7 Cap Casualties from 2024 NFL Free Agency That Teams Will Regret
Bookkeeping sometimes take precedent over playmaking. Some say the salary cap isn't real, yet organizations are forced to cut players every offseason in order to be salary-cap compliant. Other franchises benefit as a result.
For example, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released longtime left tackle Donovan Smith last offseason. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and protected quarterback Patrick Mahomes' blind side all the way to a Super Bowl victory.
Tough decisions are made regarding individuals based on their contract status. Whether through coaching changes, exorbitant cap hits or disappointments, proven veterans are cut loose for others to sign.
Some high-profile names have already hit the market after being cut.
Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garoppolo, Joe Mixon, Michael Thomas and Aaron Jones are counted among the biggest. But seven specific salary-cap casualties made their previous teams worse upon their releases. They'll go elsewhere and immediately help their new squads.
A few have already found new homes, while others just hit the market at the opening of the new league year.
However, the following individuals are capable of making a difference wherever they land.
WR Mike Williams
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The Los Angeles Chargers found themselves in a bind and were forced to cut wide receiver Mike Williams in order to be salary-cap compliant at the start of the new league year.
The 29-year-old's release saved the Chargers $20 million, but L.A. has lost an immediate outside, deep threat, with the size (6'4", 218 lbs) to shift 50-50 balls in his team's favor.
To be fair, the new Chargers regime found itself against the wall based on previous moves. Also, Williams has an extensive history. In fact, the six-year veteran played in only three games last season because of a torn ACL.
This particular move isn't unwarranted, but the Clemson product's skill set can help another offense, while the Chargers aren't capable of replacing a healthy version of the 2017 first-round pick based on their current setup.
The hope is that last year's first-round selection, Quentin Johnston, improves in Year 2, though development into a 1,000-yard target may be asking too much. Williams posted a pair of 1,000-yard campaigns and two seasons with nine or more touchdown grabs.
WR Hunter Renfrow
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Hunter Renfrow has never looked the part, but his play always spoke for itself.
Since entering the league as a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, the 5'10", 184-pound slot receiver has given opposing defenses headaches. He has caught 269 passes for 2,884 yards and 17 touchdowns during his five seasons.
The numbers don't full encapsulate how effective the unassuming wide receiver really is.
During the 2021 campaign, the 28-year-old caught 103 passes for 1038 yards and nine touchdowns. The Raiders responded by handing him a two-year, $22 million contract extension the following summer.
Inexplicably, though, head coach and offensive play-caller Josh McDaniels didn't find ways to feature Renfrow, and his production drastically dipped. Injuries and subpar quarterback play, particularly last season, played a part as well. The move saves Las Vegas $8.2 million toward this year's salary cap.
The Raiders likely overpaid at the time after a young receiver posted a career season.
Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker could take on more slot snaps, yet they present completely different skill sets.
Renfrow is an underneath separator and security blanket, particularly on key downs. He's not referred to as "Third and Renfrow" for nothing.
DL Arik Armstead
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The San Francisco 49ers have rebuilt their defensive line, which no longer includes their previously longest-tenured member, Arik Armstead.
The organization released the 30-year-old with a June 1 designation at the start of the new league year, which includes $10.3 million in dead money this fall and another $15.5 million for the 2025 campaign.
According to The Athletic's Matt Barrows and David Lombardi, San Francisco approached the defensive lineman to restructure his deal but nothing materialized. Clearly, the Niners wanted to retain his services, and they should have.
As Audacy Sports' Al Sacco noted, the Oregon product registered eight sacks, six tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits during his 12 playoff appearances. He's played well when San Francisco needed it most.
Nick Bosa and Javon Hargrave remain in place, but the 49ers have brought in Maliek Collins, Yetur Gross-Matos, Leonard Floyd and Jordan Elliott to replace Armstead, Chase Young, Clelin Ferrell and Javon Kinlaw.
Armstead can now sign elsewhere and help as a base end and defensive tackle. While the veteran missed 13 games over the last two seasons, he clearly helped the 49ers become one of the NFC's best teams.
