savings are modest enough that he might be back. 

The same is true with Karras. The juice with the savings probably doesn’t look worth the squeeze for the Bengals considering his reliability even if he is getting up there in age. Gesicki was able to be much more productive when Burrow returned to the lineup and he got past a pec injury, likely saving his spot on the roster for now. 

Dehner noted the Bengals were hoping for more from Ford and Burks this past year, so they could be targeted for changes. 

Buffalo Bills

The Bills love Knox and the edge he brings to the offense. Economically speaking, however, it’s difficult to justify that kind of investment in a No. 2 tight end, particularly if Buffalo foresees a bigger role for a healthier TE Dalton Kincaid in 2026. There are a lot of other ways the Bills could spend nearly $10 million in savings that could have a bigger impact. Some sort of reduced contract would make a ton of sense for both sides here, giving the Bills savings and letting Knox stay in Buffalo. 

Had Samuel’s 2025 salary not already been guaranteed, he likely would have been cut this past offseason. As it is, Buffalo will likely move on from the veteran wideout who still somehow doesn’t turn 30 years old until next August. He has just seven catches this year. 

Denver Broncos

The Broncos are in a solid salary cap position going forward, with the last of the Russell Wilson dead money finally behind them and off the books. They don’t have to make any cuts to clear space, so any moves they do make will be centered around performance. 

Greenlaw was a priority free agent signing just this past offseason, with the Broncos gambling he could put his injury concerns behind him to become a productive player. It didn’t quite work out that way. Greenlaw played just eight games, with a balky quad from an offseason injury lingering into the season and other soft tissue issues popping up as the year went along. Even when he was healthy, the Broncos declined to give him a full load of snaps. Greenlaw’s 2026 salary isn’t guaranteed, with a $2 million vest on March 15, so Denver has some options if it wants to revamp the linebacker group. Greenlaw was good when he was on the field, so it comes down to whether the team thinks it can project more from him than it’s gotten so far. 

There are fewer options with Engram, who already has $5 million of his $11.5 million 2026 compensation guaranteed. He ranked third on the team in targets (75), catches (50) and yards (461), but scored just one touchdown. Any cut would be more about saving the cash than the cap space but it’s fair to say Engram didn’t quite make the impact that was envisioned when he signed. Whether or not Broncos HC Sean Payton feels like he can find an upgrade for cheaper will likely dictate the decision here. 

Cleveland Browns

Because of the way the Browns prefer to structure their contracts, there aren’t really any cuts they can make to free up substantial cap space. The biggest possible cut would be CB Denzel Ward, and even then that would only save a little more than $3 million against the cap. Lucas is listed here because he turns 35 next year and the Browns are expected to revamp their offensive tackle group which has been steadily deteriorating for a couple of years now. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There aren’t really many cut candidates for the Buccaneers in 2026. Nelson is the best possible example, and even then the impact on the cap would be minimal. The move would save slightly more in cash ($4.5 million) and likely be part of an overhaul of the edge rushing group for the Bucs to try and get more dynamic. 

Some bigger-name players like DT Vita Vea and S Antoine Winfield Jr. have big base salaries that aren’t guaranteed, but it’s unlikely the Buccaneers move on. Both played well enough individually despite the fact Tampa Bay missed the playoffs and generally underperformed on defense. With HC Todd Bowles coming back, it would be a big surprise if either Vea or Winfield were cut. As for veteran WR Chris Godwin, his $22 million base salary in 2026 is guaranteed, which shuts down any idea of him being a cut after an injury-marred 2025 season

Arizona Cardinals

Between a basket of contracts that had hit their best-by date and a disappointing 2025 season, the Cardinals were on course for a big number of cuts in 2026. Now they’ll add a new coaching staff and a scheme switch to the turmoil. Arizona already made one move, releasing veteran DT Justin Jones in a move that saved nearly $9 million for next year. Jones hadn’t been on a practice field for the Cardinals since early August with a knee injury, and he was limited to just three games in 2024. 

