We’re going to see some big-name NFL salary cap casualties before free agency opens up in March. Future Hall of Famers Russell Wilson was on the chopping block before being released.
As teams position themselves to dethrone the two-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, creating financial flexibility for the offseason has to be seen as key.
Below, we look at 20 likely NFL salary cap casualties for the 2024 offseason.
Von Miller, EDGE, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo would save $17 million against the cap if it opted to designate Miller a post-June 1 cut. With the team in a less-than-enviable cap situation, this just makes too much sense. The former Super Bowl MVP was nowhere to be found in his second season with the Bills, recording a mere three quarterback hits and zero sacks in 12 games. Set to turn 35 years old ahead of next season, one has to wonder if this is the end of the line for Miller in his NFL career.
Xavien Howard, cornerback, Miami Dolphins (released, 2/23/24)
A four-time Pro Bowl performer earlier in his career with the Dolphins, Howard regressed big time this past season. He recorded just one interception in 13 games, giving up a 63% completion in the process. With the Dolphins in a questionable salary cap situation, it makes sense to save $18.5 million by releasing Howard after June 1. That’s especially true with fellow Pro Bowler Jalen Ramsey set to return in 2024.
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Hunter Renfrow, wide receiver, Las Vegas Raiders
This former Clemson standout was a Pro Bowler for the Raiders back in 2021, catching 103 passes for 1,038 yards. Since then, he’s tallied a mere 61 receptions for 585 yards and two touchdowns in 27 games. There were rumors that the Raiders would deal Renfrow ahead of the in-season NFL trade deadline. No market materialized. With an ability to save $8.2 million against the cap in 2024, we expect Renfrow to be a quick release of the Raiders this offseason.
Khalil Mack, EDGE, Los Angeles Chargers
It’s not that Mack isn’t still productive. The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year put up a resounding 17 sacks for the Los Angeles Chargers this past season. Instead, it’s all about finances. The Chargers are currently $44 million over the 2024 NFL salary cap. Releasing Mack would save a resounding $23.25 million. We expect the Chargers’ new brass to discuss a renegotiated contract with Mack. But don’t look for anything to come to fruition on that end.
Allen Robinson, wide receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers
This one seems rather obvious. In his first season with the Steelers, Robinson caught 34 passes for a mere 280 yards. That doesn’t align with his $11.92 million cap figure for the 2024 season. There is no reason to believe Robinson will be back in Pittsburgh next season, especially given the fact that it can save $10 million by releasing him.
Darren Waller, tight end, New York Giants
The Giants thought they were getting an electric Pro Bowl weapon for Daniel Jones when they acquired Waller from the Raiders last offseason. Instead, he put up just 552 receiving yards in 12 games. Waller has not been a top-end tight end since back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances with the Raiders in 2019 and 2020. In no way can the Giants justify his $14 million price tag for the 2024 NFL season.
Related: 2024 NFL salary cap tracker
Harrison Smith, safety, Minnesota Vikings
After spending his first 12 NFL seasons as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, it would be hard to see Smith in another uniform. But that’s the situation the six-time Pro Bowler might be in moving forward on the offseason. Smith did not record a single interception this past season while yielding a 65% completion when targeted. Add into account his $19.22 million figure under the 2024 NFL salary cap, and the writing has to be on the wall here.
Alvin Kamara, running back, New Orleans Saints
The Saints are in salary cap purgatory right now, finding themselves $81.9 million over the NFL-mandated figure. General manager Mickey Loomis and Co. are going to have to cut the fat somewhere. The 28-year-old Kamara is an obvious cut candidate. He put up the worst performance of his seven-year career in 2023, going for 1,160 total yards. Releasing the five-time Pro Bowler would also save New Orleans nearly $12 million if designated after June 1.
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Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback, Las Vegas Raiders
This Super Bowl quarterback lasted all of six starts in his first season with the Raiders after interim head coach Antonio Pierce opted to bench him. That was Pierce’s first decision after replacing Josh McDaniels. With him now in a full-time role and after the Raiders hired Tom Telesco to be their next general manager, Jimmy GQ will certainly be out of a job. It won’t come without some financial hardship for the Raiders. Even if they wait until June to release him, Vegas is looking at a $15.52 million dead cap hit. Ouch!
Tre’Davious White, cornerback, Buffalo Bills (released, 3/6/24)
White has played in a total of 10 games over the past two seasons due to a multitude of injuries. It’s a crying shame in that he was one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL during a two-year span from 2019-20 (nine total interceptions). It’s also now likely going to cost him a roster spot in Buffalo. With these Bills up against the cap, saving north of $6 million by releasing White makes more sense than keeping him with a $16.4 million figure.
