“It’s not personal, it’s business.”—Every NFL GM ever, as they hit the “release” button on a veteran’s contract. Loyalty and longevity count for little when the NFL free agency period kicks off. Last year, analysts and fans were left scratching their heads when the Panthers decided to release safety Vonn Bell after he signed a three-year contract in 2023. We also witnessed the Lions saying goodbye to veteran safety Tracy Walker after six years of service to create $5.5 million in cap space. This year the salary cap will see a projected rise of $26 million from last year, but not everyone will reap the benefits when the free agency starts on March 12 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Before the official start of the new league year, teams have to do the dirty work: cutting players to free up cap space. From Tyreek Hill’s $28M cap hit in Miami to Kirk Cousins’s $27.5M guaranteed deal in Atlanta, the NFL’s cap casualties are shaping up to be juicier. Starting March 10, during the legal tampering window, teams can begin negotiating with pending free agents. But first, they’ve got to make room under the salary cap—cue the emotional farewells, awkward press releases, and X meltdowns.

So buckle up, folks. This isn’t just free agency—it’s a full-blown financial purge. And by the time the dust settles, your favorite team might look more like a clearance rack than a contender. Let’s dive into the chaos.

Arizona Cardinals

S Jalen Thompson

Heading into the 2025 offseason, the Cardinals are fourth in the NFL with $71.6 million in overall cap. There’s room to improve the roster and it is believed that they might cut some weight by doing away with safety Jalen Thompson. The 26-year-old  is riding the wave of an up-and-down 2024 season—a season just one year out from a 4 INT campaign.

With a hefty $13.7M cap hit (the highest among Arizona’s defensemen) and nearly $5.7M in wiggle room before a $2M roster bonus hits on March 16, Thompson’s future is as unpredictable as a primetime episode of The Office. 

Atlanta Falcons

QB Kirk Cousins

Over in Atlanta, it’s all about QB Kirk Cousins, whose situation escalated faster than you’d expect. A year after signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed, the Falcons could make the decision to move on from him.

Fully guaranteed for $27.5M in 2025, Cousins now faces the grim reality of a $40M cap hit that’s poised to linger into June—plus another $25M hit in 2026 if left on the books.

After a rough Week 1, Cousins admitted, “Needed to play better. That’s the bottom line. I thought our defense played very well; I thought our special teams played very well;” he paused, then added, “We didn’t complement that enough on offense.” It’s a tough pill, reminiscent of an Inception plot twist, for the Falcons who are likely to designate the 36-year-old as a Post 6/1 release before another $10M bonus locks in on March 16.

Baltimore Ravens

K Justin Tucker

In Baltimore, kicker Justin Tucker finds himself in a precarious spot. With three years and $13.5M remaining on his contract—none of it guaranteed and no early bonuses to soften the blow—the Ravens’ recent salary conversions mean his deal holds $7.5M of dead cap against a $7M hit in 2025.

An outright release this March would cost just $445K, though a Post June 1 designation could free up an extra $4.2M in June. This will allow Baltimore to spread his $7.5 million in dead money over each of the next two years.

Buffalo Bills

OLB Von Miller

Von Miller, who turns 36 in March, has the second-highest salary cap figure on the team for 2025, at $23.8 million. He took an $8.6M pay cut in 2024 to secure roughly $12.4M in earnings. With a non-guaranteed $17.5M on the horizon, the Bills see an opportunity to free up about $8.4M by cutting Miller—a move that might just be the game changer they need.

Buffalo News’ Mark Gaughan reported that Miller could be on his way out as a cost-cutting measure by the Bills. “The Bills need to create salary cap space, and parting with Miller is by far the easiest way to do it. If they designate Miller as a post-June 1 cut under salary cap rules (spreading out the cap hit over two years), they can drop his cap figure down to $6.37 million and save $14.77 million on the cap. If they release him without the June 1 designation in March, it’s an $8.4 million savings,” Gaughan pointed out.

