More so than probably any other year during the salary cap era, the 2015 NFL offseason will likely feature a ton of veteran cuts due to inflated contracts and unsustainable cap situtions.
From Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnon at wide receiver to Haloti Ngata and Tamba Hali on defense, here are 20 likely NFL salary cap casualties set to happen within the next few weeks.
1. Larry Fitzgerald, Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals
2015 Cap Hit: $23.6 Million
There’s absolutely no way that Fitzgerald is back at his current cap number. That would put a Cardinals team that’s already over the cap in a less-than-stellar situation heading into free agency. If Arizona were to release the future Hall of Famer, it would save $9.2 million against the cap. However, a contract restructure or trade seems to be a more likely scenario here. Fitzgerald tallied 63 receptions for 784 yards and two touchdowns last season. At 31, the veteran is obviously on the back end of his career.
2. Darnell Dockett, Defensive Tackle, Arizona Cardinals
2015 Cap Hit: $9.8 Million
Dockett suffered a torn ACL prior to the start of the 2014 campaign and missed the entire season. Now set to count nearly $10 million against the cap and with a minimal dead-money hit of $3 million, Dockett could find himself on the free-agent market next month. The three-time Pro Bowler saw his production dip in the three seasons prior to 2014, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Cardinals sent him packing. That’s only magnified by their current cap situation.
3. Haloti Ngata, Defensive Tackle, Baltimore Ravens
2015 Cap Hit: $16 Million
Courtesy of USA Today: Ngata is as good as gone in Baltimore.
This is almost a foregone conclusion. Releasing Ngata would save the Ravens $8.5 million against the cap. And consideringt they are barely under the threshold right now without many other options, this is a decision that should be relatively easy for general manager Ozzie Newsome. Ngata, 31, is also on the verge of becoming nothing more than a rotational player after missing out on the Pro Bowl for the first time in six seasons this past year.
4. A.J. Hawk, Linebacker, Green Bay Packers
2015 Cap Hit: $5.1 Million
The cap hit really isn’t a big deal here. Green Bay is in a decent position heading into free agency. However, Hawk’s performance doesn’t suggest he should be paid over $5 million per season. That’s only magnified by the presence of Brad Jones and Jamari Lattimore—both cheaper and younger options—behind him on the depth chart. The 31-year-old linebacker put up just 94 tackles and a half sack in an underwhelming 2014 campaign.
5. Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver, Houston Texans
2015 Cap Hit: $16.1 Million
Look for Johnson to finally move on from the Texans this offseason. No only is the future Hall of Famer set to count $16.1 million against the cap, he doesn’t seem prepared to take a contract restructure. Releasing the veteran would also save the team nearly $9 million against the cap in 2015. Considering Houston is currently just $10 million under the cap, it would need to move on from Johnson in order to be players in the open market. Still a productive receiver, the 33-year-old Johnson put up 85 receptions for 936 yards and three scores in 2014. It was his first full season not reaching the 1,000-yard plateau since he was a rookie in 2003.
6. Trent Richardson, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts
2015 Cap Hit: $3.2 Million
It’s more likely I will go on a date with Carrie Underwood than it is Richardson returns to the Colts in 2015. Not only can the team release him with zero salary cap implications, the former first-round pick has been a downright bust for Indianapolis in the near two years since it traded for him. All Said, Richardson averaged 3.1 yards in 29 games as a member of the Colts. Heck, there’s a possibility he might not land on his feet in the NFL next year. That’s how dramatic Richardson’s fall from grace has been.
7. Tamba Hali, Linebacker, Kansas City Chiefs
2015 Cap Hit: $12.0 Million
Courtesy of USA Today: Hali may be a great player, but Chiefs’ cap situation could end his career with the team.
This four-time Pro Bowl performer may very well be a surprise cut of the Chiefs in the next couple weeks. Despite racking up 61 sacks over the past six years, Hali is set to make about $12 million next year with a dead cap hit of just under $3 million. For a Chiefs team that’s looking to retain Justin Houston, this might be the bullet it will have to bite. The Chiefs are currently $1.7 million over the cap, so they couldn’t even franchise Houston if they wanted to right now. Hali may very well be the unfortunate one to get shoved out the door to retain Houston.