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Jamal Adams, safety, Seattle Seahawks (released, 3/5/24)
Talk about a trade failure of epic proportions. Seattle exhausted two first-round picks and change to acquire Adams from the New York Jets ahead of the 2020 season. After putting up a Pro Bowl performance in his first season with the Seahawks, Adams has played in 22 combined games over the past three years. He’s been limited to 10 in the past two seasons. Seattle will not be keeping Adams at his $26.92 million figure for next season. That’s a sure bet. Designating him a post-June 1 cut would also save the ‘Hawks $16.5 million.
Keenan Allen, wide receiver, Los Angeles Chargers
We fully expect the Los Angeles Chargers to do their best in restructuring Allen’s contract. He’s a six-time Pro Bowler and one of the best players in franchise history. At issue here is the Chargers’ disaster class of a cap situation and Allen’s $34.72 million hit for next season. Los Angeles would save a whopping $23.1 million against the cap by releasing Allen. If the two sides can’t work out a new deal, he will more than likely be released and hit the NFL free agent market.
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Justin Simmons, safety, Denver Broncos
Why would the Broncos move on from a safety who earned a Pro Bowl appearance this past season? It’s all about the economics. Releasing or trading Simmons would save Denver $14.5 million against the cap. With the financial issues Denver is expecting by releasing Russell Wilson, it will have to cut the fat elsewhere. Meanwhile, Broncos head coach Sean Payton seemingly has roster control. He wouldn’t have an issue making a move of this ilk to create a better financial situation moving forward.
C.J. Mosley, linebacker, New York Jets
It seems as if Mosley has been on the chopping block ever since New York signed him to a big-money contract ahead of the 2019 season. This was the case ahead of the 2022 season before Mosley earned second-team All-Pro honors. We’re not sure that’s going to be duplicated in 2024. Designating Mosley a post-June 1 cut would save $17 million against the cap. It’s money New York could use to help cater to quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the offensive side of the ball. We know full well that the enigmatic Rodgers has certain asks of the Jets this offseason.
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Geno Smith, quarterback, Seattle Seahawks
Former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was the biggest proponent of Geno Smith in the Seahawks’ organization. Now that he was forced out in favor of Mike Macdonald, it’s an open question whether this 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year will return. Smith regressed this past season, throwing 20 touchdowns with 12 giveaways. Seattle would save $22.5 million by releasing him after June 1. It could then find another stopgap option via free agency or the NFL trade market.
Tyrann Mathieu, safety, New Orleans Saints
Despite earning three All-Pro honors during his 11-year career, Mathieu has found himself on the raw end of things multiple times. We saw this after he was released by the Arizona Cardinals following the 2017 season due to salary cap issues. With New Orleans needing to cut north of $80 million from its cap ahead of NFL free agency, this situation could repeat for Mathieu. A move of this ilk would save New Orleans $9 million against the cap in 2024.
Stefon Diggs, wide receiver, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo’s cap situation is by now well known. The drama-filled past two seasons we’ve seen between Diggs and the Bills is also well known. What some people don’t realize is the fact that Diggs is set to count nearly $28 million against the 2024 NFL salary cap. That’s an absolutely huge figure. Insiders also note that he’ll likely push back against restructuring his contract. With Buffalo able to save north of $19 million by moving off him after June 1, this remains a real possibility.
Haason Reddick, EDGE, Philadelphia Eagles
A report earlier in the offseason indicated that Philadelphia had given Reddick permission to seek a trade. This led to some believing that he wants out of dodge. The Pro Bowl pass rusher has since pushed back against this narrative. What we do know is that something is not right behind the scenes between Reddick and the Eagles. Set to enter the final year of his current contract, Reddick has the highest cap figure among Eagles players next season ($21.88 million). You can do the math from there.
Michael Gallup, wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys
Gallup just has not been the same player since he suffered a torn ACL back in 2021. After averaging nearly 1,000 yards in 2019 and 2020, he’s tallied a total of 842 over the past two seasons. His cap figure of $13.8 million in 2024 is not indicative of this type of production. Dallas’ ability to save $9.5 million by designating Gallup a post-June 1 cut makes this an easy decision.
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Russell Wilson, quarterback, Denver Broncos (released, 3/4/24)
We know the story. Wilson was benched late in the 2023 season despite putting up stellar statistics (26 TD, 8 INT). At that point, all indications were that the Broncos would move on from him in order to avoid paying the Super Bowl winner’s guarantees. That still remains very likely heading into the start of the 2024 NFL league year. It won’t come without major financial ramifications for Sean Payton and Co. Releasing him outright before free agency would result in a $49.6 million dead cap hit for the 2024 campaign. But the writing is certainly on the wall here.