Ranking the NFL's Top 10 Potential Cap Casualties After Tyreek Hill's Release from Dolphins

The 2026 NFL offseason is in full swing as teams prepare for the start of the new league year next month.

Whether they are looking to get under the salary cap or free up some finances to spend on the free-agent class, many clubs are currently reviewing their rosters and identifying candidates who can be cut for salary-cap purposes.

One of the first dominos fell on Monday when the Miami Dolphins released Tyreek Hill. The wideout was long considered a potential cap casualty after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. The move will save the team nearly $23 million against the cap.

Hill won't be the last player under contract to be cut this offseason. There are plenty of others who stick out for their high chances of being released due to factors such as injuries, regressions and regime changes.

With that in mind, here's a ranked list—based on a combination of their chances of being released and the cap ramifications if such a move occurs—of the top potential salary-cap casualties of the 2026 offseason.

10. WR Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Tyreek Hill might not be the only big-name former Pro Bowl receiver to get released this offseason.

Despite playing a major role as the top pass-catcher on a Super Bowl team, Stefon Diggs is a legitimate cut candidate for the New England Patriots.

While Diggs got back to playing good football in New England—posting his seventh 1,000-yard receiving season of the last eight years—and was the top target for MVP runner-up Drake Maye, the wideout has a hefty $26.5 million cap hit going into an age-33 season.

Given Diggs' three-year, $63.5 million deal with the Patriots has extremely low guarantees after the first season, the Patriots can save approximately $20 million in cap space by releasing him.

Although New England isn't hurting for cap room at this juncture, the team may just be willing to move on from the potential distractions that tend to follow the wideout and instead use those dollars to splurge on the offensive line after the unit was exposed during a Super Bowl LX defeat to the Seattle Seahawks.

9. RB Joe Mixon, Houston Texans

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Joe Mixon excelled during his first season with the Houston Texans, rushing for over 1,000 yards and earning the second Pro Bowl nod of his career.

The veteran running back couldn't build on that performance, though, as he was sidelined all of Year 2 with a leg injury.

With Houston going 12-5 and reaching the divisional round of the playoffs without Mixon in the picture, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the team would be willing to move on from a 29-year-old back with a $10 million cap hit.

He hasn't been a part of Houston's plans since last year's OTAs, which he spent in a walking boot. GM Nick Caserio recently said that the team "probably" will bring Mixon in for a health evaluation, but called it a "moving target" and didn't seem too promising for the back's future in a Texans uniform.

The finances of cutting Mixon are ultimately too sensible for Houston's brass to ignore, especially with rookie Woody Marks and sophomore Jawhar Jordan showing promise in 2025. The team would save a hefty $8 million against the cap by releasing the aging RB.

8. WR Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

The Tennessee Titans surely regret the blockbuster contract they dished out to Calvin Ridley in 2024.

Ridley didn't come close to making good on his four-year, $92 million deal. He caught 64 passes for 1,017 yards and four touchdowns in his first season and played in just seven games this past year, catching 17 balls for a meager 303 yards and zero scores.

With the Titans turning a new leaf and bringing in head coach Robert Saleh this offseason, it's almost certain Ridley's tenure in the Music City will be coming to an end.

While there's a small chance Tennessee opts to retain Ridley for his age-32 season and pair him with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll—the duo found success together in the past as members of the CFP-winning 2017 Alabama Crimson Tide team—it's far more sensible to take the massive cap savings and move on.

Designating Ridley as a post-June 1 release would give the Titans $18.4 million in immediate cap relief with only $8 million in dead money incurred.

7. DT A'Shawn Robinson, Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

The Carolina Panthers were one of the surprise stories of the 2025 NFL season, making a playoff appearance for the first time since 2017.

A'Shawn Robinson was a strong contributor on their plucky defense, but he's still a likely cap casualty as the team looks to build on that promising showing.

Robinson recorded 65 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season, strong numbers but down a tick from the 80 tackles and 5.5 sacks he tallied in 2024. He's about to enter the final season of his three-year, $22.5 million contract, one that has little in the way of guaranteed dollars remaining.

With Robinson set to account for a $12.6 million cap hit, the Panthers would be better served moving on from the aging defensive tackle and taking the $10.5 million in immediate savings. Doing so would allow the up-and-coming squad to pad out areas of larger concern on the roster.

6. DT Kenny Clark, Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

The Dallas Cowboys have a tough decision to make with Kenny Clark.

Although he was one of the key returns in the Micah Parsons trade, the veteran has a massive $21.5 million cap hit for the 2026 season.

Considering Dallas is currently $31 million over the cap and has two other defensive tackles in Osa Odighizuwa and Quinnen Williams each set to account for $20 million-plus in cap space, Clark may be the odd man out this offseason.

