10 Notable NFL Veterans Likely to Be Cap Casualties

The 2016 NFL playoffs are nearing completion, and there are roughly three weeks left until the offseason. General managers are focusing their efforts on the next campaign and how they’ll improve their rosters. One area that must be addressed is the veterans who will be cap casualties.

Big contracts are handed out in hopes that one player will be impactful enough to warrant an exceptionally large salary. But the reality is that some pacts aren’t justified by the production output. When a team can move on from the deal and save some cap space, tough decisions are made.

At least 19 franchises will enter the offseason with $20 million or more in cap space to retool their rosters and retain talent. That money can evaporate quickly with just a few re-signings and draft selections. Trimming some underperforming veterans to open up more space helps maintain flexibility.

We found 10 veterans who are facing the chopping block this offseason. Due to the structure of their contracts and their on-field performances, their roster status for 2016 should be in doubt.

Mike Wallace, WR, Minnesota Vikings

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Once known as the most dangerous deep threat in the NFL, Mike Wallace has been an afterthought the last few seasons. Wallace never broke out again after his monstrous 2011 campaign with Pittsburgh in which he had 72 receptions for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns. He had a few respectable seasons in Miami but never earned his gigantic salary.

After finishing up a terribly disappointing 2015 with Minnesota, Wallace could well be released this offseason. Wallace was never able to be a reliable option for young quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. The Vikings can cut his $11.5 million salary without any cap penalties to give them more than $30 million to improve their roster. 

For Minnesota, this an easy decision to move on. Safety Robert Blanton is the only major free agent they have, and linebacker Chad Greenway could be retained with the newfound cap space. The rest of the money can go toward this putrid offensive line and receiving corps.

Mario Williams, DE, Buffalo Bills

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Nearing 31 years old, Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams just posted the worst season of his career. He had only five sacks and 19 tackles in 16 games in 2015. His effort was noticeably lower this year compared to past seasons.

It’s not fair to call Williams a free-agent bust even if his time in Buffalo is coming to an end. He produced 43 sacks in four seasons, and he averaged 12.6 sacks a year in the three seasons prior to 2015. He’s now in the latter stages of his career and his salary is an albatross.

The Associated Press reported Dec. 31 that the Bills plan to release Williams.

Buffalo can do so and save $12.9 million in cap room. His dead cap number of $7 million is far from ideal, but the newfound space should allow the Bills to retain key free agents such as offensive tackle Cordy Glenn and guard Richie Incognito. Williams' release will also save $14.9 million in 2017, which is when cornerback Stephon Gilmore needs an extension.

The timing to release Williams is perfect. Buffalo no longer needs his services, but more importantly, it must re-sign several key cogs.

Dwayne Bowe, WR, Cleveland Browns

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Probably the least surprising name on this list is Dwayne Bowe. The Cleveland Browns infamously handed Bowe $9 million guaranteed on a two-year deal last offeseason. They received just five receptions and 53 yards in return for their investment.

Why the Browns signed Bowe to such a contract is a major question. Bowe hadn’t been a difference-maker for Kansas City since 2011, and his issues were compounded by bad coaching and subpar quarterback play in Cleveland. Nevertheless, the general manager who signed him, Ray Farmer, was fired by the Browns. The Bowe debacle was one of several significant mistakes made by the previous regime.

The cap ramifications for releasing Bowe are far from ideal. Letting him go will save $3.4 million, but his dead cap number of $4.6 million will stay on the books in 2016. The Browns will carry roughly $40 million in cap space this offseason should they trim Bowe’s salary.

Riley Cooper, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

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When the Philadelphia Eagles fired head coach Chip Kelly, Riley Cooper’s biggest supporter in the organization was gone. Cooper was inexplicably given a five-year, $22.5 million contract almost two years ago. Since that contract, he hasn’t produced anything close to his 2013 statistics.

In that season, Cooper had a career-high 835 yards and eight touchdowns. Since his extension, he’s produced just 904 yards and five touchdowns in the last two seasons. There’s no reason to keep him around with a $5.3 million price tag in 2016.

Releasing Cooper will open $2.9 million in much-needed cap space for the Eagles. They have several major free agents to address, including quarterback Sam Bradford, safety Walter Thurmond and defensive end Vinny Curry. Even a modest $2.9 million will help should they choose to retain any of those players.

D’Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, New York Jets

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The New York Jets drafted left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson fourth overall in 2006. Their return on that investment has been excellent for a long time. Not many first-round picks last a decade with the team that drafted them.

