As the 2023 free agency period approaches (it begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET), teams have released expensive or underperforming players to open up salary cap space before the start of the new league year. have started doing. Some do it to create flexibility for trades and signings, while others do it out of necessity when limits are exceeded.
Here are some of the biggest releases ahead of free agency and how they’ll affect each team. All figures courtesy over the cap,
Eagles ready to cut CB Darius Slay
Philadelphia reportedly could not reach an agreement with its star cornerback on a restructured deal and will likely release him. slay himself tweeted That he will soon be looking for a new home.
Indianapolis Colts cut QB Matt Ryan
The Colts Are Moving On After A Year From Ryan That Will Cost Them $12 million guaranteed for 2023 season, Ryan won only four of his 12 starts and passed for 3,057 yards with 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last year. Indianapolis owns the No. 4 overall pick in next month’s NFL Draft.
The Ravens released veteran defensive end Kallis Campbell from the team. announced monday, Campbell, 36, played three years in Baltimore, where he had 11 sacks and 36 quarterback hits. He previously played with the Arizona Cardinals and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Speed Will save the Ravens $7 million in salary cap.
The Seahawks are releasing one of the players they acquired in the Russell Wilson trade. Seattle reportedly planning to cut defensive lineman Shelby Harris after being unable to find a trade partner Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Harris, who recorded two sacks and 24 combined tackles in 2022, would save the Seahawks roughly $8.9 million in tackles and $3.27 million in dead cap.
Los Angeles Rams reportedly planning to release pass rusher Leonard Floyd ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Floyd, 30, counted at least nine sacks in each of the last three years in Los Angeles and signed a four-year, $64 million extension in 2021.
Homestate Hero Adam Thielen is on the open market. The Minnesota Vikings cut the two-time Pro Bowl wideout on Friday after nine seasons with the team. Thielen, 32, is from Minnesota and caught 534 receptions for 6,682 yards and 55 touchdowns in 135 games.
If designated as a cut after June 1, the move would save the Vikings $13.55 million for 2023 but cost $6.4 million in dead cap. Thielen has a cap hit of $19.96 million this upcoming season after signing a three-year deal through 2022 worth $44.67 million.
Titans cut another veteran: Center Ben Jones
Tennessee added to its list of released veterans when the Titans cut Ben Jones Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, The 33-year-old Jones played the last seven years with the Titans where he started 108 games. The move would save the Titans $3.7 million on the salary cap. This marks the sixth veteran release this off-season.
Za’Darius Smith informs Vikings he wants to be released
Minnesota Pro Bowl edge rusher Za’Darius Smith posted what appears to be a farewell message on Twitter on Thursday. According to NFL Network Ian Rapoport, He has informed the team that he wants to be released, but the team has no plans to do so. Smith is technically signed through the 2023 season, as he agreed to a three-year deal worth $42 million last March.
The New York Jets are moving on from receiver and return specialist Braxton Berrios at the start of the league year, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, The two sides reportedly discussed a contract restructuring but could not agree – which led to Berrios’ release. This saves New York $5 million, but will cost them $3.2 million in dead cap.
Cardinals move on from WR Robby Anderson
The Arizona Cardinals announced Wednesday that Robby Anderson has been released.
Anderson, acquired in a midseason trade with the Carolina Panthers, had just seven catches for 76 yards in 10 games with the Cardinals. Cutting the 29-year-old Anderson saves the Cardinals $12 million in cap space and was a very clear move as the Cardinals rebuild their roster under a new front office and coaching staff. He was entering the final season of a two-year contract, and by cutting Anderson the Cardinals would not put any dead money on their salary cap.
Jaguar Announces They Are Releasing The Griffin, a 2019 Pro Bowler who was placed on injured reserve after suffering a back injury last season. The move would save the Jaguars $13 million in cap space.
Miami Dolphins tell CB Byron Jones he will be cut
Ten days after Jones tweeted about the “regrettable cost” of playing in the NFL, the Dolphins told the veteran cornerback that he would be released. ESPN’s Adam Schefter, The move would save Miami $13.6 million in deductions after June 1, and the team would lose $4.75 million in dead cap. Jones played the last two seasons with the Dolphins before he signed a five-year, $82 million contract in 2020 that made him the highest-paid cornerback at the time.
Smith played all eight years of his NFL career with the Buccaneers before being cut, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, He started all 124 games he played in during his time in Tampa. Cutting Smith saves the Buccaneers $9.95 million but comes with a $7.95 million dead cap hit.
clark and chief According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, they were not able to reach common ground on a re-worked deal, and it is expected that Kansas City will release him.
Dupree signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract through 2021. But after two seasons he will look for another team. Releasing Dupree saves the Titans $9.35 million, but comes with a dead cap hit of $10.85 million per overtime cap. He was owed $17 million in base salary this season, so the decision makes sense for the heavyweight Titans.
Lewan was the first of several surprising veteran cuts by the Titans this offseason. The oft-injured former Pro Bowl offensive lineman took $14.84 million off Tennessee’s books.
Titans cut WR Robert Woods
Woods lasted just one season with the Titans and was put back on the market after being released. He saved the team $12.01 million in salary cap with a dead cap hit of $2.59 million.
Cunningham earned a four-year, $58 million deal in 2020, but saved the Titans $8.92 million with his release. However, in 2023 the team will have to spend $4.5 million in dead cap.
Bullock wasn’t a big cut, but would save Tennessee $2.13 million in 2023.
Kendricks played his entire career in Minnesota. before the vikings released him, That move saved the team $9.5 million, but would come with a $1.93 million dead cap hit.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers move on RB Leonard Fournette
The decision to issue Fournet, what he allegedly asked for, saving the Buccaneers approximately $3.47 million, but the team would receive a dead cap hit of $5 million. He played the last three seasons in Tampa Bay.
Other players who have been cut: