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One potential cut candidate for every NFL team

The NFL’s cutting ‘massacre’ is about to commence, and we give you a cut candidate for every franchise.

Los Angeles Chargers v Detroit Lions Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

As we venture into March, NFL fans are staring one of the darkest weeks in NFL history right in the face. Diane Roussini of ESPN said one coach thinks we’re about to see a ‘massacre’ of talent on NFL rosters. We are on the precipice of big name cuts like never before.

The NFL’s salary cap is dropping, and no one was prepared for it. In the end, the players will take the brunt of the salary issues. More cuts than ever, and more big name players are expected to be cut because of this unfortunate scenario. Some teams are in better situations than others. But there just isn't much money to go around and a good number of players’ careers will come to an end thanks to the pandemic.

Below I present to you one potential cut candidate for every team:

Arizona Cardinals - Robert Alford

Savings: $7.5 million

The Cardinals have already parted ways from Patrick Peterson perhaps his running mate will join him. The Cardinals are in all in mode however.

Atlanta Falcons - Dante Fowler Jr

Savings: $7.9 million (After June 1)

Fowler Jr. isn't the player he once was in Los Angeles. The cap savings isn't great, but a divorce appears likely.

Baltimore Ravens - Brandon Williams

Savings: $7.5 million

The massive run stuffer in Baltimore was hampered by injury in 2020. The Ravens can't find much money in other places.

Baltimore Ravens v Cleveland Browns

Buffalo Bills - Mario Addison

Savings: $6.2 million

Big ticket for an average NFL pass rusher.

Carolina Panthers - Justin Burris

Savings: $3.8 million

Burris fought injury in his first year in Carolina.

Chicago Bears - Jimmy Graham

Savings: $7 million

The former Saint, Seahawk, and Packer struggled in Chicago. He may finishes his career elsewhere.

Chicago Bears v Jacksonville Jaguars Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images

Cincinnati Bengals - Geno Atkins

Savings: $9.5 million

Atkins battled injury and regression in 2020. Getting cut could let Atkins chase a ring before calling it quits.

Cleveland Browns - Sheldon Richardson

Savings: $11.5 million

The Browns defensive tackle had a nice year for himself in 2020; however, he is a prime cut candidate thanks to a bloated contract

Cleveland Browns v Tennessee Titans Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Dallas Cowboys - Tyron Smith

Savings: $5.2 million

Once known as the best offensive lineman in football, injuries and age has caught up to Smith to a degree. Dallas also doesn't have many cuttable options.

Denver Broncos - Von Miller

Savings: $18 million

Former Super Bowl MVP, Von miller missed the entire 2020 season thanks to a torn Achilles. A divorce in Denver appears highly probably.

Detroit Lions v Denver Broncos Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

Detroit Lions -Desmond Trufant

Savings: $6.2 million

Trufant has struggled at being Darius Slay’s replacement in Detroit.

Green Bay Packers - Preston Smith

Savings: $8 million

Preston Smith has been fine in Green Bay but for a team in ‘cap hell’ they dont have many other options.

Houston Texans - Brandin Cooks

Savings: $12 million

The Texans are already in a fire sale of what's left. Cooks saves the most money.

Tennessee Titans v Houston Texans Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Indianapolis Colts - Jack Doyle

Savings: $4.35 million

The Colts are deep in the tight end market. Doyle looks like the odd man out.

Jacksonville Jaguars - No one

Seriously the Jags’ have a ton of cap space and not many players. I would be more shocked if they did cut anyone.

Kansas City Chiefs - Eric Fisher

Savings: $12 million

The Chiefs are screwed. They will be forced to cut multiple starters, and it starts wit their left tackle...Ouch!

Las Vegas Raiders - Marcus Mariota

Savings: $11.35 million

Mariota’s trade market has gone cold. No reason for the Raiders to carry so many quarterbacks in a cap strapped year.

Miami Dolphins v Las Vegas Raiders Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Los Angeles Chargers - Trai Turner

Savings: $11.5 million

Turner is a solid guard on a massive ticket. The Chargers are shopping him, but if no one bites I foresee a cut.

Los Angeles Rams - Andrew Whitworth

Savings: $5.3 million

You know who's in the worst cap hell in the NFL? The Los Angeles Rams. Seriously, they almost have no players on big ticket contracts that will save them money. The Rams will have to cut at least five starters by my count.

Miami Dolphins - Bobby McCain

Savings: $5.7 million

What are the Dolphins doing this year? Are they rebuilding again? Why cut Kyle Van Noy? If they're continuing to dismantle the roster then McCain is on the chopping block.

Minnesota Vikings - Riley Reiff

Savings: $11.75 million

Reiff was solid in 2020...but he just costs a lot.

Minnesota Vikings v Seattle Seahawks Photo by Rob Leiter/Getty Images

New England Patriots - Marcus Cannon

Savings: $9.6 million

Genuinely, the Patriots don’t have to make this move. However it saves nearly $10 Million and Cannon’s backups faired as well as he did in 2020.

New Orleans Saints - Kwon Alexander

Savings: $13.1 million

Ohh boy the Saints are in a rough spot. They're going to have to cut star players, plural. As in multiple star, Pro Bowl caliber players. Alexander isn't that anymore, but is the easiest piece to move on from...the rest are going to sting.

New York Giants - Nate Solder

Savings: $6 million

Solder wasn't very good in 2019, then he opted out in 2020. His replacements are younger and better than him at this point in his career. Easy move.

NFL: NOV 24 Giants at Bears Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

New York Jets - Greg Von Rotten

Savings: $3.4 million

The Jets have already basically moved off of everyone. Von Rotten might be the best of what's left.

Philadelphia Eagles - Marquise Goodwin

Savings: $4.3 million

The Eagles are another team in a rough spot. Goodwin, a 2020 opt out, may never actually suit up for the Eagles.

Pittsburgh Steelers - Eric Ebron

Savings: $6 million

If it wasn't for Vance McDonald’s retirement I think this would have been a forgone conclusion. The Steelers could very well keep Ebron around, however if anyone is getting cut, Ebron would be my guess.

Wild Card Round - Cleveland Browns v Pittsburgh Steelers Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

San Francisco 49ers - Jimmy Garoppolo

Savings: $23.6 million

It looks like Garoppolo has worn out his welcome in San Fran. If the 49ers can find a another quarterback I would imagine Garoppolo would be quickly ushered out the door.

Seattle Seahawks - Carlos Dunlap

Savings: $14 million

Dunlap completely changed the Seahawks defense for the better in 2020. Unfortunately, he costs a lot. No easy decisions will be made here.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Cameron Brate

Savings: $6.8 million

The Buccaneers are loaded at tight end. Cameron Brate would be a really good one if he wasn't suffocated in Tampa. This move makes sense for everyone involved.

Tennessee Titans - Malcolm Butler

Savings: $10.2 million

Malcolm Butler may have been the Titans’ best defensive player in 2020. This is just another case of being a player costing too much money in the year 2021.

Cleveland Browns v Tennessee Titans Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Washington Football Team - Jon Bostic

Savings: $2.7 million

The football team doesn't really have to cut anyone. Bostic carries one of the highest relief totals for anyone on the team.


But what do you think? Which team will suffer the most due to a lowered salary cap? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below.