10 NFL Players Who Might Be Cap Casualties
Which players are most likely going to be released before the 2023 league year gets underway?
With most NFL teams starting offseason preparations, it's likely you'll soon hear about players who are released from their contracts.
Every year, teams have to figure out how to best utilize their available cap space and, in some cases, they must release players to get under the cap.
With the 2023 free agency class not expected to have much in terms of talent, aside from a couple of positions, it's possible fewer teams cut players because they don't believe they can find suitable replacements.
But in other cases, these decisions will be easy. This is because the player clearly doesn't fit into the team's future plans and they are at a cap number that does not justify keeping them.
Here are 10 players who I believe are the most likely cut prior to the start of the 2023 league year.
Derek Carr, QB, Las Vegas Raiders: The Raiders benched Carr for the final games of the 2022 season and have given him permission to seek a trade. However, his $32.9M base salary for 2023 becomes fully guaranteed on Feb. 15, along with $7.5M of his 2024 base salary.
That gives the Raiders about two weeks from the time of this writing to trade him. There's one report about the Saints supposedly having interest but I don't know how serious the Saints are. You certainly can't rule out a trade, but if one doesn't materialize, the Raiders won't have much choice but to cut Carr.
Carson Wentz, QB, Commanders: The Commanders traded multiple picks to acquire Wentz from the Colts last offseason. He started six games before being placed on injured reserve, then was activated for the final two games of the season.
Overall, Wentz didn't play well this season and there's some talk that the Commanders may want to take a closer look at Sam Howell. If the Commanders really think Howell can be the guy, they are better off cutting Wentz and trying to retain Heinicke. They will need to make a decision by March 19 before Wentz's $6M roster bonus kicks in.
Michael Thomas, WR, Saints: Thomas was one of the Saints' best players for several seasons and got a five-year, $96.25M extension back in 2019. Then, in 2020, Thomas missed nine games because of injuries, never played a snap in 2021 and was active for just three games this past season.
The Saints have already restructured Thomas' contract in a procedural move to get his base salary down for 2023, which allows them to designate him a post-June 1 cut. The move won't give the Saints a lot of cap relief, but it does allow them to move on from a player who simply doesn't fit into their plans any longer.
Kenny Golladay, WR, Giants: During Dave Gettleman's tenure as Giants general manager, one of his notable free agent signing was Golladay. The wide receiver got $28M fully guaranteed in 2021 upon signing but had just 37 receptions and no touchdowns that season.
Golladay barely saw the field this past season and it's clear the new Giants regime doesn't want him anymore. Though the Giants aren't tight on cap space, it's not a question of if the Giants will cut Golladay, but whether they do it as a straight cut or as a post-June 1 designation. Golladay is due a $4.5M roster bonus that's fully guaranteed, but the Giants are likely to look at that as sunk costs.
Robbie Anderson, WR, Cardinals: Anderson signed a one-year deal with the Panthers in 2020 and played very well. They then gave him a three-year deal and his production declined in 2021. He was traded after six games in 2022 to the Cardinals.
Anderson hasn't done much better and it's not likely he'll be back next season. He's due a $3M roster bonus on March 20 and it will be no surprise if the Cardinals release him before that date.
Corey Davis, WR, Jets: The Jets are projected to be slightly above the cap going into 2023, but Davis is a player they were likely to part ways with, anyway. Davis has simply failed to live up to the three-year deal he signed with the Jets back in 2021.
Davis has been paid $27M the past two seasons and, though he's due just $10.5M in 2023, he's caught just 66 passes in two seasons. That's not enough to justify keeping him for another year.
Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers: This one might surprise some people but it may become a necessity. Allen has certainly been a productive player but the Chargers are $20M over the cap and need to make some tough decisions.
Justin Herbert won't be on his cheap rookie contract for much longer and, thus, the Chargers don't have the luxury of paying two receivers significant money. Allen, meanwhile, missed seven games because of injury and his play overall has declined. The Chargers can save $14.8M in cap space by cutting him but need to do so before his $3.5M roster bonus kicks in on March 21.
Byron Jones, CB, Dolphins: Jones signed with the Dolphins in 2020 and has been a productive player, but he missed all of 2022 with an Achilles injury. The Dolphins are now projected to be $22M over the cap once they get 51 players under contract.
Jones is due $13.5M in base salary, none of it guaranteed. The Dolphins may be a team that is built to win now, but they will have to make some decisions so they can get under the cap. They may have to restructure some deals, but when it comes to cuts, Jones is the most logical choice.
Frank Clark, EDGE, Chiefs: The Chiefs renegotiated Clark's contract last offseason, giving him about $5.5M in guaranteed salary while converting remaining base salary into incentives. In doing so, they gave him $10M in 2023 that becomes fully guaranteed if he's on the roster on March 21.
Clark was solid in 2022 but, along with the $10M that becomes fully guaranteed, he has an additional $10M due. The Chiefs might try to renegotiate his deal again, but if they are unable to come to terms, they will likely cut him so they can commit cap and cash to other players they need to re-sign or extend.
Taylor Lewan, OT, Titans: The Titans are projected to be $23.4M over the cap and will likely release several players. Some might stick around under renegotiated deals, but Lewan may be the most likely player they just cut.
Lewan has missed multiple starts the past three seasons with injuries and his play is not the level it used to be. He's already hinted that he'd like to play elsewhere. It's possible the Titans may be able to trade Lewan, but failing that, they'll just release him and save $14.8M in cap and cash.
Other players who might be cap casualties: Harrison Smith, S, Vikings; Bud Dupree, EDGE, Titans; Shaquil Griffin, CB, Jaguars; Micah Hyde, S, Bills; William Jackson III, CB, Steelers; Graham Glasgow, OG. Broncos; Ronald Darby, CB, Broncos; Michael Brockers, IDL, Lions; Adoree Jackson, CB, Giants.