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Updated 2025 Cap Casualty Candidates For All 32 Teams

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The offseason has begun for all but two teams, with free agency coming up in March and the draft in April. But there’s another phase of the offseason that’s not talked about as much for team building — and that’s salary cap casualties. 

Every year, teams take a fresh look at their roster to see where they can trim off some of the fat. It’s a ruthless exercise. Even if a team is awash in cap space, even if the savings are relative pocket change, if the front office decides the production is not worth the salary for a player, they will make the cut.

Like layoffs in any industry, usually the players who are cut skew older. Many have injury issues and for a lot of these players, their career goes downhill from this point. But there are also players who are reinvigorated by the fresh start, and one team’s trash can become another team’s treasure. 

Here’s an early look, team-by-team, at the potential players who could be on the chopping block this offseason and join a free agent pool that frankly could use as much help as it can get. 

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers tipped their hand for one of their big moves coming this offseason, agreeing to a restructured deal with Hargrave that essentially was a $17 million pay cut and paved the way to make him a June 1 release. San Francisco had a lot of problems this past year but one that I think has gone under the radar is the team wasn’t as overpowering up front as they’ve been in the past. By March, the 49ers will have cut Hargrave and DT Arik Armstead in back-to-back offseasons, so retooling the defensive tackle spot seems like a priority. 

Another high-profile cut candidate to watch is Samuel. The two sides agreed to a restructured contract last offseason after Samuel was the subject of trade discussions. He has a $15 million option bonus that’s due on March 23. That date is intentional because it creates an early deadline for the team to decide on its plans. While the 49ers can’t cut or trade Samuel outright because of the dead money hit, they could designate him as a June 1 cut and avoid paying that bonus. 

Samuel will be 29 in 2025, which is also a contract year, and his production dipped this season. His yards per game and yards per touch were the lowest of his career and he scored just four times in 15 games. There seems to be a natural pivot point coming up with the 49ers offense, as high-priced skill players like Samuel, TE George Kittle and RB Christian McCaffrey get older and QB Brock Purdy nears what will be a massive, massive pay raise. 

The door could be cracked for Samuel to return on an extension for a lower number, and it’s worth pointing out he’s one of HC Kyle Shanahan’s favorite players. 49ers GM John Lynch also defended his status on the roster. Still, this is worth keeping an eye on. Should the 49ers pick up the option, Samuel becomes a potentially attractive midseason trade asset, as a new team would owe him just the minimum salary. 

Outside of that, there aren’t a lot of other big cuts for the 49ers. Core players like Kittle and LB Fred Warner have significant base salaries but have been productive enough that it would be shocking if San Francisco moved on. Juszczyk took a pay cut this past offseason and might be asked to do so again, as while he’s another Shanahan favorite the fullback market around the league is not booming. 

Cutting either Floyd or Gross-Matos wouldn’t save a lot of cap space but both players are due nearly $8 million in cash in 2025 and could receive some scrutiny as the team evaluates the defensive line. Floyd has 8.5 sacks and actually leads the team but he’ll be 33 next year. Gross-Matos has missed six games and three of his 4.5 sacks came in one game, but at just 27 and with some versatility to kick inside on passing downs, the front office seems to like him a lot. I would lean toward both being back in 2025. 

Chicago Bears

The Bears are once again going to be one of the NFL leaders in available cap space this offseason, with a current effective cap space projection of $61 million in 2025 that’s sixth in the league per Over The Cap. There are a few avenues to create more, however. They are not going to keep both tight ends and of the two Everett is the far more likely cut given he was a favorite of disgraced former OC Shane Waldron who followed him over from Seattle. Kmet has under 500 receiving yards but he doesn’t turn 26 until March and the Bears seem to be high on his potential. 

Byard has been solid, probably better than he was last year with the Titans and Eagles, but he’ll be 32 before the start of next season and will sometimes look his age on the field. With a new defensive coordinator coming in, there will probably be some uncertainty about Byard’s outlook even though he is PFF’s 18th-graded safety.  

Edwards and Walker are listed here because they have notable cap savings if cut but both players are performing well and are not particularly expensive going into 2025. A new staff injects some uncertainty, however, if the Bears hire former Saints HC Dennis Allen as expected, both would be good fits. 

Bates’ situation is a little more tenuous. He’s a clear favorite of GM Ryan Poles who tried to sign him as a restricted free agent before trading for him this past offseason but he’s played just three games this year. He’s under contract in 2025 while the rest of Chicago’s starting interior (G Teven Jenkins, C Coleman Shelton, G Matt Pryor) is not, so his status could depend on how the offseason plays out for Chicago. Paying $4 million for a starting guard is a good deal, less so if it’s for a backup. 