That probably won’t be the last move the Cardinals make at defensive tackle. Nichols is another obvious cut with just 10 games combined in the last two seasons. Tomlinson is about to turn 32 and had career lows in snaps, tickles and PFF grade (by a lot for the latter). He’s due nearly $15 million in cash next year, making it likely the Cardinals go in a different direction. 

Conner suffered a season-ending foot injury early in the season that played a big part in the Cardinals’ season starting to go off the rails. The change in coaching staff is particularly ominous for him, though it helps that GM Monti Ossenfort was retained. Ossenfort signed off on an extension in November of 2024. That deal, however, didn’t include any guarantees on the $8 million Conner is owed in 2026. He turns 31 next May and teams are often shy about paying a lot of money to aging backs, especially coming off an injury. 

One potential boon for Conner is his $1 million roster bonus is due in March, which gives the Cardinals some incentive to make a decision early and not squat on his rights all year to try and leverage a pay cut closer to the season when the market for free agents is depressed. 

Brown can play both center and guard, and he made 11 starts for the Cardinals this past year. Ideally, though, he’s a depth player, and if he’s a depth player, his $5 million salary is a bit of a premium for that role. 

Davis-Gaither was signed to a two-year contract this past offseason to compete for a starting job, and ended up starting 13 games while playing all 17. However, his fit will be re-evaluated with a new defensive coaching staff coming in. He didn’t rank particularly well in PFF’s ratings and had just two tackles for loss on the year. 

Murphy-Bunting, another 2023 signing along with Jones and Nichols, was placed on the non-football injury list back in the summer. If he’s back, it won’t be on his current contract. 

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers are projected to be near the top of the NFL in available cap space this coming offseason, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room to create more. Becton was part of a front five that struggled this past year, and he was one of the players who was the most vocal about having issues with former OC Greg Roman at the end of the season. Roman is gone but that might not mean Becton is safe if the Chargers think he also underperformed. None of the $10 million due to him in 2026 is guaranteed, though a $2.5 million roster bonus is owed on March 13 which should prompt an early decision. 

Bozeman is another favorite of Roman who played for him in Baltimore. However, he’s also figured prominently in some offensive line issues the past couple of seasons. The Chargers could cut him and use the savings to go after a better center. Dissly slid down the depth chart this year and is another strong cut candidate. 

Kansas City Chiefs

Big moves are coming for the Chiefs, who have a $60 million salary cap deficit to dig out of before the start of the 2026 league year. Axing Taylor clears a third of that and paves the way for $15 million per year OT Jaylon Moore to enter the starting lineup. 

Danna has been a good glue guy and solid run defender, but the Chiefs need to get more dynamic up front and could move on from Danna to do so. He had just one sack this past season and his career high is only 6.5. A pay cut would be another option, especially since the Chiefs would likely value Danna more than any other team, but there’s also a case to be made that the Chiefs need to shake things up. 

Fulton was supposed to help solidify the secondary as an eight-figure free agent addition last year. He ended up playing just eight games, though he did start to figure more into the lineup down the stretch. Half of his $10 million 2026 salary is already guaranteed. If he’s not going to play a big role, though, the Chiefs won’t fall into the sunk cost fallacy and keep him just because of that. 

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts aren’t necessarily hard up for cap space, with around $25 million in Over The Cap’s current projections. But they have a host of players due for new deals, including QB Daniel Jones, WR Alec Pierce, RT Braden Smith and more. That could create some pressure to create additional space. The Colts’ collapse to end the season might also prompt some changes to the roster, even though it didn’t cost GM Chris Ballard or HC Shane Steichen their jobs. 

Since signing a big contract extension just ahead of free agency in 2024, Pittman has not topped 1,000 yards in a season despite doing it twice in four years before that. He started this past year hot with six touchdowns in the first eight games, but faltered along with the rest of the team in the second half of the season. He is owed $24 million next year, none of which is guaranteed, and that kind of savings tends to catch attention from teams. 