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Edge Shaquil Barrett
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers experienced unprecedented success with outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett as a key contributor.
Even during the franchise's heyday with Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Mike Alstott, the Bucs never won three straight division titles, as they have done the past three years.
Prior to the current streak, the squad captured its second-ever Super Bowl championship.
Barrett provided 25.5 sacks during that stretch and was a great example for the entire team.
Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht said:
"Shaq's contributions to the Buccaneers both on and off the field these past five seasons have been extraordinary and he will be missed by many in and around the organization. His leadership, work ethic, and dedication to the game have been unmatched and the courage he displayed last season was truly inspirational."
Last year, Barrett worked his way back from a ruptured Achilles tendon. He was also mourning the death of his two-year old daughter, Arrayah.
A fresh start with a new team may be exactly what Barrett needs, and he signed a one-year, $9 million deal to join the Miami Dolphins.
His addition will help offset the departure of Emmanuel Ogbah and ease Jaelen Phillips and Bradley Chubb back into the lineup after both suffered season-ending injuries last year.
CB Xavien Howard
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The Miami Dolphins defense will look drastically different during the 2024 campaign.
The signing of Shaquil Barrett will help, but the organization released stalwart cornerback Xavien Howard.
In eight seasons with the team, Howard went to four Pro Bowls, became a two-time interception champion and was named to two All-Pro teams.
The 30-year-old was released with an injury designation after dealing with a bad hip and foot sprain last year. The Dolphins will ultimately save $18.5 million with the cornerback designated as a June 1 release.
Miami's roster will experience significant turnover this offseason, particularly in the secondary with the losses of Howard, Brandon Jones and Deshon Elliott. The Dolphins did bring in Jordan Poyer and Siran Neal to offset the losses at safety, but Howard played more outside snaps than any other CB on the roster last season. He won't be easily replaced.
The veteran likely won't draw a long-term contract from another franchise after two injury-plagued campaigns, but he is the type of cornerback who can make a difference when he's on the field, particularly for a squad in the championship hunt.
CB Darious Williams
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The Jacksonville Jaguars chose to release their best and most prolific cornerback last season in order to save $11.5 million.
They no longer saw Darious Williams as a fit, though, with the Jags targeting cornerback as an area of need.
"We've got to add to that group," general manager Trent Baalke told reporters at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. "... It's a group that we need to address.
"We feel good about the group that we have, we feel like we have some good, young guys to work with, we've got some veterans in there, but we're definitely going to look to add to that group."
At 30, Williams is older. The Jaguars have invested draft picks in Tyson Campbell, Montaric Brown, Gregory Junior and nickel Antonio Johnson. They also signed Ronald Darby to help offset the loss of Williams. Nonetheless, a team moving on from its best corner is difficult.
Williams has re-signed with the Los Angeles Rams, where he previously played between the 2018 and 2021 seasons. He'll immediately step in as CB1 and upgrade a unit that finished among the bottom half of the league in pass defense last season.
S Justin Simmons
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The Denver Broncos are reshaping their roster in Sean Payton's image, but their current direction doesn't include standout safety Justin Simmons.
The 30-year-old wasn't the only major shift for the Broncos. The team takes on a staggering $85 million in dead money over the next two seasons by releasing quarterback Russell Wilson. Also, the Cleveland Browns acquired wide receiver Jerry Jeudy for minimal return, fifth- and sixth-round picks in this year's draft.
Simmons loss hurts the most, though.
The defensive back spent eight seasons with the franchise, being named second-team All-Pro on four different occasions, including the last three. He made the Pro Bowl twice and tied for the league lead in interceptions during the 2022 campaign.
In fact, Simmons led the Broncos in interceptions during each of the last six seasons. His ball skills, instincts and communication can't be immediately replaced.
Denver did sign Brandon Jones to a three-year, $20 million deal, but the two defensive backs bring different skill sets. Jones isn't nearly as good with the ball in the air or against the run.
Denver's intentional loss will be another defense's gain. Simmons will add legitimacy to whichever secondary he joins.
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