8. Adrian Peterson, Running Back, Minnesota Vikings
2015 Cap Hit: $15.4 Million
Let’s look at this through a pure football lens. Peterson’s importance to the Vikings is no longer what it once was. With the addition of youngster Jerick McKinnon, who put up 673 total yards as a rookie, Minnesota seems to have one of its key players in the run game already on the roster. And with a $15.4 million cap hit, the aging Peterson may very well not hold much of a future in the Twin Cities. That’s only magnified by the fact that Minnesota would save a whopping $13 million if it were to release the franchise’s all-time best running back. In addition to this, Minnesota may very well decide it’s time to move on from the past and anoint Teddy Bridgewater the face of the franchise. Then again, Minnesota could very well trade Peterson and get something back in return.
9. Vince Wilfork, Defensive Tackle, New England Patriots
2015 Cap Hit: $8.9 Million
New England is currently $5 million over the cap. While that does take into account Darrelle Revis $25 million option for next year, it’s still a rather alarming number for the defending champs. Now fully a rotational player, the aging Wilfork is likely on his way out of town. New England would save $6 million by releasing Wilfork—a number that would put the team under the cap. In terms of its on-field impact, releasing Wilfork wouldn’t be seen as a major blow to the Patriots. They have Dominique Easley and Alan Branch fully prepared to take on larger roles along the interior of the team’s defensive line.
10. Marques Colston, Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints
2015 Cap Hit: $9.7 Million
New Orleans’ cap situation is among the worst in the history of the National Football League. Not only is the team $23 million over the cap, it has very little flexibility to create the necessary room to get under the cap. The Saints three highest-paid players—Drew Brees, Junior Galette and Jimmy Graham—are slated to count $52.9 million against the cap in 2015. Sadly, their combined dead money hit currently stands at $66.8 million. Obviously, the Saints will look to restructure Brees, but that’s going to end up being an unattainable situation moving forward. As it is, the team needs to find a way to get under the cap and be able to afford its rookie pool. That’s where Colston, who caught a six-year low 59 passes in 2014, comes into play. With the emergence of Brandin Cooks, the Saints will likely look to move on from this veteran.
11. Mathias Kiwanuka, Defensive End, New York Giants
2015 Cap Hit:$7.5 Million
Once considered one of the better young pass rushers in the NFL, this former first-round pick has seen his game regress dramatically over the years. In 2014 alone, the Boston College product recorded a career-low 2.5 sacks and just 28 tackles in limited playing time. With the Giants’ ability to save about $5 million against the cap by releasing Kiwanuka, this seems like an obvious choice.
12. Percy Harvin, Wide Receiver, New York Jets
2015 Cap Hit: $10.5 Million
Courtesy of USA Today: Jets can release Harvin without any cap implications.
The Jets may be nearly $50 million under the cap, but paying Harvin over $10 million in 2015 would be a joke. Nothing more than a gadget player, Harvin recorded just 29 receptions for less than 400 yards in his eight games with the Jets after a mid-season trade from Seattle. He’s seen as a locker room cancer and isn’t anywhere near as consistent as many figured he would be. More than this, the Jets can get their fourth-round pick back from Seattle should Harvin be released. With zero dead money remaining on his deal, it’s likely the Jets show this enigmatic receiver the door. Short of a large contract restructure, look for that to happen in the coming weeks.
13. Justin Tuck, Defensive End, Oakland Raiders
2015 Cap Hit: $5 Million
Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie was brilliant in the way he structured veteran free agent deals last season. Oakland’s top player personnel man made sure to front load the contracts with guaranteed money in order to make it easy to get out from under the deals after one year. In addition to Tuck, the Raiders owe Matt Schaub, Donald Penn and LeMarr Woodley a combined $21.3 million in 2015. Though, those salaries come with zero guaranteed money next year. Suffice to say, all four will likely be shown the door. As relates to Tuck, he put up 43 tackles and five sacks in a part-time role last year. That’s not the type of production Oakland would miss too much.
