5 Most Likely Cap Casualties and Potential Landing Spots Amid NFL OTAs

As NFL teams continue OTA workouts, front offices are gaining a clearer picture of what their rosters could look like for the 2026 season. While training camp battles will ultimately determine many of the final roster spots, some decisions in the coming months will have less to do with on-field performance and more to do with financial realities.

Salary-cap casualties are an unfortunate and annual part of the NFL. Even productive veterans can find themselves on the chopping block as teams look to create cap space, maintain financial flexibility, or prepare for unexpected roster needs that arise throughout the season.

These cuts can create valuable opportunities for rival clubs. Organizations with available cap room can add proven contributors at a fraction of their market value, strengthening their depth and addressing key needs without making a major financial commitment.

With that in mind, take a peek at five players who could become cap casualties before the start of the 2026 season, along with some potential landing spots if they hit the open market.

QB Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

The Pittsburgh Steelers are running it back with Aaron Rodgers after he helped guide the team to an AFC North title and playoff appearance in his first season.

With Rodgers firmly entrenched as the starter for 2026, Pittsburgh appears to have just two backup quarterback spots available and three candidates competing for them.

That could leave veteran Mason Rudolph on the outside looking in.

Rudolph has spent most of the past eight seasons serving as Pittsburgh's primary backup and occasional starter. After a brief stint with the Tennessee Titans in 2024, he returned to the Steelers and immediately slotted in behind Rodgers. The circumstances around Rudolph have changed drastically, however, and could lead to a depth chart shakeup.  

With longtime head coach Mike Tomlin no longer in charge, new head coach Mike McCarthy may prefer to use the backup roles to develop his younger quarterbacks. Sixth-round pick Will Howard and rookie third-rounder Drew Allar both offer long-term upside that Rudolph, who turns 31 in July, no longer provides.

To Rudolph's credit, he has been a reliable option when called upon—throwing for 3,395 yards and 21 touchdowns while compiling an 8-5-1 record as Pittsburgh's starter. The Steelers must now decide whether retaining an experienced veteran is worth taking valuable practice reps away from two developmental prospects learning behind Rodgers.

Rudolph is entering the final season of a two-year, $7.5 million contract, making him affordable by quarterback standards. Pittsburgh may value youth and roster flexibility more, however, meaning Rudolph could be expendable.

The Steelers might attempt to carry four quarterbacks or explore trade options, but neither outcome seems particularly likely. If no trade materializes, Rudolph might find himself released before Week 1.

Should that happen, the Denver Broncos would be a logical landing spot. The Broncos need an upgrade to Jarrett Stidham in wake of last year's AFC Championship Game calamity, and Rudolph fits the bill as the ideal QB2 behind Bo Nix.

Potential Landing Spot: Denver Broncos

RB Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Abbie Parr

Roschon Johnson has been a major letdown for the Chicago Bears ever since landing with the club as a fourth-rounder in the 2023 draft. His disappointing trajectory could lead to his release this offseason.

While Johnson showed some glimpses of talent during his rookie campaign—finishing with 352 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 81 carries—he's gone on to regress in back-to-back seasons. Johnson managed to score a career-high six touchdowns on the ground in 2024, but still averaged an abysmal 2.7 yards per carry on his 55 totes.

With Johnson rarely seeing the field and getting relegated mostly to special teams work in the seven games he was active for last year, it would be hard to fault the Bears for moving on from the running back. Johnson logged a mere two carries and didn't see a single target in 2025.

The opportunity for Johnson to seize a larger role was there, but rookie seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai was the player who ultimately earned the complementary job alongside starter D'Andre Swift. Monangai finished 2025 with 947 yards from scrimmage, eclipsing Swift's career-long contributions in his initial NFL season.

Although the Bears didn't bolster the backfield with any draft picks or notable free agents, they did grab veteran Salvon Ahmed and undrafted rookie Coleman Bennett to contest for roles during training camp. It's possible one of these unheralded options could impress the coaching staff and usurp Johnson as Chicago's RB3.

A fresh start could be exactly what Johnson needs to get his career on track. There are several teams with backfield holes that need filling, including the Carolina Panthers. With Rico Dowdle departing in free agency, Carolina will turn back to Chuba Hubbard as their starter with a pair of unproven youngsters in Jonathon Brooks and Trevor Etienne competing for depth roles.

Potential Landing Spot: Carolina Panthers

WR DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

The New England Patriots have turned what was recently one of the league's weakest receiving corps into a position of strength heading into the 2026 NFL season.

Following their blockbuster A.J. Brown trade, the Pats now have seven competent wideouts set to compete in training camp.