Carolina Panthers

RB Miles Sanders

Down in Carolina, RB Miles Sanders, just 27 and once a bright spark with his 4-year, $25M free agent deal, was swiftly demoted to a backup role after racking up $13.2M in two years. With a $1M roster bonus looming on March 14, the Panthers are likely to move on, taking on $2.95M of dead cap to free up a cool $5.2M.

The Panthers have already moved on from Dane Jackson to save $3.3 million in cap space. Before this, they were projected to have $21.62 million in available salary-cap space with 51 players under contract and we expect Sanders and perhaps a few others to follow Jackson out of the door sooner or later.

Chicago Bears

TE Gerald Everett

The Bears have already begun to rebuild their roster and on Friday announced the release of tight end Gerald Everett on Friday. Everett was in Year 2 of a two-year, $12M contract, and saw his production dwindle to just 240 snaps last season. With a $6.5M cap hit hanging over him, the Bears decided to cut ties, freeing up $5.5M.

Additionally, the Bears also moved on from defensive end DeMarcus Walker who was set to make $5.2 million in the final year of his contract and carried a $5.916 cap hit. So far Chicago has cleared $10.75 million in salary cap space.

Cincinnati Bengals

DE Sam Hubbard

The Cincinnati Bengals have already cut defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins, who signed a two-year, $24.5 million deal with the team last offseason. The Bengals are expected to save $9.6 million following this move. But they might not be done yet.

DE Sam Hubbard, in the final year of a 5-year, $42M deal, is set to earn a non-guaranteed $9.6M in 2025 and hence they might be looking to release him as well. Despite posting 25 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception in 2024, he only saw action in 46% of snaps. By moving on, Cincinnati stands to reclaim around $9.5M, significantly adding to their $61.9 million cap space.

Cleveland Browns

G Joel Bitonio

In Cleveland, guard Joel Bitonio, 33 having struggled in 2024, has even floated the possibility of retirement this offseason. Now in the final year of a 5-year, $69M contract with a non-guaranteed $15M salary for 2025, Bitonio’s hefty $31M dead cap means the Browns must decide by March 14—when a $3M bonus is due—whether to release him as a Post June 1 move, thereby freeing up $4.25M.

Dallas Cowboys

S Donovan Wilson

Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson is entering the final season of his three-year, $21 million contract signed in 2023. But with a 2025 salary of $7M and two young competitors ready to step up, Dallas might cut him loose to free up $5.85M. The Cowboys also have the option of making him a post-June 1 release, which would free up $7.5 million while spreading the cap hit over two years.

Denver Broncos

S P.J. Locke

For the Denver Broncos, safety P.J. Locke had a breakout year with a career-high 73 tackles over 900 snaps, yet he’s now in the final season of a 2-year, $7M deal set to pay $4M in 2025. The Broncos can save $4.19 million by moving on from Locke this offseason with only $1 million in dead cap.

In fact, if the Broncos cut linebacker, Alex Singleton, in addition to Locke, they would add $10 million to their 2025 salary cap space, which will take the total to roughly $45 million in available space, with just over $2 million in additional dead cap.

Detroit Lions

LB Alex Anzalone

In Detroit, LB Alex Anzalone, 30 and sidelined by a 6-week arm injury in 2024, has seen his position usurped by rookie Jack Campbell. Detroit’s potential move on Anzalone could free up $4.8M,

Green Bay Packers

CB Jaire Alexander

Heading to Green Bay, CB Jaire Alexander, 28 and entering Year 4 of a 5-year, $97M contract with a non-guaranteed $17.5M salary next season, remains a top-flight talent when healthy. Multiple sources have reported the Packers’ frustration with Alexanders’ inability to stay fit and general manager Brian Gutekunst has remained noncommittal about his future.

Green Bay could pick up close to $6.8m in salary cap space for 2025 if they release Alexander. This number would be more than $17m if they designate him a cut past June 1.

Houston Texans

LB Christian Kirksey

Veteran linebacker Christian Kirksey, 33, is on the chopping block for Houston. His $7.5M cap hit in 2025 outweighs his recent contributions, and the Texans can free up $6.3M by moving on—money that could be used to strengthen their young, up-and-coming roster.