14. Trent Cole, Defensive End, Philadelphia Eagles
2015 Cap Hit: $11.6 Million
Much like Oakland, the Eagles have done a tremendous job allocating funds under the cap in order to create flexibility down the road. Cole may count nearly $12 million against the cap in 2015, but his deal only calls for $3.2 million in dead money. Now about $20 million under the cap, Philadelphia could very well decide to save over $8 million by sending this under-performing veteran packing. After putting up double-digit sacks four times in a five-year span from 2007-2011, Cole has put up just 17.5 over the past three years. That’s not the type of production that equates to being paid the way Cole is slated to be paid in 2015.
15. Vernon Davis, Tight End, San Francisco 49ers
2015 Cap Hit: $7.0 Million
Courtesy of USA Today: Vernon Davis’ fall from grace has been stunning.
San Francisco might not be in the greatest of cap situations, but it has a ton of flexibility with its veteran players. That’s where Davis, who was downright awful last season, comes into play. The former Pro Bowler put up just 26 receptions for less than 250 yards on 50 targets last season. More than that, Davis’ effort lacked big time in the blocking category, ranking out as one of the worst overall blocking tight ends in the league. Once considered the best player at his position in that specific category, this is an indication that Davis just didn’t put up the necessary effort to earn anywhere near $7 million next year. That’s only magnfied by the fact that San Francisco can save about $5 million by releasing him.
16. Brandon Mebane, Defensive Tackle, Seattle Seahawks
2015 Cap Hit: $5.7 Million
One of the most underrated players in the NFL through the years, Mebane missed seven games due to injury this past season. Prior to that, the former CAL standout had started 101 games in seven seasons with Seattle. With Mebane out of action in the second half of the year, Seattle’s defense didn’t miss a step. And now with some solid young interior defensive line options, it’s likely the team will move on from this massive defensive tackle. It also helps that the Seahawks would save $5.5 million against the cap by releasing Mebane.
17. Jake Long, Offensive Tackle, St. Louis Rams
2015 Cap Hit: $10.5 Million
Long has been a downright bust since St. Louis signed him to an absurd four-year, $34 million free-agent contract back in 2013. In two seasons with the Rams, this former No. 1 overall pick has started just 22 games. He’s suffered two major injuries during that span, and simply hasn’t been the franchise left tackle that many expected he would be. The Rams, who are currently $1.5 million over the cap, need to cut some of the dead weight. Considering the team would save $8 million by releasing Long, he’s a sure bet to get released.
18. Vincent Jackson, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2015 Cap Hit: $12.2 Million
Courtesy of USA Today: With Evans on board, no reason for the Bucs to keep Jackson.
A two-win team simply can’t afford to pay over $12 million for a borderline No. 1 wide receiver. That’s only magnified in Tampa Bay where rookie Mike Evans had a better 2014 campaign than Jackson and comes in at about $9 million cheaper per season. We can fully expect the Buccaneers to look at the trade market when it comes to Jackson, who did still tally 70 receptions for over 1,000 yards in 2014. Though, if a trade doesn’t come to fruition, Jackson will likely be released. Of his $12.2 million cap hit for next season, only $4.9 million would remain on the team’s payroll if it were to cut Jackson outright.
19. Dashon Goldson, Safety, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2015 Cap Hit: $8 Million
Tampa Bay did everything in its power to keep Goldson off the field this past season. That should tell us how much the five-year, $41.2 million free-agent investment the team made in Goldson two years ago has worked out. Once a Pro Bowler with the San Francisco 49ers, Goldson is a shell of his former self. He’s also set to be one of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL in 2015. That’s simply not sustainable for a Buccaneers squad that needs reinforcements up and down the roster. While Goldson still has a $4 million dead money hit, we can expect the Buccaneers to move on from him.
20. Pierre Garcon, Wide Receiver, Washington Redskins
2015 Cap Hit: $9.7 Million
This may seem like it’s coming out of left field, but that’s just on the surface. With DeSean Jackson guaranteed to return in 2015 due to his contract structure, the Redskins may look to cut the fat elsewhere at wide receiver. Garcon, who has never been a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL, caught just 68 passes for less than 800 yards in 2014. He’s also set to earn nearly $10 million on a deal that enables the Redskins to save over $5 million by releasing him. It just makes too much sense at this point.
All salary information provided by our friends over at Spotrac.com
Photo: USA Today