15 NFL veteran cut candidates heading into free agency

With the 2023 season in the books, NFL teams will begin balancing budgets and reshaping their rosters. Here are 15 veterans whose hefty contracts, age, or performance could place them on the chopping block ahead of free agency.

(Contract information courtesy of OverTheCap)

Broncos QB Russell Wilson

Years left on contract: 5
2024 cap savings: -$49.6M
2024 dead money: $85M

Coach Sean Payton signaled the end of Wilson's unimpressive Broncos tenure by benching the veteran passer late last season to avoid potentially paying for his $37-million salary in 2025. The 35-year-old's play and contract make a trade unlikely, so it's now a matter of when, not if, Denver will release Wilson. Payton's outfit would be responsible for a lot of dead cap, but the cap consequences are still better than keeping him.

Designating Wilson as a post-June 1 cut would allow the Broncos to spread out his dead money ($35.4 million in 2024 and $49.6 million in 2025). This is a big hit, but it's pretty clear Wilson isn't part of Payton's plans. Denver went 11-19 with the nine-time Pro Bowler under center over two seasons.

Browns RB Nick Chubb

Years left on contract: 1
2024 cap savings: $11.8M
2024 dead money: $4M

Chubb is a fan favorite and remains a premier running back, so his potential release would come as a surprise. But the NFL is a business first, and Cleveland is projected to be $23.9 million over the salary cap. Chubb's cap number is $15.8 million. His contract situation is an issue that Browns general manager Andrew Berry recently described as an "elephant in the room."

Granted, the team would love to keep the four-time Pro Bowler and will presumably try to come up with a restructured deal. But negotiations may not be simple given the state of the RB market and that Chubb had two surgeries to repair the meniscus, MCL, and ACL after his Week 2 injury. He's only expected to return during the 2024 season in what will be his age-29 campaign. It'll be interesting to see how this situation unfolds for Chubb, who's never averaged fewer than five yards per carry in a season since being drafted in 2018.

Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo

Years left on contract: 2
2024 cap savings (post-June 1 cut): $12.8M
2024 dead money (post-June 1 cut): $15.5M

With the Raiders unlikely to find a trade partner for Garoppolo, cutting the 32-year-old makes sense after he passed for seven touchdowns against nine interceptions in seven appearances in 2023. The idea behind giving Garoppolo a three-year deal last March was to have the right quarterback for Josh McDaniels' system. But that didn't work out, and Las Vegas fired McDaniels last year. Garoppolo's release would have to be designated as a post-June 1 move, as the team would save only $19,000 in cap space otherwise.

Chargers WR Mike Williams

Years left on contract: 1
2024 cap savings: $20M
2024 dead money: $12.4M

The Chargers are projected to be $45.8 million over the cap and have big decisions to make on both offense and defense. Offensively, L.A. rosters two players whose cap hits exceed $30 million: Williams ($32.4 million) and Keenan Allen ($34.7 million). The six-time Pro Bowler Allen turns 32 in April but is coming off one of the best seasons of his career.

It'd make more sense for Los Angeles to move on from Williams, who tore his ACL in September and has had injury issues. He'll turn 30 in October. Since leading the NFL with 20.4 yards per reception in 2019, Williams hasn't been as effective and is now two seasons removed from his last 1,000-yard campaign.

Chargers pass-rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack

Bosa
Years left on contract: 2
2024 cap savings: $14.4M
2024 dead money: $22.2M

Mack
Years left on contract: 1
2024 cap savings: $23.2M
2024 dead money: $15.3M

Mack ($38.5 million) and Bosa ($36.6 million) have the Chargers' highest cap hits. If L.A. decides to part ways with one or both of them, exploring a trade first would be smart. Mack is coming off a 17-sack season, and Bosa is still productive when healthy. That said, they both have question marks, as the former will turn 33 soon and the latter has an injury history that's limited him to 14 appearances in the last two seasons. That makes them potential cut candidates, especially Bosa. Cutting him with a post-June 1 designation would save Los Angeles $22 million in cap space with $14.6 million in dead cap.

It's also hard to predict what the Chargers will do now that Jim Harbaugh is in town with a new general manager. Will they want to send a message to the team after a disappointing season by parting ways with veterans? Can they find a way to restructure some of those contracts? It's clear that they can't afford to keep all of their aging stars together for another year.

Packers LT David Bakhtiari

Years left on contract: 1
2024 cap savings: $20.9M
2024 dead money: $19M

Bakhtiari earned first- or second-team All-Pro nods in the last five seasons in which he played at least 12 games. But he hasn't done that since 2020, and knee injuries have limited him to 13 appearances in the last three years, including just one in 2023. The 32-year-old's cap number in 2024 is $40 million, so it's highly unlikely that Green Bay will keep him under his current contract for the upcoming season.

Saints RB Alvin Kamara

Years left on contract: 2
2024 cap savings: $1.5M
2024 dead money: $17.2M

This is another year with Kamara being a cut candidate. New Orleans once again has salary cap issues and is projected to be $83.7 million over the cap. General manager Mickey Loomis is a wizard when it comes to salary cap management, but he may want to look at Kamara, whose cap hit goes from $7.9 million in 2023 to $18.7 million in 2024. If the Saints release the five-time Pro Bowler as a post-June 1 move, they'd save $11.7 million in cap space with $7 million in dead money.

