All articles tagged with #dead money
The Miami Dolphins informed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa that he will be released at the start of the new league year, using a post-June 1 designation to spread his remaining cap hit over two years. The move creates about $99 million in dead money on Miami's books and leaves Tagovailoa with a guaranteed $54 million salary for 2026 as the team searches for a new starter.
The Atlanta Falcons plan to release quarterback Kirk Cousins on the opening day of the new league year, ending a contract they view as a $100 million disaster. The move leaves a $24.6 million cap hit into June, with $22.5 million in dead money for 2026 and $12.5 million in 2027, plus up to $10 million in offsets if he signs elsewhere. At 37, Cousins—who joined the Falcons in 2024 on a four-year, $180 million deal but was supplanted by Michael Penix Jr.—now becomes a high-profile free agent on a quarterback-rich market, with teams including the Steelers, Vikings and Colts noted as potential fits.
Miami faces a key decision on Tua Tagovailoa: absorb a $99.2 million dead-money cap hit in 2026 or spread it via a post‑June 1 designation (roughly $55.4M in 2026 and $43.8M in 2027). With 2026 projected cap around $301–$306 million, the full hit would consume about a third of space. Some view taking the full hit now as a 'soft tank' to clear Tagovailoa by 2027, while releasing him without the split would lock in all dead money in 2026 and complicate roster building this year.
Despite four elite seasons in Philly, A.J. Brown’s happiness appears to be waning, and the Eagles could trade him this offseason; financially the move would save long-term cap space but incur a big dead-money hit, making a second-round pick the likely starting point (with a first possible if milestones are reached). Contending teams would be buyers, and Howie Roseman has signaled openness to moves, suggesting Brown could be sacrificed for a clearer long-term plan as he approaches age 29 and his value declines.
The Green Bay Packers are choosing to absorb all of Jaire Alexander's $17 million dead money into their 2025 salary cap, instead of spreading it over 2025 and 2026, simplifying their cap management and freeing up significant space for 2026.
The Denver Broncos have informed nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson of their plan to release him, ending a tumultuous two-season run with the team. Wilson, who was signed to a five-year, $242.6 million deal, will leave the Broncos with an $85 million dead money hit over the next two seasons. The move comes after the team went 11-19 in Wilson's starts and failed to make the playoffs. Wilson, 35, now enters the free agent market, with potential interest from teams like the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' community has been concerned about dead money, particularly in relation to the potential re-signing of star player Mike Evans. Social media created a narrative that signing Evans before a certain deadline could save the team money, but the reality is more complex. While a contract extension could have saved cap space in 2024, it would have come at the expense of future years, and dead money would still be owed regardless. The team and Evans are operating on their own timeline, separate from the pressure created on social media.
The NFL's post-June 1 designation allows teams to release up to two players each league year prior to June 2, treating them under the salary cap as if they were released after June 1. This provision helps teams manage their salary cap obligations and avoid dead money. Eight players have been released during the 2023 league year with a post-June 1 designation, including Ezekiel Elliott, J.J. Watt, and Byron Jones.
The Green Bay Packers will have $57.1 million in dead money on their 2023 salary cap, with nine players unlikely to play for the team. This includes $40.3 million from trading Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. The Packers have limited cap space and are looking to get younger and cheaper around new starting quarterback Jordan Love. The team is transitioning, not only at quarterback but on the financial side, and will be completely off the books by 2024, with a healthy cap situation possible by 2025.