Pierce is due for a new deal and arguably surpassed Pittman as the No. 1 option for the Colts down the stretch. There’s a case to be made for the Colts taking the savings from cutting Pittman and using it to sign Pierce rather than pay two receivers over $20 million per year. 

One of the league’s longest-tenured run-stuffing nose tackles, Stewart is 32 and just finished his ninth year with the Colts. It wasn’t his best result. PFF gave Stewart the second-lowest grade of his career and he had just five tackles for loss compared to 10 in 2024. If the Colts end up having to make some hard decisions to be able to afford everything they want this offseason, Stewart is a player to monitor. 

Washington Commanders

Any goodwill the Commanders feel like they may have earned from their Cinderella run in 2024 seems to have dissipated. Both coordinators got chopped as penance for a 4-13 season, and no big change seems like it’s off the table for an organization that is clearly feeling some heat. 

The Commanders don’t need to create more cap space, as they already have one of the biggest war chests of cap space of any team in 2026. They do need to get younger and more dynamic on defense. Payne is one of their big brand-name players and is paid accordingly. His impact on the field might not necessarily be in line with his salary, though. 

The Commanders traded for Lattimore at the midseason deadline in 2024, and despite his struggles when he finally got healthy enough to play again, they doubled down for another season. It’s hard to see them making that mistake two years in a row after Lattimore struggled once more before tearing his ACL. 

Harris is a favorite of HC Dan Quinn’s, but is on the wrong side of 30 which puts him in the danger zone this offseason. His salary would not be prohibitive as a depth piece at least. Allegretti came up in some trade rumors this year, and the Commanders could gain a little bit of cap space by moving on this offseason. His contract also isn’t expensive for a backup if they don’t. 

Dallas Cowboys

Not only do the Cowboys have to clear tens of millions to get back into the black in cap space before the offseason starts, but they need to clear out an additional $30 million to fit a potential franchise tag for WR George Pickens, plus sort out a logjam at defensive tackle with three players on deals averaging more than $20 million per year. They already handled one order of business by releasing CB Trevon Diggs, a likely cap cut this offseason, a few months early. That saved $12.5 million in 2026 for Dallas. 

With such a long list of priorities, you can see why $21.5 million in savings for Clark would look enticing. He’s the most expendable of the expensive DL trio that also includes Quinnen Williams and Osa Odighizuwa. However, Clark was viewed as a significant piece of the Micah Parsons trade, so owner Jerry Jones has some personal investment in keeping him around. Perhaps that means Clark gets an extension to lower his cap hit rather than a release. 

There are several other players in danger, particularly if Jones is truly committed to keeping all three defensive tackles. Steele has been a reliable commodity at right tackle for a while, and that can be taken for granted sometimes. However, the savings from both a cash and cap perspective are notable. The Cowboys have some internal options to replace Steele if they want to roll the dice. 

There’s no dead money if the Cowboys move on from Wilson and the savings are fairly notable. Hooker turns 30 in April and safety is a position that teams usually feel like they can go cheap at without missing too much of a beat. Anger is 37 and at the age where specialists have to worry about fending of competition from younger, cheaper alternatives. Thomas will have to be viewed as a fit by the new coaching staff to be brought back. 

Miami Dolphins

Firing HC Mike McDaniel along with the midseason firing of GM Chris Grier is a sign as clear as daylight that another hard reset is coming for the Dolphins. So is the buzz that QB Tua Tagovailoa won’t be back, meaning Miami will take on an NFL-record $99.1 million dead money hit. 

With that context, it would be an enormous shock if Hill returns to the Dolphins. The savings are far too much for the Dolphins to turn down, especially since Hill is coming off a major knee injury. For his part, the veteran Hill almost certainly wants to find a team where he can find more on-field success. 