Indianapolis Colts

CB Kenny Moore II

The Colts’ veteran cornerback Kenny Moore II has been a staple of their defense, but with a $10M cap hit in 2025 and younger talent emerging in the secondary, Indianapolis could save $8.3M by moving on.

Jacksonville Jaguars

WR Christian Kirk

Over in Jacksonville, WR Christian Kirk, after a sparkling 2023 campaign now marred by recurring injuries, carries a $16.5M salary that has put him squarely on the chopping block. The Jaguars can free up a whopping $10.5M by letting him go—a decision that might just rewrite the playbook for their rebuilding phase.

Kansas City Chiefs

CB Joshua Williams

The Kansas City Chiefs are eyeing CB Joshua Williams, a 4th-round pick from 2022 who remains a depth option on his rookie deal. With his salary now bumped to a non-guaranteed $3.2M thanks to a Proven Performance Bonus, KC can free up that same amount, a tidy cap move reminiscent of a well-executed two-minute drill.

Las Vegas Raiders

QB Gardner Minshew

In Las Vegas, QB Gardner Minshew faces an uncertain future. He is under contract with the Raiders for 2025 with a cap hit of $13.8 million and will become a free agent in 2026. If the Raiders decide to release Minshew, it’d take on $10.8 million in dead cap.

With $3.16M of his 2025 salary fully guaranteed, the Raiders are leaning toward spending big on a new signal-caller, meaning an early release of Minshew could free up $3M.

Los Angeles Chargers

OLB Joey Bosa

The Los Angeles Chargers have their eyes on OLB Joey Bosa, 29, and locked into a 2-year, $40.3M deal with zero guarantees for 2025. After starting just 9 games last season, with 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles, Bosa’s inconsistent availability might cost the team dearly, but cutting him now could free up a staggering $25.3M before a $12.36M roster bonus drops on March 12.

Los Angeles Rams

WR Cooper Kupp

Over in Los Angeles once again, WR Cooper Kupp, 31, has been told to seek a trade, further cementing the idea that his time in LA is drawing to a close. With 2 years and $39.85M remaining on his deal (including $5M guaranteed), the Rams face a tough choice: trade him while eating part of a $7.5M bonus or release him outright and shoulder $22.2M in dead cap, though either way, they’d free up $7.5M.

If they released him with a post-June 1 designation, the Rams would clear $15 million in cap space and take on $14.8 million in dead money.

Miami Dolphins

WR Tyreek Hill

In Miami, WR Tyreek Hill, known for his separation and speed, has been underutilized in a scheme that left him with little opportunity in 2024. Now, with the Dolphins owing close to $28M for 2025, they’re open to trading him—even though a Pre 6/1 deal would only free up about $401K in cap space.

A post-June 1 release of Hill would make it $40.3 million in dead money. As such a trade seems a more viable option, but even that is not straightforward.

If the Dolphins traded the receiver before the start of June, they’d take $28.3 million in dead money. But by waiting until summer Miami could knock off $15 million off Hill’s salary cap charge, and drop the dead money to $12.7 million.

Minnesota Vikings

G Ed Ingram

The Minnesota Vikings have their own dilemma with G Ed Ingram, a 2nd-round pick out of LSU from 2022 who, despite starting 32 games in his first two seasons, fell out of favor in 2024. With his 2025 salary now escalating past $3.2M thanks to a Proven Performance Bonus, Minnesota can free up roughly $3.214M—a small but strategic play in their broader cap-clearing game plan.

New England Patriots

WR Kendrick Bourne

For the New England Patriots, WR Kendrick Bourne’s 2024 season was a slow burn as he recovered from an ACL injury and struggled to mesh with Drake Maye’s offense. With the remaining 2 years of his deal totaling $13M and a potential cap release of $5.1M on the table, the Patriots might just decide that a clean slate is the best way forward—much like a well-timed halftime adjustment.

New Orleans Saints

QB Derek Carr

In New Orleans, QB Derek Carr remains a thorn in the Saints’ side. With $30M in 2025 compensation on the verge of becoming fully guaranteed by March 14—and an exit that would still cost them a $10M payment plus a staggering $50.1M in dead cap—the Saints are contemplating moving on. If Carr is designated as a Post June 1 release, the dead cap gets split into $21.5M this year and $28.6M next, leaving a lingering $51.4M cap hit for over three months.