Cincinnati Bengals

The top priority for the Bengals is going to be revamping the defense this offseason after the failures on that side of the ball helped squander a career year for QB Joe Burrow. That’s reflected in the potential cuts on that side of the ball. Rankins was signed last offseason but was limited to seven games and didn’t play since early November due to an illness. He was not particularly impactful when he was on the field. Stone was another free agent signing who has had a tough season. 

Hubbard is a homegrown player in multiple senses, arriving in Cincinnati via Ohio State and signing an extension after his rookie contract. He gutted through serious injuries to start 14 games but the impact was felt on his production with just two sacks. I think there could be more of an avenue to a pay cut with Hubbard to stick around than there would be for Rankins and Stone but it would be surprising to see him back on his current deal. 

Cappa has been a decent starter for the Bengals but $8 million in savings is notable, and teams often pinch pennies when it comes to the interior offensive line because it’s so much easier to find replacement-level production. That’s worth keeping in mind with Karras but he’s been better than Cappa and the savings are smaller. Teams generally try to avoid too much turnover on the offensive line because of how beneficial continuity is, so I could see Cincinnati trying to get Karras to agree to a pay cut in the summer when there aren’t a lot of other alternatives. Same with Moss. 

Buffalo Bills

Miller had a sack in each of the first three games of the season but cooled off precipitously since with three in the remaining 10 games he suited up for. He was only playing about a third of the snaps in a rotational role, which is not enough to justify $17.5 million in 2025 compensation. I would expect the Bills to take the out in Miller’s contract unless he’s willing to sign a cheap deal to come back. 

It might be time for the Bills to have a tough conversation about Milano. He was one of the league’s most underrated linebackers for a few years before finally earning All-Pro honors in 2022. Since then, he’s played just eight games, missing time for a gnarly fractured leg and then a torn biceps. He made it back at the beginning of December but has continued to be banged up. Milano is on the books for $10 million in cash in his age-31 season next year, and that looks like a risky investment at this point in time. Buffalo can get out of the deal with a June 1 cut, and at minimum that gives them some leverage to try and renegotiate a pay cut. 

Any other cap space the Bills get this offseason will have to come from restructures. Trubisky and Bass could be evaluated but Trubisky is cheap for a backup unless Buffalo elects to go with a rookie or minimum salaried player. Bass has struggled at times this year and is due $3.6 million. However, a lot of teams are having kicker troubles, so it’s worth considering for the Bills how much worse things could get without Bass. 

Denver Broncos

Denver is set to enter 2025 with a much better financial situation, even with $32 million in dead money left on the books still from the Russell Wilson trade. They should have more than $40 million to work with as a budget per Over The Cap. There aren’t really many places to cut to get more. Veteran LB Alex Singleton, DL John Franklin-Myers and WR Courtland Sutton have notable base salaries and are on the far side of 30 in the case of Singleton and Sutton. But all three were quality starters in 2024. 

Lutz is pricy for a kicker but that’s the price HC Sean Payton paid to get his guy from New Orleans. Locke, Mathis and Trautman are players I could see getting squeezed for pay cuts if Denver finds upgrades this offseason. 

Cleveland Browns

Here’s a much more in-depth breakdown of the Browns’ financial situation entering the 2025 season. They’re one of just six teams in the red right now in 2025 projections but can’t cut their way out of their deficit. Any cuts the Browns do make will be more about saving cash than cap space and will have to rely on the June 1 rule to split up the dead money. 

You’ll notice all the players listed here are veteran players who are getting up in age, at least for the position they play, and several are either coming off down years or injuries. The Browns won’t cut everyone on this list but I would be surprised if at least a couple are not back in Cleveland next year. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay has a top-heavy roster at the moment and is still dealing with $28 million in dead money from former OLB Shaquil Barrett and C Ryan Jensen. At just $14 million in projected effective cap space, per Over The Cap, and star WR Chris Godwin set to be a free agent, the Bucs are not poised for a lot of activity unless they start restructuring a bunch of deals. 

They can get some much-needed breathing room by cutting Dean and Whitehead, both of whom were starters this past season but battled injuries. Both are solid players — Dean is the team’s best corner right now and the front office crowed about being able to bring back Whitehead this year and rectify the wrong of letting him go in the first place. But Tampa Bay’s secondary was victimized throughout the season and upgrades are needed. 

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona’s books are pristine at the moment. The Cardinals are fourth in effective cap space right now and the only player with a cap hit higher than $20 million right now is QB Kyler Murray. The jury is out on a few of the free agent deals GM Monti Ossenfort and HC Jonathan Gannon gave out this past spring but most have guaranteed money that will lock them in for another season.

One exception could be Williams, who battled injuries all year and was limited to six starts. He has $2.5 million already guaranteed in 2025, which is the last year of the two-year deal he signed as a free agent last offseason. However, Arizona would still save $3 million against the cap by releasing him and $10-$13 million in cash depending on whether Williams is healthy enough for the Cardinals to avoid paying another $2.5 million guaranteed for injury. The decision will likely revolve around whether the Cardinals believe Williams can be counted on to stay healthy in 2025.  

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles is already one of the teams in good position financially going into 2025 and they can create even more space by moving on from Bosa. The former No. 3 pick was limited to 14 games and had just five sacks. His last full season was in 2021. Last year, the Chargers and Bosa were able to agree to a reworked deal for him to stick around, so it’s possible they could do so again, as veteran OLB Khalil Mack is scheduled to be a free agent too. Losing both would make edge rusher an urgent need. 

Dupree has been solid in a rotational role and is pretty cheap for 2025 but that level of savings for a player who will be 32 is notable. Edwards is a favorite of OC Greg Roman but it doesn’t seem like the staff trusts him with his age and injury history to carry a full load even with the injury to starting RB J.K. Dobbins — and Dobbins is a pending free agent as well. Even if Dobbins is back, I can see the Chargers wanting to invest more in the ground attack, and that means either a pay cut or curtains for Edwards. 

Kansas City Chiefs

Yes, it’s jarring to see two of the Chiefs’ core players listed here. Kansas City could easily elect to keep both players in 2025 but given their age and the potential savings, it’s at least worth noting the possibility. Kelce is the bigger name but I think Thuney is on steadier ground. Even at 33, he’s been one of the best guards in football and his ability to kick out to left tackle in a pinch has come in handy this season. If 2025 weren’t the final year of his contract and if the Chiefs didn’t have fellow G Trey Smith hitting free agency and also due for a big deal, this probably wouldn’t be a conversation. 

It’s clear Kelce is not in his prime anymore even if his 823 receiving yards still ranked fifth in the league at tight end in 2024. It was his lowest yardage total since his rookie season and he scored just three touchdowns. There are caveats — Kelce was the focus of a lot of defensive attention with few other consistent weapons for the Chiefs, and he once again turned it on in the first round of the playoffs with over 100 yards and a score. 

But prime Kelce shredded opposing game plans. Current Kelce was a decoy more often than any point in his career, and was notably not the primary read as much early in the season when WR Rashee Rice was still healthy. 

The Chiefs reworked Kelce’s deal last summer and moved most of his 2025 compensation into a $12.5 million roster bonus that is due on August 1. That creates a window for both sides, with the obvious implication being the 35-year-old Kelce can weigh whether to go all in on the full life waiting for him after football, or run it back for another year. Given the history between the two, I don’t think they’ll have a hard time settling on a number both sides are happy with if Kelce decides to play. I’m not sure it will be $17 million. 

As for Moore, the cap savings aren’t much, especially when accounting for the need to sign a replacement player, but at this point in his career, the roster spot for someone who could actually contribute might be more appealing than the cap savings. 

Indianapolis Colts

The big fish here is Smith. The 28-year-old has been a solid starting right tackle for the past several years, but staying on the field has become a bit of a struggle. He missed seven games last year with a nagging knee injury that needed surgery after the season, then was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list after 12 games this year. If healthy, $16 million is about the going rate for a tackle of Smith’s caliber, but the risks here are apparent. 

I would say it’s a 50-50 call, but Colts GM Chris Ballard is conservative by nature and tends to lean toward roster continuity, so it might be 60-40 toward Smith coming back. The same dynamic is at play with Ebukam and Lewis. Ebukam had 9.5 sacks in 2023 before tearing his Achilles at the start of camp. Lewis has been limited to seven games this year and has 1.5 sacks. There’s a case to be made to pocket the savings and try to get more dynamic on the edge which Ballard has been trying to do his entire tenure but he’s also loyal to his guys. 

He’s more likely to cut Davis, who was one of the team’s few outside free agent signings this offseason and has not made much of an impact on the stat sheet. 

Washington Commanders

Washington is flush with cap space for 2025 at the moment with over $80 million to spend in Over The Cap’s projections. Players like WR Terry McLaurin, DT Jonathan Allen and CB Marshon Lattimore are older and have massive cap hits, but extensions are far more likely for those three given the way they’ve played in 2024, at least when on the field.  