While Brown is a shoo-in to replace Stefon Diggs as New England's WR1 and key free-agent pickup Romeo Doubs should play a big role as well, the remainder of the pecking order will be established over the next few months.

Mack Hollins played well in his first Patriots season and should be in the mix again in 2026. Kyle Williams should have far more in store following a polarizing rookie campaign. Kayshon Boutte finally broke out as a deep threat in his third NFL season and made a strong case to stick around after scoring a career-high six touchdowns last year. Boutte has been absence from OTAs and involved in trade rumors, but it would behoove the Pats to retain him if possible.

With five wideouts accounted for, it's likely the Patriots will choose between Efton Chism III and DeMario Douglas for what should be the final spot in the receiving corps. Chism was a solid depth option and special teamer for the club, which could give him an edge over Douglas on cut day.

While Douglas was one of New England's more consistent pass-catchers during his first two seasons in the NFL, the team's ascension back into contention coincided with a reduction in usage for the 2023 sixth-rounder. He posted career lows in targets (46), receptions (31) and receiving yardage (447) last year, opening the door for a potential exit this offseason.

If Douglas does hit free agency, expect him to generate a lot of interest from receiver-needy squads. The New York Jets would be a strong candidate to poach from a divisional rival, adding him to a thin receiver's room that only goes about four deep right now.

Potential Landing Spot: New York Jets

TE Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

The Los Angeles Rams' success with 13 personnel—deploying three tight ends on the field at once—was one of the NFL's most effective offensive wrinkles in 2025.

Initially introduced by Sean McVay to offset the loss of star receiver Puka Nacua, the formation became a staple of the offense and highlighted the importance of quality tight-end depth.

The problem for Los Angeles is that its tight ends room may now be too crowded.

The Rams added second-round pick Max Klare and several undrafted free agents this offseason, including intriguing prospect Dan Villari. Those newcomers join veterans Tyler Higbee and Colby Parkinson, along with recent draft picks Terrance Ferguson and Davis Allen.

With so many players competing for limited roster spots, a difficult decision is on the horizon. Parkinson may be the most realistic cap-casualty candidate of the bunch, even if such a move would be a surprise after some strong 2025 efforts.

Parkinson is coming off the best season of his career, recording 43 receptions for 408 yards and eight touchdowns. However, he's entering the final season of a three-year, $22.5 million contract with no guaranteed money remaining. Prior to last season's breakout, he had never surpassed 30 catches or two touchdowns in a single campaign.

If the Rams don't believe Parkinson will replicate that production, moving on would create additional financial flexibility while opening opportunities for younger, cheaper options. That's especially relevant for a team fully committed to competing for a Super Bowl after its blockbuster acquisition of Myles Garrett.

While McVay could elect to carry an extra tight end, Parkinson's contract structure and the team's depth at the position make him one of the more notable veterans who could become expendable before Week 1.

Should he reach free agency, the New England Patriots would make sense as a potential landing spot. Despite improvements at wide receiver, New England still has questions at tight end behind veteran Hunter Henry and rookie Eli Raridon. Parkinson would provide an experienced option for a position group that lacks proven depth.

Potential Landing Spot: New England Patriots

DL Arik Armstead, Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

With June 1 now in the rear-view, it's relatively surprising that Arik Armstead is still on the Jacksonville Jaguars' roster.

Armstead is one of the more obvious potential salary cap casualties in the NFL right now. With the cash-strapped Jaguars lacking cap room and Armstead having no guaranteed money left on his contract, the team could clear up nearly $15 million (and only incur a shade under $5 million in dead money) by releasing the veteran defensive lineman.

While Armstead was a quality contributor to the NFL's top rushing defense last year and recorded 5.5 sacks—his highest total since 2021—he's set to enter an age-33 season and could be due for a sharp regression. Jacksonville also traded for Ruke Orhorhoro this offseason and could slot him into Armstead's spot in the lineup.

Pro Football Focus issued a replacement-level 60.3 overall grade to Armstead last season. While he did rank top-15 amongst qualifying defensive interior players in sacks, hurries and pressures, his production tailed off in the back half of the campaign. It's unlikely he'll improve much in his 12th NFL season, meaning it could be time to make the tough but financially prudent decision to move on.

If Armstead does get released, there will likely be several teams clamoring for his services. 

The Green Bay Packers have been looking to get over the playoff hump after several fruitless trips and could benefit mightily from a grizzled veteran like Armstead joining their side. The Pack have a talented but young defensive line, one that could use a mentor and part-time rotational piece like Armstead to push them to the next level.

Potential Landing Spot: Green Bay Packers