Chubb is another veteran player who probably doesn’t fit the Dolphins’ window. The cap savings from his deal are just over $7 million but the cash savings top $20 million. Cash is just as important as cap, if not more. Every dollar spent in cash ends up hitting the salary cap eventually. Even if the Dolphins do end up taking a more competitive approach to 2026, Chubb had just 8.5 sacks in 2025, which might not be worth $20 million. 

A similar calculation will be made for Fitzpatrick who is due $15.6 million in cash with no guarantees. Like Chubb, Fitzpatrick was decent this past season. He had one pick, six pass breakups, one sack and four tackles for loss. However, that production likely isn’t worth the price tag. 

Sanders missed the whole season with a hip injury that cropped up during warmups in the final week of the preseason. The savings are notable for a kicker and the Dolphins already showed they could manage without him. 

Ingold is one of the league’s best fullbacks, but the new head coach and offensive play-caller might not use a fullback as much as McDaniel did. 

Cutting Daniels doesn’t save cap space because of how his contract is structured, but there’s a strong chance the Dolphins will move on via trade or release at some point before August regardless. Daniels is owed nearly $8 million, most of it in a $5.2 million option bonus and none of it guaranteed. He played in just one game last year and five over the past two. The cash savings take precedence over the cap in this situation. 

Philadelphia Eagles

Because of the way the Eagles structure their contracts, they’ve basically pulled most of the levers they can to create flexibility. The exception is a contract they acquired via trade and didn’t create themselves. Carter arrived in a pre-deadline deal with the Jets. Despite being dealt because he wasn’t seeing the field in New York, Carter finished the season with more snaps in Jets’ green than Eagles’ green. He has the equivalent of a minimum salary guaranteed but if the Eagles cut him, that amount should be offset by a new team. 

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons and Cousins reached an agreement that essentially allows the team to cut Cousins with a June 1 designation to spread out the dead money on his deal while still reaping the savings benefits before that date. Cousins lowered his base salary from $35 million to $2.1 million and paved the way for him to find a new team after the Falcons stubbornly held onto him last offseason. He’ll still make $10 million via a roster bonus that Atlanta allowed to vest into a full guarantee last spring. 

Having said that, the door can’t be completely closed on Cousins returning to the Falcons via a new deal after he tests the market. He has a good relationship with new HC Kevin Stefanski, and 2025 starting QB Michael Penix Jr. is uncertain for the start of the season with his torn ACL. 

The Falcons can save more money by cutting Mooney and Woerner, two of the biggest underperformers on the offense this past season. Mooney never got back up to speed after missing nearly all of training camp with a broken collarbone. Woerner was signed to be a blocking specialist but was a liability in that role and saw his snaps cut. 

Phillips qualified for the Proven Performance Escalator, raising his salary for 2026 albeit without a guarantee. That leaves him at major risk for a pay cut, especially considering he appeared in only one game last season. 

New York Giants

New Giants HC John Harbaugh has already prompted major changes, nudging the team to change the reporting structure they typically have for a head coach. Expect Harbaugh to continue to put his stamp on the team and institute major changes, even though the talent on the roster was a selling point for him and even though New York retained GM Joe Schoen.

One of those surprise moves would be releasing Lawrence, but there’s a reason he may be among the veterans on notice. He was shockingly unproductive this year, even though he still commanded a lot of attention from opposing defenses. Lawrence finished the year with just half a sack and career lows in tackles, QB hits and stops. For $20 million in cash in 2026, that production won’t cut it. A trade would be another option rather than a straight release. 

Runyan and Okereke are two other notable free agent signings from the previous coaching staff who could be cut in favor of fresh faces. Both players have been locked in the lineup as starters the past few years but are closer to average than good at this point. 

Hudson was added to provide depth at tackle but wasn’t good when called upon this year. Singletary was a favorite of former HC Brian Daboll and likely will depart as well this offseason. Gano ended another season on injured reserve and it’s past time for Schoen to find a more reliable option. Robertson-Harris is at the point of his career where teams will view younger options as cheaper and just as capable replacements. 