Wylie’s status will likely depend on if Washington finds upgrades in free agency or the draft. He’s been around league average this year, which is not a commodity to overlook at a position like tackle where the floor can get very, very low. Ekeler has had a bounce-back season following a rough final year with the Chargers but he had multiple concussions this year which makes his long-term outlook worth watching. 

Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said in one of the Jones family’s frequent media appearances that fans would probably do well to anticipate a similar offseason in 2025 as Dallas had in 2024. As a reminder, Dallas let nearly all of its free agents walk and signed just a few outside players to replace them. With a new deal coming up for LB Micah Parsons and a combined $125 million on the books for QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys will be bargain-bin hunters again. 

Restructuring Prescott’s deal would free up a massive chunk of change, but if the team decided to look elsewhere, the safety position might be the first place they cut. Wilson and Hooker are solid veterans but safety is one of the easiest positions to find competent contributors. Both players are getting older as well, with Wilson turning 30 and Hooker turning 29. 

Steele gets a bad rap with Cowboys fans at times but in the grand scheme of things around the NFL, he is a solid starting right tackle, particularly in the run game even if there are hiccups in pass protection. He’s due $14 million in cash this coming season and the Cowboys will be far more concerned with that number than the paltry $4.6 million in cap savings. If there was an alternative on the roster, maybe it would be different, but for now I would be surprised if the Cowboys cut Steele. 

Miami Dolphins

Miami is one of a handful of teams that need to clear space to get under the cap before the start of the league year in March, but most of the cuts they make will be more about shedding cash for the future or getting rid of players who are aging and breaking down. For instance, Chubb didn’t play at all in 2024 after a catastrophic, multi-ligament knee injury at the end of last season. He’s due $20 million in cash in 2025 and will be 29 years old. Even if the Dolphins don’t cut him outright, I could see them trying to talk Chubb into some kind of pay cut. 

Fuller has missed a ton of time and turns 30 next year, so he’s another cut candidate in that bucket, albeit for less money overall. He’s owed $7 million in 2025, none of it guaranteed. Mostert has been passed on the depth chart by younger options and is due $3 million in his age-33 season. 

Sanders has had a couple of glitches with extra points but unless he struggles in camp next year, he’s probably going to be brought back. Armstead has been a bright spot on the offensive line even as he battles his yearly injuries, so the Dolphins probably won’t cut him. Whether he decides to retire at the age of 34 is another question. The impact on the cap would be the same. 

Philadelphia Eagles

Because of the way the Eagles structure their contracts, there aren’t really any more ways for them to create more cap space with cuts or restructures. However, there are two possible cuts I’d be on the alert for in the secondary with Slay and Bradberry. Both are long in the tooth at a young man’s position. Slay will be 34 in 2025 and Bradberry will be 32. Both are due sizable bonuses by September 1 — $14.5 million for Slay and $16.5 million for Bradberry. 

There’s no way the Eagles pay that for Bradberry who missed most of this past season after taking a major step back in 2023. What will be a little more interesting is what they decide to do with Slay, who has remained a starter this season but didn’t pick off a pass for the first time since his rookie season. The timing of the option allows the Eagles to go into the offseason program and training camp to evaluate how Slay looks physically, as well as what the team’s other options in the secondary are. It’s possible both sides could agree to a reworked deal that makes more sense for where Slay is in his career right now. 

Atlanta Falcons

Big changes are in store this offseason for an organization that was confident, nay, cocky about its playoff aspirations in 2024. And I’m not just talking about QB Kirk Cousins. The Falcons are one of six teams in the red for 2025. Trading Cousins would get the team back in the black but that won’t be easy. While Cousins’ $27.5 million guaranteed 2025 salary is reasonable for a solid starting quarterback, the total for a new team would actually be $37.5 million guaranteed since Cousins has a $10 million roster bonus in 2026 that becomes guaranteed this March. That’s a lot to take on for a 36-year-old coming off the worst stretch of his career.  

Jarrett, McGary, Matthews and Onyemata all played reasonably well but all four are going to either hit 30 or be on the other side of that milestone in 2025. I’d classify the offensive players as safer than the defensive players, as the Falcons have struggled to generate a reliable pass rush this year. Whether it’s via cut, restructure or pay cut, the Falcons will need to generate some cap relief from this quartet. 

There aren’t a lot of cap savings from cutting Koo but he’s in the midst of the worst year of his career since his rookie year with nine field goal misses. It’s easier to get worse at kicker than it is better most of the time, but at minimum, the Falcons will bring in competition for Koo in 2025. 