New York Giants

TE Daniel Bellinger

The New York Giants are rethinking TE Daniel Bellinger’s future, as his targets and production have plummeted over the past two seasons. With his 2025 salary creeping north of $3.2M due to a Proven Performance escalator, the Giants see an opportunity to free up his entire deal—a decision that might just be the reset button they need.

New York Jets

WR Davante Adams

Across the river, the New York Jets face the tough task of handling WR Davante Adams. With 2 years and $72.5M remaining on his contract—but only $8.3M in dead cap—the Jets could free up nearly $30M if they move on via trade or release. The Jets have already moved on from Aaron Rodgers and it might make sense to let go of some of his familiar targets in the passing game.

Adams has a $38.25 million cap hit, though none of his $35.6 million salary is guaranteed.

Philadelphia Eagles

S Darius Slay

Over in Philadelphia, safety Darius Slay, 34 and under a 1-year, $16M contract, is expected to be designated a Post June 1 release this March. This move would send him into free agency while freeing up around $4.3M in cap space when June arrives—a bittersweet farewell that might just spark new beginnings for both parties.

Pittsburgh Steelers

DL Larry Ogunjobi

In Pittsburgh, DL Larry Ogunjobi, 30, put up a solid 40+ tackle, 1.5-sack campaign in 2024, and his cap figure even drops by $2.7M for the upcoming season. Still, the Steelers might opt to cut him before a $3M roster bonus is due on March 14, potentially freeing up about $7M—an exit strategy as crisp as a well-executed defensive play.

San Francisco 49ers

WR Deebo Samuel

For the San Francisco 49ers, WR Deebo Samuel, 29, has been given the green light to seek a trade partner as the team’s relationship with him heads toward divorce. A pre-June 1 trade would drag along over $31M of dead cap—a $15.2M loss for 2025—so the Niners are expected to designate him as a Post June 1 release instead. This move would keep his $15.8M cap hit on the books into June, then tack on dead hits of $10.6M in 2025 and $20.4M in 2026.

Seattle Seahawks

WR Tyler Lockett

In Seattle, WR Tyler Lockett, 32, sees his future dimming. With a 1-year, $17M deal on the line and a daunting $30.9M cap hit looming, the Seahawks are expected to release him before a $5.3M roster bonus is due on March 16, thereby freeing up the entire $17M—a decision as swift as a breakaway touchdown.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

S Jordan Whitehead

Down in Tampa Bay, safety Jordan Whitehead battled a pec injury and a car accident in 2024, leaving his future murky under his 2-year, $9M deal. The 2025 portion of his contract was always a bit of an option, and the Buccaneers can free up $4.5M of cap space by moving on this March.

Tennessee Titans

OT Nicholas Petit-Frere

For the Tennessee Titans, OT Nicholas Petit-Frere, a 3rd-round pick out of Ohio State in 2022, still hasn’t found his sea legs as a starter. With a $3.21M salary on the table for 2025, and the Titans planning to invest heavily in their offensive line for their next QB1, moving on from Petit-Frere appears to be the sensible call.

Washington Commanders

DL Jonathan Allen

Finally, the Washington Commanders are weighing their options with DL Jonathan Allen, a 2017 #17 overall pick and the longest-tenured player on the roster not named Tress Way. At 30 and entering a 2025 contract year set to pay $16.3M against a $22.3M cap hit—with only $6M in dead cap—Washington can free up significant space, a maneuver that might just tip the scales in their favor for the upcoming season.

At the end of the day, NFL free agency is a mix of chaos and some blockbuster moves. Teams like the 49ers and Seahawks are playing 4D chess with post-June 1st cuts.

So grab your popcorn. Whether it’s Tyreek Hill sprinting to a new team or Kirk Cousins awkwardly updating his LinkedIn, March’s cap purge promises more drama than a Kardashian group chat.

May the cap space be ever in your favor.