Every year there are major cap casualties across the NFL as teams look to create some cap space to operate. Who could be cut this offseason? There are bound to be some major names set to hit the market.
The cap space in the NFL is inevitable, and it shows mercy to no one. This year, there are quite a few teams that will need to create a good bit of cap space.
Major players could hit the market and perhaps land in a new home, providing some much needed boost to a team ready to win.
These cap casualties are usually veteran players who are on large contracts that they have likely not lived up to.
Or, they did live up to the contract once upon a time, but perhaps the pact is just getting in the way. So, which players across the NFL could be some major cap casualties?
Some major NFL cap casualties on the horizon in ’23?
Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers acquired Khalil Mack from the Chicago Bears last year, and the Chargers are now about $20 million above the salary cap number for 2023, so releasing Mack, which can essentially break them even, makes a ton of sense.
I’m sure they’d prefer to keep him since he’s still, you know, Khalil Mack, so I do think there’s a chance that they approach him about a restructure considering they did part with some valuable draft capital to land him.
Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints
Stop me if you heard this before, but the New Orleans Saints are in salary cap hell again. Jameis Winston had a nice stretch last year while Sean Payton was still the coach, but nothing is ever guaranteed in the NFL, and with the Saints being over the cap once again, cutting a player who threw more interceptions than touchdowns this year makes sense.
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
If the Packers were to release Aaron Jones, they’d save a whopping $16 million in cap space. Jones is 28 years old and averaged over five yards per carry this year, so he’s still been an effective running back, but his figures are quite large.
This is the downside to paying running backs, as his shelf life likely expires soon but his contract does not indicate that. If Aaron Rodgers retires or wants to be traded, it may make sense to part with Jones as the Pack may head toward a mini-rebuild.
He’s still very capable and would join a massively talented free agent RB class.