New York Giants

The Giants may not have a great roster but they don’t have a lot of awful contracts right now either, at least not ones they can get out of this year. Nunez-Roches, nicknamed “Nacho,” is a solid rotational defensive lineman who’s worth his small cap hit unless they change up the defensive scheme.

Flott and Bellinger are still on their rookie contracts but qualified for raises in 2025 under the Proven Performance Escalator program thanks to hitting snap thresholds their first three seasons. Unfortunately, the escalator is not guaranteed which leaves these players vulnerable to being squeezed for pay cuts once the season draws closer. The Giants have done this several times, including with CB Nick McCloud this past year. 

Gano is on shakier ground, as the 38-year-old has played just 18 games in the past two years due to injuries. It seems like his body might be starting to break down. 

Jacksonville Jaguars

Major changes are coming for the Jaguars with a new coaching staff and now a new GM after owner Shad Khan finally cut ties with GM Trent Baalke. Baalke leaned hard on free agency to build this Jaguars team and as a result, there are a lot of players with guaranteed money in 2025 who will be difficult to cut.

But there are outs for notable players like Kirk and Engram, both of whom finished the season on injured reserve. Kirk broke his collarbone and Engram needed surgery on his shoulder. The former is 28 while the latter is 30, but the Jaguars can save a lot more by cutting Kirk than they can Engram. Ultimately the next coach and front office will determine if these two fit into their plans for the roster and scheme. 

Cutting Darby and Wingard wouldn’t save nearly as much and both players are making a low enough salary that they could stick as contributors. The determining factor will be whether the new defensive staff sees them as fits for what they want to do.

Fortner saw his salary grow under the Proven Performance Escalator, which might actually work against his chances of making the team unless he’s amenable to a pay cut. 

As for Reynolds, he was claimed off waivers from the Broncos and has no guarantees. He could be back but likely for closer to a league minimum deal. 

New York Jets

There was some buzz from the Jets beat after Adams popped off for nearly 200 yards receiving against the Jaguars in Week 15 about how New York needed to make sure to keep him. Adams is due a salary over $35 million in 2025 that will ensure he has a chance to test free agency, 200-yard game or not. At minimum, I would expect him to explore his options before agreeing to anything with the Jets, and it’s easy to see him wanting to go to a contending team to try and finish out his career. 

Adams’ fate might be tied to the fate of Rodgers, which at this point looks like it’s also going to be outside of New York. The Jets would take a big hit cutting Rodgers outright because of the remaining dead money on his deal but they could use a June 1 designation. Rodgers is due a $35 million bonus that the Jets cannot justify paying based on how this season has gone. You learn in the NFL never to rule anything out, but at this point, it feels likely Rodgers and Adams will be cut before they’re due that money. 

Mosley is a team captain and has $4.25 million of his $8.25 million 2025 salary guaranteed. But he missed major time with a neck injury and is turning 33. The time for the Jets to move on might be now, and they can use their second June 1 designation to let Mosley go. 

The Jets would have cut Lazard this past offseason had his salary not been guaranteed, and with Rodgers likely gone, there’s even less reason for them to hold on. Clemons is also in danger with a brand-new regime coming in that will evaluate if his role is worth the raise from the Proven Performance Escalator. 

Zuerlein pushed through a rough patch in the middle of this season but he’s due over $4 million at the age of 38 in 2025. He’s one of many, many veteran kickers who will get competition this offseason. 

Detroit Lions

The Lions are actually in a great position for 2025, ranking inside the top 10 in effective cap space per Over The Cap despite shelling out big bucks this past offseason to QB Jared Goff, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, RT Penei Sewell and DT Alim McNeill, among others. So they don’t need to make any cuts to free space. The players listed here are listed because the Lions could get notable savings by cutting them, not because they will pull the trigger. 

Reader and Ragnow are key starters along the line of scrimmage who have overall played quite well for a Lions team that was steamrolling the league until a wave of injuries hit. Both players have injury histories to account for when projecting long-term impact — and while Ragnow will be just 29 next year, he has the injury history of a 35-year-old. Still, it would be surprising if either weren’t in the team’s 2025 plans. 

Anzalone, Robertson and Raymond are glue guys instead of impact starters but none of them are making a salary that’s out of line with their current production. All three should feel great about their status going into the offseason. 