Clark did manage to remain highly productive during an age 30 campaign in 2025. The three-time Pro Bowler appeared in all 17 games, tallying 36 tackles and three sacks while playing 68 percent of the team's defensive snaps.  

While he's still playing at a high level, the structure of Clark's contract makes his release an especially appealing option for a cash-strapped squad.

He has zero guaranteed dollars left on the deal, meaning his release won't incur any dead money on Dallas' books. The team would simply spring $21.5 million in cap space free by cutting him.

5. CB Marshon Lattimore, Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

The Washington Commanders took a big swing when they traded for Marshon Lattimore during the 2024 season, but the franchise whiffed on the veteran cornerback.

Lattimore has appeared in a mere 11 games for the Commanders, recording 31 tackles, 10 pass defenses and one interception in those contests. He's struggled in coverage, allowing a 57.4 completion rate and giving up three touchdowns to his assignments.

With Lattimore failing to raise the bar in Washington, it's time for the team to cut its losses and save a huge chunk of cap space by releasing the cornerback.

The Commanders can save $18.5 million by releasing the 29-year-old and shouldn't hesitate to do so. The team can easily find an upgrade in the 2026 draft and utilize the cap savings to shore up one of the many other areas of need this offseason.

4. OL Mekhi Becton, Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

The Los Angeles Chargers' Mekhi Becton experiment should be over after one abysmal season.

While the Philadelphia Eagles received fantastic returns on a nearly risk-free investment into the offensive lineman in 2024, Becton regressed significantly after signing a two-year, $20 million deal with L.A. last year.

Becton was one of Pro Football Focus' lowest-graded guards among the 81 players who qualified at the position. He was whistled for five penalties on his 734 total offensive snaps and allowed a concerning 37 pressures, seven QB hits and three sacks on 444 pass-blocking snaps.

The Bolts had one of the worst offensive lines in football this past season and need to overhaul much of the unit if they wish to contend in 2026. Fortunately for the Chargers, they can move on from the 2020 first-rounder without much fuss.

Becton's release will provide $9.7 million in immediate cap relief with only $2.5 million in dead money to deal with.

3. OT Jawaan Taylor, Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Gareth Patterson

The Kansas City Chiefs must do some major retooling this offseason. After suffering through the worst campaign of the Andy Reid era, the team needs to make some major moves to get cap compliant.

One of the easiest decisions GM Brett Veach will make this offseason is releasing Jawaan Taylor.

While Taylor was expected to become a key part of the team's dynastical run when he inked a four-year, $80 million deal in 2023—and did win a title with the club in his first season—the tackle has been more of a liability than asset in recent years.

Taylor has a hefty $27.4 million cap hit in 2026 but doesn't have any guaranteed money left on his contract. Cutting him will only incur a $7.4 million dead money charge while opening $20 million in immediate cap relief.

Given how desperate the Chiefs will be for cap space this offseason, it's now a matter of when, not if, the Chiefs will part ways with the underperforming Taylor.

2. WR Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez

It's only a matter of time before Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers finally split.

GM John Lynch confirmed that the wideout won't be returning to the organization during his end-of-season press conference, telling reporters "it's safe to say that [Aiyuk has] played his last snap with the Niners."

Aiyuk and the 49ers were embroiled in a bitter contractual battle for much of the 2024 offseason before the two parties ultimately agreed on a four-year, $120 million extension. The deal rewarded a breakout campaign from the 2020 first-rounder, one in which he racked up a career-best 1,342 receiving yards.

The Arizona State product didn't even last half a season on the new contract. After recording a middling 25 catches for 374 yards and zero touchdowns over the first seven weeks, he suffered an ACL tear that will mark the end of his polarizing tenure in San Francisco.

While the 49ers would likely still prefer to deal Aiyuk and get something in exchange for his services, it's looking far more probable that the once-prolific wideout will simply be released.

The finances of such a move aren't favorable for San Francisco, but the team can at least divvy up the near-$35 million in dead money it's set to take on across the 2026 and 2027 campaigns by designating Aiyuk as a post-June 1 release.

No. 1: QB Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

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Kirk Cousins is on the path to freedom after two miserable seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. The quarterback restructured his deal in early January, opening the door for his departure at some point in the next month.

Cousins' release will mark the long-awaited breakup between a team and passer that never appeared to click.

Shortly after he was brought in to solidify a quarterback position that had floundered following Matt Ryan's departure, things went off the rails when the Falcons shocked both Cousins and the football world by using the No. 8 overall pick on Michael Penix Jr.

While Cousins struggled to return to Pro Bowl form after recovering from a season-ending Achilles tear he suffered in 2023, it certainly didn't help that Atlanta blindsided him with unexpected competition from a top pick. The veteran will now have a chance to finish out his career on a better note elsewhere.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Cousins is expected to be released before March 13. That's the date that Cousins would become vested for nearly $68 million in guaranteed dollars based on the terms of his recently revised contract.