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars already have over $40 million in dead money on the books for 2026, remnants from the roster shakeup new GM James Gladstone and HC Liam Coen signed off on when they moved on from CB Tyson Campbell, S Darnell Savage and WR Gabriel Davis. Those two replaced them with other big contracts, so the Jaguars don’t have a lot of cap flexibility or ways to cut a path to more. 

Any cuts would be more about cash spending and projections going forward. Armstead and Hamilton were both productive players this past year, both helping the Jaguars finish No. 1 in run defense and Armstead chipping in 5.5 sacks which is strong production for a defensive tackle. However, Armstead will be 33 in 2026 and Hamilton turns 29. Armstead is owed $14.5 million in cash while Hamilton is owed about $8.5 million. Jacksonville has to decide if it thinks they can be worth that amount, or if defensive tackle needs to be bumped higher up the list of needs. 

New York Jets

The Jets will have one of the bigger spending budgets of any team this offseason, but that’s because they traded two of their best players at the in-season deadline. We’ll see if more departures are incoming. Fields is almost certain to be playing elsewhere even though the cap savings are minimal and half of his 2026 salary is already guaranteed. Cutting him still saves $10 million in cash for the Jets. 

Phillips was a solid contributor and is more likely to be back, but as a two-down nose tackle, he doesn’t have the most rock-solid job security heading into the offseason at his cap number. 

Detroit Lions

As this past season progressed, the offensive line was revealed to be a bigger and bigger weakness for the Lions, one that ultimately helped keep them out of the postseason. Revamping that group is the top priority for Detroit and it could start with Glasgow. He turns 34 in July and was not the reliable cog he had been in the past for the Lions in 2025. 

The decision with Decker rests with the player as much as it does the organization. The longtime left tackle battled through some painful injuries this year and is turning 33. Retirement is a strong consideration, and even if he comes back the Lions have to decide if it’s worth risking $18 million in cash on better health and performance. 

Montgomery saw his role in the offense decrease this past season as whoever was calling plays for the Lions found it hard to keep the ball out of the hands of dynamic RB Jahmyr Gibbs. It was telling how the team’s decision-makers talked about doing what was best for Montgomery after the season, even if it meant him leaving Detroit. He turns 29 in June and is set to make $6 million. 

Green Bay Packers

Jenkins has been an ultra-reliable foundation piece for the Packers and a two-time Pro Bowler who at various points played all five positions up front for the Packers. Yet any time a team can save $20 million by cutting a player, it’s a strong consideration. The season-ending injury for Jenkins after nine games came after there was friction over his contract in the offseason. 

The Packers would be in the red even if they cut Diggs as expected after claiming him off waivers from the Cowboys in a no-risk dart throw to try and help an ailing cornerback room. That could force a hard decision with Jenkins. Green Bay could try to work out a pay cut or lower cap figure on an extension, and if Jenkins wants to stay with the Packers that could turn into a win-win. Free agency has been kind to interior offensive linemen lately, though, so Jenkins might not mind taking a dip in that pool. 

Gary is the other longtime Packer who could be under the microscope this offseason. He pulled down 7.5 sacks on the season but none in the final 10 games, including the playoff loss to the Bears and the stretch after Parsons’ ACL tear. The Packers can afford big money to two different edge rushers as long as they’re getting that kind of production from both. Gary didn’t hold up his end of the bargain in 2025. 

It would be a little surprising if the Packers pulled the eject button on Banks after just one year. He was one of the team’s biggest free agent signings ever, landing a deal worth nearly $20 million per year. However, the Packers didn’t get what they thought they were paying for and the deal has an exit hatch before a $9.5 million roster bonus is due on March 13. In total, he’s due over $18 million. 

The stakes are a little smaller with Hobbs, both in terms of the cash owed and the potential savings. Green Bay would save less than a million in cap space and just over $9 million in cash by cutting Hobbs. He also has the bulk of his compensation due via a March 13 roster bonus. It feels far more likely he’s not back for another season with the Packers after playing just 11 games due to injury and poor performance. 