The most interesting candidate is Smith, who arrived via trade from the Browns ahead of the midseason deadline and notched four sacks in eight games. The veteran has no guarantees remaining on his deal and is owed a total of $11 million in 2025 — a $1.5 million base salary, $2 million roster bonus due on the third day of the 2025 league year, $7 million option bonus due a week before the start of the regular season and up to $510,000 in per-game roster bonuses. Because of the option bonus, the cap savings is just $5.7 million, but the $11 million in cash is more relevant. Detroit has to decide if that’s a good investment for Smith in his age-33 season. 

Green Bay Packers

Like the rest of the NFC North, Green Bay is in a good position financially per Over The Cap‘s projected effective cap space. The only real contract of note for them to address is Alexander. A healthy Alexander might still be one of the best cornerbacks in football but he’s been limited to just 14 games over the past two seasons. He turns 28 next year, which isn’t the dreaded 30 for cornerbacks but is ominously close, and is due $17.5 million in cash. 

The Packers have some flexibility to take a risk, and they might be overhauling their other cornerback spots as well which could make moving on from Alexander more trepidatious. Still, this will be a topic of discussion when the Packers have internal meetings to go over the plan for 2025. 

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers don’t have nearly the amount of cap space you’d expect for a team lacking as much talent as they do. They don’t even have a high-priced quarterback deal gobbling up space, with former No. 1 pick Bryce Young making about $8.5 million a year on his deal. Carolina’s been active the past two years in free agency to try and fill out the roster and the bulk of their space is dedicated to those deals. The team has had to guarantee money into the second year of a lot of contracts to lure players, and fortunately for GM Dan Morgan, his hit rate is looking better than his predecessor. 

Clowney and Wonnum were both signed as Carolina rebuilt its edge rusher room nearly from scratch following the trade of DE Brian Burns to the Giants. Both players have been solid when they have been on the field, which took a while for Wonnum due to complications from a torn quad that ended his 2023 season. I don’t see the Panthers wanting to take a step back here even if they’ll almost certainly add to the room, and neither Clowney nor Wonnum are making salaries out of line with the market. 

Thielen has continued to be productive despite pushing into his mid-30s, so his chances of coming back look a lot better than they did a few months ago. Still, he’s due $6.75 million in 2025, and his status might depend on whether the Panthers are able to add more punch to their receiving corps. Second-round WR Xavier Legette and UDFA WR Jalen Coker have had intriguing rookie seasons but if Carolina took just that trio into 2025, it’d be uninspiring. Thielen’s salary is harder to justify if he’s fourth on the depth chart. A $1.5 million roster bonus is due March 17, which will push the Panthers to make a quick decision. He could also retire. 

Sanders might have been cut this past offseason had his salary not already been guaranteed, so even with the uncertainty in the team’s backfield behind incumbent RB Chuba Hubbard, it’s hard to see Sanders back. Nijman was signed as insurance at tackle, but wasn’t healthy enough to play when LT Ikem Ekwonu missed some time. Carolina wants to be strong up front but they’re paying Nijman a premium for a swing tackle right now. 

The status of Robinson and Tuttle could depend on how much DC Ejiro Evero changes things up. He’ll remain in Carolina despite a horrendous season and both players were signed the past two years because they fit his scheme. Yet in that span, the Panthers have had the worst rush defense in football. Robinson is probably safer than Tuttle.  

Jackson was benched after missing significant time with a hamstring injury. He has $1 million already guaranteed in 2025 but that might not be enough to save him from being cut. 

New England Patriots

New England should have the biggest war chest in the NFL heading into next offseason. Part of that is because they’re rolling over so much cap space from this year after conspicuously missing out on a few high-profile free agent targets. They’ll likely have better luck this year with a promising young passer in first-round QB Drake Maye but will still end up paying a premium. 

There are still cuts they could make if they think certain players aren’t worth the salary. Bourne is the chief one there, but it will depend on how much the Patriots are able to remodel the receiving corps this offseason. New England loves the savvy veteran and signed him to a new deal just this past offseason even though he was coming off a torn ACL. 

Bentley is another player coming off injury. He’s an old-school thumper who was a great fit for the style of defense they play. It’ll be interesting to see if he fits under new HC Mike Vrabel and DC Terrell Williams as well.

If Andrews is healthy, the Patriots will likely keep him, but there has been some retirement buzz around the 32-year-old. Lowe qualified for the Proven Performance escalator thanks to being relied on as the Patriots’ starting left tackle for the bulk of last season. But New England would probably prefer not to be in that position again or to pay Lowe $3.3 million to be a backup. 

Las Vegas Raiders

Other players like DE Maxx Crosby, LT Kolton Miller and WR Jakobi Meyers have outs in their contracts, but they’re part of the team’s core foundation still. Just as importantly, the Raiders are flush with cap space and won’t need to be forced into any tough decisions. 