Ferguson’s play dramatically dropped in 2015, however, and the end of an era may be in order. The 32-year old tackle was called for seven penalties and allowed 40 quarterback hurries this past year, per Pro Football Focus. The hurries total is easily his worst effort since at least 2007, when PFF started keeping such stats.

The Jets would save $9 million by releasing Ferguson with two years left on his deal. They’d eat $5 million for cutting him loose now, but the Jets would have about $20 million in cap space to help reinvest in the offensive line. It’s time to find the next franchise left tackle.

Chris Clemons, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars

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Father Time caught up with defensive end Chris Clemons shortly after he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014. He inked a four-year, $17.5 million deal with the Jaguars to help their anemic pass rush. But his production was minimal, as he accumulated just three sacks in 2015.

The Jaguars have no use for the 34-year-old moving forward. His release will save the team $4 million this year and next. The Jaguars have $76 million to spend this offseason, so the money isn’t going to be a huge difference for the team—but the roster spot can go elsewhere.

2015 first-round pick Dante Fowler Jr.'s return may give the Jaguars the production Clemons couldn’t. Jacksonville finished 20th in team sacks in 2015. The Jags will need to boost that number if they want to better their 5-11 record.

Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans

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Imagining the Houston Texans without star running back Arian Foster is difficult, considering his importance to their offense. But in the face of his lengthy injury history and his Achilles rupture from 2015, the Texans could release him this offseason, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

The team will save a hefty $6.625 million in cap space by releasing Foster now. With needs all around the offense, that money can be allocated to upgrade the offensive line, wide receiver corps or even the quarterback position if a decent option presents itself.

Houston can't rely on Foster to be available for a full season, so finding someone to carry this offense like he could when he was healthy has to be a top priority. Foster had an impressive seven-year run in Houston. He had four 1,000-plus-yard seasons and 54 total touchdowns during his tenure.

It will be fascinating to see if he can regain Pro Bowl form wherever he ends up.

Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Former Pro Bowl receiver Victor Cruz had a great run with the New York Giants prior to his injuries over the last 18 months. Cruz averaged 1,209 yards and 7.6 touchdowns a year from 2011 to 2013. Then he tore his patellar tendon mid-2014, and he’s dealt with cascading injuries since.

Cruz is a dynamic slot man when he’s healthy. But the Giants cannot continue relying on players with lengthy injury histories. It’s time to replace Cruz with a more reliable presence.

By releasing Cruz now, the Giants can save $6.1 million this season, $7.5 million in 2017 and $8.5 million in 2018. New York has several quality players to re-sign this year and next, so that money will make a big difference.

If the Giants want to be active in free agency, then releasing Cruz is an easy decision to make.

James Laurinaitis, LB, Los Angeles Rams

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The Los Angeles Rams will be looking to make a splash as they embark on a postseason push in 2016. Earning a playoff spot in their first season in L.A. will go a long way to attracting more fans in the area. 

But some roster upgrades are needed to accomplish that feat.

One area where the Rams haven’t gotten their money’s worth is at linebacker. James Laurinaitis has amassed 654 tackles in seven seasons with the team, but his solo tackles have dropped in each of the last three campaigns. He’s not an impactful player outside of his tackle total.

The issue with Laurinaitis: He is the sixth-highest-paid inside linebacker in the NFL. With the Rams being able to save $5.5 million by releasing him, the decision to move on from Laurinaitis isn’t too hard. Drafting or signing a more athletic, versatile man for the middle can help propel this defense to an elite level.

Phil Loadholt, OT, Minnesota Vikings

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The Minnesota Vikings have a difficult decision to make on right tackle Phil Loadholt. When healthy, Loadholt was a solid player for the Vikings offense. But he’s finished two consecutive seasons early due to injury. He ended 2014 with a torn pectoral muscle and missed 2015 with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Minnesota can pick up $6 million if it cuts Loadholt this offseason. Only $1.75 million would count as dead money on its cap sheet. By releasing Loadholt and the previously mentioned Wallace, the Vikings will have roughly $37 million to play with. That’s enough to add several big-time free agents—if the team is willing to be aggressive.

If the Vikings don’t like the free-agent crop, then keeping Loadholt until training camp may be an option. However, at some point, it’s hard to continue banking on players who can’t stay on the field. We’ll see if the Vikings are at that point with Loadholt.

All contract information is courtesy of Over The Cap. All stats are from sports-reference.com.

Ian Wharton is an NFL Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. 

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