Kamara has topped 1,000 scrimmage yards in the last seven years, but he hasn't played a full season since 2019. He was suspended for three games last year and averaged fewer than four yards per carry. The 28-year-old was also the fourth-worst tailback in rushing yards over expected, according to Next Gen Stats. The Saints could try to trade him first, but the running back market has never been this cold. Kamara's $1-million 2024 roster bonus is due March 13, so New Orleans would presumably move on from him before then if that's the route the team takes.

Eagles LB Haason Reddick

Years left on contract: 1
2024 cap savings: $1.2M
2024 dead money: $20.6M

Reddick is looking for a new deal, but the Eagles made it clear that they may not be willing to meet the veteran's wishes by reportedly permitting him to seek a trade. His 2024 cap hit is $21.9 million. He's still a solid edge rusher who's had 10-plus sacks in four straight seasons. That said, he turns 30 this year and wasn't as productive in 2023 (11 sacks, zero forced fumbles) as he was in 2022 (16 sacks, five forced fumbles). Plus, Philly has younger options in Josh Sweat and Nolan Smith, among others. If the Eagles don't trade Reddick, he could be released, as the team would save $16 million in cap space with $5.9 million in dead money by cutting him with a post-June 1 designation.

Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett

Years left on contract: 2
2024 cap savings: $7.1M
2024 dead money: $19.8M

It's unlikely that Lockett will return for a 10th season with the Seahawks under his current contract. Granted, Seattle should try to restructure his deal, but that doesn't rule him out as a potential cut candidate. Lockett's current 2024 cap hit is $26.9 million, the third highest on the team. He fell short of the 1,000-yard receiving mark in 2023 after topping it in four straight seasons and will turn 32 in September. Plus, Seattle used a first-round pick on wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba last year. The Seahawks sure would love to keep Lockett, but they will have to negotiate. Seattle would save $17 million in cap space with $9.9 million in dead money if Lockett is cut with a post-June 1 designation.

Packers LB De'Vondre Campbell

Years left on contract: 3
2024 cap savings: $2.6M
2024 dead money: $11.6M

Campbell has battled injuries since earning an All-Pro nod in 2021. He said in December that he was "done" playing through ailments. Campbell will be 31 in July, and though he hasn't been bad when available, his play isn't worthy of his $14.2-million cap hit in 2024. Plus, Isaiah McDuffie was a nice surprise for Green Bay at linebacker in 2023 alongside Quay Walker. McDuffie should see more snaps this year with Jeff Hafley - who coached him at Boston College - serving as the Packers' new defensive coordinator. If Green Bay designates Campbell as a post-June 1 cut, the team would eat just $3.6 million in dead money while saving $10.5 million in cap space.

Dolphins CB Xavien Howard

Years left on contract: 3
2024 cap savings: $2.8M
2024 dead money: $23.1M

Howard has the fourth-highest cap hit ($25.9 million) on a Dolphins team that's projected to be $51.9 million over the cap. With 12-plus pass breakups in each of the last four seasons, the veteran is still a quality starter. However, he's four years removed from his All-Pro campaign. Plus, he missed four games last year as injuries remain an issue ahead of his age-31 season. A cornerback duo featuring Jalen Ramsey and Howard would be great, but the Dolphins may not be able to afford it. And Howard doesn't appear to be open to taking a big pay cut if necessary, either. If Miami designates him as a post-June 1 move, it'd save $18.5 million in cap space with $7.4 million in dead money.

Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow

Years left on contract: 1
2024 cap savings: $8.2M
2024 dead money: $5.5M

Renfrow has had his two worst seasons since topping 1,000 yards in 2021, catching only 25 passes for 255 yards and no touchdowns in 2023. He couldn't keep his role as the No. 2 weapon behind Davante Adams after Las Vegas signed Jakobi Meyers, and the Raiders unsuccessfully tried to trade him last November.

With Renfrow's cap hit set at $13.7 million, releasing the 28-year-old seems inevitable for the Raiders, who likely would designate the move as a post-June 1 cut. That would increase the team's cap savings to $11.8 million while leaving only $1.8 million in dead money. Renfrow can likely still be a productive slot receiver in the right system, and he's only two seasons removed from a 103/1,038/9 campaign.

Seahawks S Jamal Adams

Years left on contract: 2
2024 cap savings: $6M
2024 dead money: $20.8M

Adams' tenure with the Seahawks could come to an end soon. Seattle would eat $10.4 million in dead money while saving $16.5 million in cap space if the team designates him as a post-June 1 release. Now combine that with the fact that the club is $5.2 million over the cap and that the 28-year-old finished three of his four Seattle seasons on injured reserve. The three-time Pro Bowler is a solid defender when healthy, but he's lacked big plays. He's recorded no sacks or forced fumbles since signing a $70-million extension in 2021. The only factor that could help revive Adams' time in Seattle is the arrival of Mike Macdonald, the team's new head coach who had success working with defensive backs in Baltimore.

Eagles DB Kevin Byard

Years left on contract: 1
2024 cap savings: $13M
2024 dead money: $1.4M

The Eagles have big decisions to make defensively, and moving on from Byard could make sense as the team tries to fix its secondary. Philly traded for the veteran safety midseason in 2023, and he did put up 75 tackles. However, he didn't make many game-changing plays, finishing the campaign with only one interception. His cap number now is $14.4 million, a big tag for a veteran who looks past his prime and will be 31 in 2024. Restructuring his deal is also an option given the issues in the Eagles' secondary.