Minshew will be one of the few points of accounting. In the deal he signed this past offseason, he got $3.16 million of his total $12.5 million compensation guaranteed. The Raiders will be in the market for a different quarterback and they probably like Aidan O’Connell more as a backup, and not just because he’s still on a cheap rookie deal. Then again, if Minshew agrees to a pay cut, he could stay as a veteran presence assuming Las Vegas drafts someone. 

Cutting James wouldn’t free up much cap space but he got hurt this year, lost his starting job and is due $7 million in 2025, half of which is already guaranteed. The Raiders could cut their losses and move on before they end up owing more to a player who doesn’t seem to be in their plans. 

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are poised to have a decent chunk of change to spend in 2025, and went from deeply contemplating a rebuild at 1-4 to winning the NFC West. Common sense would suggest the Rams wouldn’t want to blow things up in 2025 but it’s always hard to pin down what exactly this team will do. 

Cutting Kupp would be eyebrow-raising, but the Rams could do it if discussions on a reworked deal stall and no trade market emerges. He has $5 million of his $12.5 million salary already guaranteed plus a $7.5 million roster bonus to bring his total 2025 compensation to $20 million. That’s a little steep for what his production has been the past few years. The bonus is due in early March, so there would seem to be an early deadline for that decision. 

Jackson was a big-ticket free agent signing this past offseason as the Rams poured resources into their interior offensive line. The initial plan was to shift 2023 second-round G Steve Avila to center and play Jackson on the left with G Kevin Dotson, re-signed to a major extension, manning the right side. But Jackson got hurt and Avila was so good at guard that the Rams thought it was best to put Jackson at center instead when he returned. That didn’t work at all, and Jackson played behind sixth-round C Beaux Limmer. 

So now the Rams have a quandary, as Jackson is owed a $9 million base salary in 2025 and is currently Los Angeles’ sixth offensive lineman. Cutting or trading Jackson after just one year would incur an $11 million dead money hit but save $3.3 million in cap space and three times that amount in cash. Jackson’s 2025 base salary becomes guaranteed on March 15, so this should resolve itself soon. 

The secondary was one of the major weaknesses for the 2024 Rams, and Williams, while not culpable for all the struggles, will be 32. It’s hard to see him coming back at his current number. Kendrick missed last year with a torn ACL, so he’s a candidate to be back with a pay cut after playing enough snaps his first two years to qualify for the Proven Performance Escalator. 

It’ll be interesting to see how the Rams handle the tight end position. Both Higbee and Parkinson are guaranteed $2 million each already in 2025, but the Rams would still save cash and cap space by cutting either or both. Higbee played just three games in 2024 while rehabbing a torn ACL suffered in the playoffs in 2023. However, since his return he immediately become a notable piece of the offense with 20 catches in five games, including the playoffs.

Parkinson saw his snaps dip over the course of the season as he slid into a committee with Davis Allen and Hunter Long. My guess is of the two, Parkinson won’t be back. 

Baltimore Ravens

These are some big names here for Baltimore, as Humphrey and Andrews have been foundational players for the Ravens for several years now. But the potential cap savings mean there has to be a conversation, especially for how little financial flexibility the Ravens have these days. 

Humphrey entered the season on thinner ice and responded with a huge year. He picked off six passes and finished as PFF’s No. 6 cornerback along the way to earning his fourth Pro Bowl nod and second first-team All Pro selection. After a year like that, it would be incredibly shocking to see the Ravens cut him. 

However an extension is also a tricky proposition, as Humphrey has two more years on his deal and turns 29 before next season. Defensive back is a young man’s game and it’s not clear how much more money Baltimore would be comfortable tying up with Humphrey even if it means lowering his 2025 cap hit. 

Andrews had a complicated season as well, even setting aside his nightmare playoff game with a crucial fumble and drop. He was a much smaller piece of the Ravens’ offense than he’d been in past years despite playing all 17 games. Guys like WR Zay Flowers, WR Rashod Bateman and even TE Isaiah Likely cut into Andrews’ targets and snaps. He still scored 11 touchdowns and was a threat in the red zone, and the team brass defended his place on the team in the end-of-season press tour, but his salary is not in line with his production if this past year is going to be indicative of the future.

Like Humphrey, I’d be surprised if Andrews was cut, but some kind of pay cut wouldn’t be shocking. He’s due just a $7 million base salary but a $4 million roster bonus on March 20. An extension could also be a solution, as 2025 is the final year of Andrews’ contract. 

