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The new NFL league year begins on March 17th, and that is when teams need to be compliant with the 2021 salary cap. What is that number? No one knows at the moment, but teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to have to find a way to get under whatever cap number is presented to all 32 organizations.
One way of getting cap compliant is to release players who might have inflated salary cap his. For the Steelers, players like Joe Haden, Vince Williams and David DeCastro have been talking points for potential cap casualties, and other NFL teams are having the same conversations as they prepare for the next season.
Already, several teams have let players go, and this is where the NFL Release Tracker comes in. We wanted to have a one stop shop for you to see some big name players who have been released from their team. Be sure to check back early and often to see updates on the latest players who will be looking for a new home.
Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black and gold as they prepare for the new league year, NFL Free Agency and the 2021 NFL Draft.
(Editor’s Note: The updates will come at the TOP of the list, not the bottom.)
The Los Angeles Chargers have released Trai Turner
Chargers officially have released Trai Turner, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2021
The Detroit Lions are cutting former Steelers TE Jesse James
Lions released TE Jesse James, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2021
Detroit Lions planning on parting ways with DB Justin Coleman
The #Lions plan to release CB Justin Coleman in the coming days, source said. One of the NFL’s highest-paid slot corners heads back to the market.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 11, 2021
Kansas City Chiefs to cut both of their start tackles
And Mitch Schwartz as well, according to source. Both long time starting tackles are gone. https://t.co/HojItbS6F0
— Adam Teicher (@adamteicher) March 11, 2021
New Orleans Saints continue to gut their roster, releasing DB Janoris Jenkins
Saints are releasing veteran CB Janoris Jenkins, per source. The move will save the Saints $7 more million against their salary cap.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2021
The Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals release players
The Cowboys have released FB Jamize Olawale, who opted out of 2020.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 10, 2021
The Cardinals officially cut CB Robert Alford.
New York Giants releasing G Kevin Zeitler
We have released guard Kevin Zeitler
— New York Giants (@Giants) March 10, 2021
: https://t.co/o7XUK8mN12 pic.twitter.com/5NcFbNSO1Q
Tennessee Titans expected to release S Kenny Vaccaro
The #Titans are expected to release starting S Kenny Vaccaro as a cap casualty, source said. He was due to have a $6.9M cap hit for Tennessee after 83 tackles and 6 TFLs last year.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2021
Buffalo Bills releasing WR John Brown and DL Quinton Jefferson
Bills released WR John Brown and DL Quinton Jefferson.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2021
New Orleans Saints expected to cut WR Emmanuel Sanders
Saints are releasing WR Emmanuel Sanders, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2021
New Orleans Saints planning on releasing LB Kwon Alexander
The #Saints are expected to release LB Kwon Alexander in the coming days, source said, a move that saves them more than $13M against the salary cap with no dead money. Alexander is recovering from a torn Achilles, but will be ready for the start of training camp.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2021
Falcons are cutting ties with guard James Carpenter
The #Falcons are releasing veteran guard James Carpenter, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 9, 2021
Las Vegas Raiders releasing DB Lamarcus Joyner
The #Raiders are releasing DB Lamarcus Joyner, source said. He was set to make $9.95M and in this cap environment, that was tough to make sense of. Another starter available in FA.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2021
Detroit Lions release C Russell Bodine and LB Christian Jones
#Lions have re-signed DB Mike Ford.
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) March 8, 2021
In addition, the team announced that they have released C Russell Bodine and LB Christian Jones.
New York Giants release WR Cody Core
We have released WR Cody Core
— New York Giants (@Giants) March 8, 2021
: https://t.co/gOAlwo8fLY pic.twitter.com/BY1xL6Kfcb
Seattle Seahawks releasing DT Carlos Dunlap
Seahawks are releasing Carlos Dunlap today, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2021
Minnesota Vikings planning on cutting ties with CB Chris Jones
The #Vikings are not tendering exclusive-rights CB Chris Jones, per source. He'll be a free agent.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 8, 2021
Chicago Bears preparing to release OT Bobby Massie
The #Bears are not likely to exercise the option on OT Bobby Massie’s contract, another casualty of the cap crunch, source said. He’ll be a FA, saving them more than $5M vs. the cap & putting a starting caliber tackle on the market in a year when OTs are more valuable than ever.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2021
Cincinnati Bengals cut B.J. Finney
Bengals release former #Steelers lineman B.J. Finney https://t.co/mQdXxm7CVE
— BTSC Steelers (@btsteelcurtain) March 5, 2021
Minnesota Vikings release Tae Hayes and Condrea Tankersley
Vikings release Tae Hayes, Cordrea Tankersley. https://t.co/SmCSbP9PgZ
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 5, 2021
The Washington Football Team cut ties with Alex Smith
Alex Smith, the Comeback Player of the Year, will not be coming back to Washington. The team officially released him today, making him a free agent and saving the WFT $14.9 million against the cap.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 5, 2021
Detroit Lions to release CB Desmond Trufant
Lions have informed starting CB Desmond Trufant that he will be released at the start of the league this year later this month, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2021
Several NFL teams make veteran roster cuts
Some big names on today's transaction wire. pic.twitter.com/1MV916nFvf
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 4, 2021
Seattle Seahawks to release WR Josh Gordon
The #Seahawks have released WR Josh Gordon.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 4, 2021
Suspended indefinitely again by the NFL in January, Gordon now will be eligible to reunite with Johnny Manziel and make his planned debut for the Zappers in Fan Controlled Football.
New York Giants release Golden Tate
Giants released WR Golden Tate, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 3, 2021
Saints release TE Jared Cook and TE Josh Hill
The Saints have officially released TE Jared Cook and TE Josh Hill. The Cook move is procedural, as he was scheduled to be a free agent at the start of the new league year.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 3, 2021
New York Jets release Henry Anderson
The #Jets have released DL Henry Anderson, who was due $8.2M this season. It saved them nearly that against the cap.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 3, 2021
Chicago Bears releasing CB Buster Skrine
Bears are releasing veteran CB Buster Skrine, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2021
Minnesota Vikings release TE Kyle Rudolph
After the Vikings released TE Kyle Rudolph, they release these statements: pic.twitter.com/4VzPYJaf58
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2021
Miami Dolphins to release LB Kyle Van Noy
From NFL Now: Versatile LB Kyle Van Noy has played his last down with the #Dolphins, but a release won't come today as the team will try to trade him first. pic.twitter.com/16qXractCF
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 2, 2021
Houston Texans release DB Brandon Williams and waive DB Mark Fields
The Texans have released veteran DB Brandon Williams and waived DB Mark Fields. Close to another $1.5M in cap space created as Nick Caserio reshapes the roster.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 2, 2021
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