As the 2023 free agency period approaches (it begins March 15 at 4 p.m. ET), teams are beginning to release expensive or underperforming players to open up salary cap space before the start of the new league year. Some do it to create flexibility for trades and signings, while others do it out of necessity if they go over the cap.
Here are some of the biggest releases before free agency and how they will affect each team. All figures courtesy of Over the Cap:
Cardinals leave WR Robbie Anderson
The Arizona Cardinals announced Wednesday that Robbie Anderson has been released.
Anderson, acquired in a midseason trade from the Carolina Panthers, had just seven catches for 76 yards in 10 games with the Cardinals. Cutting Anderson, 29, saves the Cardinals $12 million and was a very obvious 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 the Cardinals won’t incur any dead money on their salary cap by cutting Anderson.
THE The Jaguars have announced the release of Griffin, a 2019 Pro Bowler who was placed on the injured reserve last season after suffering a back injury. The move will 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 “unfortunate cost” of playing in the NFL, the Dolphins told the veteran cornerback he would be released, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move will save Miami $13.6 million after June 1 and cost the team $4.75 million in dead cap. Jones played the last two seasons with the Dolphins after signing a whopping five-year, $82 million deal in 2020, which made him the highest-paid cornerback at the time.
Smith played all eight years of his NFL career with the Buccaneers before being cut, by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. He started all 124 games he played while in Tampa. Cutting Smith saves the Buccaneers $9.95 million, but comes with a cap of $7.95 million.
Clark and the Chiefs were unable to reach common ground on a reworked deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and Kansas City is expected to release him.
Dupree signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract in 2021. But two seasons later, he’ll be looking for another team. Dupree’s release saves the Titans $9.35 million, but comes with a cap of $10.85 million, per Over the Cap. He owed $17 million in base salary this season, so the move makes sense for the heavyweight Titans.
Lewan was the first of many veteran cuts surprised by the Titans this offseason. The often-injured former Pro Bowl offensive lineman made $14.84 million off the Tennessee books.
Titans Cut WR Robert Woods
Woods only lasted one season with the Titans and is back on the market after his release. He saved the team $12.01 million in salary cap with a cap of $2.59 million.
Cunningham was signed to a four-year, $58 million deal in 2020 but saved the Titans $8.92 million with his release. He will, however, cost the team $4.5 million in dead cap in 2023.
Bullock wasn’t a big cut, but will save Tennessee $2.13 million in 2023.
Kendricks had played his entire career in Minnesota before the Vikings released him. The move saved the team $9.5 million, but will come with a cap of $1.93 million.
The decision to release Fournette, that he would have asked, saved the Buccaneers about $3.47 million, but the team will incur a cap of $5 million. He played the last three seasons at Tampa Bay.
Other players who have been cut:
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