Carolina Panthers

Robinson was a productive starter for the Panthers this past season, as a resurgent defense played a big role in the Panthers breaking a long playoff drought. However, he turns 31 next year and the Panthers could save a significant chunk by moving on. That makes him a player worth watching going into the offseason. 

Jones missed most of this past year with a back injury and the Panthers have identified their pass rush as an area they need to take a huge step forward in. That could lead to a release for Jones to try and free a roster spot and money for a more dynamic option, though he could also be back in a rotational role given he’s set to make only $6 million. 

The market for tight ends can be weird because players who do a lot of dirty work that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet can sign deals that look quirky when compared to the receiving totals. Tremble fits that archetype. Still, with just 27 catches, 249 yards and two scores on the season, $6 million in potential savings might prove to be an appealing alternative for the Panthers as they try to make another significant improvement as a team. 

New England Patriots

Jennings was a fixture on the trade block all year and the Patriots will be able to move on with no guarantees on his deal after this season. Gibson tore his ACL and the Patriots may have been interested in finding an upgrade at kickoff returner and No. 3 back regardless. 

Las Vegas Raiders

Things just didn’t work out for former Raiders HC Pete Carroll, and that likely means curtains for Smith as well given he pounded the table for that trade. Smith got $18 million in guarantees on his 2026 salary but the Raiders would still save $8 million by releasing him, which seems likely given he won’t be starting for them next year. 

Cappa is another player whose addition seems to have been driven by Carroll. He lost snaps as the season went on and the Raiders have other younger players they’ll want to focus on. He was a cap cut by the Bengals last offseason and will likely meet the same fate for the second year in a row. 

Butler has $2.25 million of his $5.25 million salary in 2026 guaranteed already. However, he’s 32 years old and the Raiders might want to ensure there aren’t veterans hogging snaps that could be used to develop younger players. 

Los Angeles Rams

After playing over 80 percent of the snaps for the last five years with two different teams, Williams was shuttled in and out of the lineup more this year with the Rams. He turns 33 in March and the NFL is pretty ageist when it comes to cornerbacks, so at minimum, I’d expect the Rams to try and negotiate a pay cut if they don’t release Williams outright. 

Rams TE Colby Parkinson was on the last version of this list with a potential $7 million in savings. But he came on down the stretch with a much bigger role in the offense and could be an important piece with veteran TE Tyler Higbee on an expiring deal. 

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens’ penchant for underperforming cost Harbaugh his job and it could claim others this coming offseason. Humphrey is one of the biggest names potentially in the crosshairs. He was burned repeatedly in some high-profile games to end the season and is owed $19.25 million in cash in 2026 — $4 million of which is in a March 15 roster bonus. Humphrey also had four interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack, so he remained a productive player. The Ravens just have to decide whether they want to bet on that continuing when he turns 30 in July. 

There won’t be nearly as much angst about moving on from Washington if the Ravens choose to do so. He finished the year playing in just three games. The whole defensive tackle room could be due for a makeover this offseason. 

New Orleans Saints

  • NA

There aren’t really any players the Saints could cut to get meaningful salary savings. Once again, any cap space will have to come from restructuring contracts, though they should be out of the cycle of constant restructures if they want to be after this coming offseason. 

Seattle Seahawks

Not only did the Seahawks earn the No. 1 seed and look like the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, but their books are in terrific shape for the future. Seattle looks like it will be a team to be reckoned with for the next few years. 

They could still look to tweak a few things. Kupp was the most notable addition to the Seahawks’ offense this past offseason outside of QB Sam Darnold, but finished with 47 catches for 593 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games. His contributions go beyond the box score but Seattle has to decide if those contributions are worth $13.5 million in cash in 2026. It feels like Kupp has reached the point where the name brand is worth far more than the production. 

Reed is a good grunt worker for the Seahawks. However, he turns 34 next year, so the team has to decide if paying him is the way to go or if it’s time to get younger. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

The move to safety seemed like it worked well for both Ramsey and the Steelers, letting him maximize his physicality while making it harder for offenses to attack him as he gets older. However, the market for safeties is very different than the market for corners. Ramsey is owed $19.5 million in 2026 and that’s a ton for a safety. A new coaching staff is a wrinkle here for both sides to sort through with $5.5 million of that money either due or guaranteed by March 15. If the Steelers bring Ramsey back, they’d likely want to do it on a cheaper deal. He might prefer free agency. 

With a new coaching staff coming in, there’s a lot of uncertainty for many players. Queen has been a decent starter but $13.3 million represents a lot of savings and some coaches philosophically don’t want to pay that much to a linebacker. 

Smith is a favorite of OC Arthur Smith. The new playcaller is not likely to have the same soft spot for a No. 2 tight end, not when $7 million in savings can be had. 

Harrison is making a premium for a player whose primary roles are special teams and the third linebacker in base defense. That makes him a cut candidate. 

Rudolph has never been valued as much by other coaches as he was by the Steelers under former HC Mike Tomlin.

Houston Texans

A mysterious foot injury sidelined Mixon in the summer and he wasn’t able to return from it at any point in the season. That raises natural questions about his playing future. The situation with the Texans is clearer. At 30 years old next July and owed $8.5 million, Mixon won’t play on that contract in 2026. 

The Texans could use some more space next year with a crowded financial situation. Edwards has been a productive role player but Houston has some depth along the defensive line to make a cut and save a little chunk. Edwards is turning 32 in January and has been a career role player. 

Tennessee Titans

The Titans are bringing in a new head coach who will have some impact on the roster, and this is the first full offseason for GM Mike Borgonzi as well. He’ll be able to make more changes since he won’t have his hands tied by the all the guaranteed money his predecessors handed out to guys like Ridley and Sneed, the latter of whom has made headlines more for his injuries and legal dustups than anything he’s done on the field since arriving in Nashville. It’s a lock the Titans will cut Sneed and save $16 million in cash. 

Ridley still has a $3 million guarantee and his broken fibula may be a slight complicating factor. Ultimately, though, the Titans save tons of cash and cap space by moving on, too much to turn down for a wideout who will be 32. 

Pollard went on a tear to end the season with 500 yards rushing in his final five games. That could have saved his spot on the roster in 2026, but the savings for a veteran back and the uncertainty of a new coaching staff keep him on the watch list for now. 

Woods might hang around as a third safety, as he’s not on an expensive deal. The Titans have some young players ready to step into bigger roles, though, and there’s a chance to clear a path and save some money by moving on from Woods. 

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings gambled on young QB J.J. McCarthy and tried to surround him with a veteran, experienced roster that was ready to compete for a playoff berth. The mix didn’t work and now Minnesota has to re-evaluate to balance the books. They can create some cap space with restructures but some tough cuts might be necessary. 

Hockenson and Jones would be the headliners here. The struggles at quarterback clearly impacted Hockenson in 2025, but he hasn’t been productive since a nasty knee injury late in the 2023 season. His salary ballons over $15 million next year. 

Jones remained effective but at nearly 31 years old with a history of soft tissue injuries, he has to be managed with a careful workload. The Vikings may not be in a position to pay a part-time player $10 million next year, although they’ve already guaranteed $2 million of that. 

Kelly has had multiple concussions this year and there’s a solid chance that pushes the 10-year veteran into retirement. He was solid otherwise on the field, so if the Vikings cut him it would be more about his age going forward. 

The Vikings have an interesting pickle to sort out at defensive tackle. A breakout season from second-year player Jalen Redmond made him their best interior defender. Hargrave was second-best per PFF, but the Vikings played Allen the most snaps of the group at over 800 despite PFF grading him as the worst DT on the roster. Hargrave’s deal is easier to get out of with $11 million in cap savings despite $4 million in salary guarantees out of $15 million. Allen has $8 million of $19.2 million due in 2026 that’s guaranteed.

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