The Ravens have already reworked Williams’ contract to facilitate a post-June 1 release this offseason. For whatever reason, the veteran safety just didn’t play well in 2024, to the point where he was benched and made a healthy scratch.  

New Orleans Saints

The Saints deserved their own separate article breaking down the ins and outs of their cap situation. Once again New Orleans is going to have to restructure a bunch of contracts to get under the limit. They have two June 1 cuts they can use to avoid a crippling dead money hit, but four players who are candidates (although Ramczyk has already agreed to a pay cut and Jordan could as well).

Any other cuts are just for potential change in the cushions. 

Seattle Seahawks

For more on why these players could be potential cap cuts for the Seahawks, plus more on the future of other key players like QB Geno Smith and WR D.K. Metcalf, check out our 2025 Salary Cap Outlook: Seattle Seahawks post. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

Outside of Smith who had one more year with a high non-guaranteed base salary when Pittsburgh traded for him this past season, I don’t think the Steelers will make many cuts, which tends to happen when teams are coming off good years. It means more players are living up to their contracts instead of living down to them. The other likely cut on this list is Holcomb who spent all year on the physically unable to perform list. 

The Steelers might have conversations about Seumalo and Ogunjobi. Both players are getting deeper into their 30s and both have notable non-guaranteed salaries. Ogunjobi actually has a $3 million roster bonus due in March, which is a telltale indicator that the team wanted an out and the player’s agent was able to negotiate for it to be earlier rather than later. 

However, both have played well and Ogunjobi’s contributions extend off the field as the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Pittsburgh wants to build an identity around being strong and tough on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Ogunjobi and Seumalo still fit in with that vision. 

Patterson is a favorite of OC Arthur Smith but saw his role decrease as the season went on. He also only returned 11 kickoffs over the whole season. 

Houston Texans

For a team with a star quarterback on a rookie contract, the Texans are pretty maxed out as far as the salary cap goes. Over The Cap has them in the red right now actually and there aren’t a lot of obvious cuts to get more space. Houston will almost certainly have to restructure a few contracts to create flexibility to try and close what still looks like a gap between them and the top teams in the AFC. 

The offensive line is the biggest concern after the unit’s struggles played a big role in why the 2024 season was ultimately a disappointment. Mason has been a quality guard for a long time but his age might have caught up with him. The Texans wouldn’t save a bunch of cap room by cutting him, at least not without a June 1 designation, but they would get off the hook for all but $1 million of his $10.5 million 2025 compensation. 

Howard is the other player the Texans could consider cutting. The cap savings would be paltry and Howard already has $1.8 million guaranteed in 2025. But it would free Houston of being obligated to pay the remainder of his $15.5 million base salary. Howard has been a starter at both right tackle and guard, so this would signal a major, major overhaul of the Texans’ offensive line. I suspect they will make one or two tweaks and hope better coaching can get better performance.  

Tennessee Titans

Titans GM Ran Carthon engineered an enormous spending spree last offseason in free agency and the lack of fruits for his labor is why he’s no longer employed. If players like WR Calvin Ridley, CB L’Jarius Sneed and CB Chidobe Awuzie didn’t have sizable guaranteed amounts in Year 2 of their deals, there would be serious conversations to be had about their future in Tennessee. 

As it is, there are a few high-priced defenders who could be in the crosshairs, even though that side of the ball was by far the best part of the Titans’ 3-14 season. Landry has eight sacks but he’s not quite as effective as he was before he tore his ACL. His total pressures dropped from a career-high 70 in 2021, per PFF, to 48 last year and only 30 in 2024. He’ll be 29 in 2025 and owed $17.5 million in base salary. 

Murray was another free agent signing this past offseason but his deal provides an out at least. While he’s made a few splash plays, Murray was graded by PFF as a bottom-five linebacker. Other lesser heralded and cheaper players like Jack Gibbens outplayed Murray on the same roster this year, so Tennessee could bank the savings and still have a good shot at similar production. 

Minnesota Vikings

Despite the bumpy end to the season, there are a lot of things looking up for the future in Minnesota. The Vikings have been pinching pennies for the past several years, but in 2025 with no bulky contract for Cousins on the books, they have $55 million in projected effective cap space per Over The Cap, fifth-best in the NFL right now.

The roster looks just as clean as you’d expect with that number. Outside of Oliver, there aren’t a lot of potential cuts that stand out, and Oliver isn’t even a slam-dunk cut. While an $8 million salary is a lot for a No. 2 tight end, he’s a valuable role player for Minnesota. They have the financial flexibility to afford one or two luxuries.

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