NFL Free Agency 2020: One cap-saving cut each team can make
As 2020 NFL free agency approaches rapidly, cap space will be at a premium. So which cut can all 32 teams make to create cap room this offseason?
Every NFL team would love to be able to sign every player in NFL free agency that could help their team. That may be the understatement of the century but it’s also completely impossible. Because of the competition of trying to sign players and, more pressingly, the salary cap, teams have the manage their free agency signings and financial decisions deftly each offseason.
As we enter 2020 NFL free agency, there is a strong crop of players throughout the league that will be looking for a new gig. While not every position group is particularly deep, there is still high-end talent and some solid players below them that will be available whenever the signing period begins on March 18.
However, all 32 teams aren’t in a place under the salary cap where they can do anything in free agency. Many could stand to create more cap room and, of course, the easiest way to do that would be to release players whose performance doesn’t match their contract and who can save the team money on the books.
Who are these cut candidates? While it’s not limited to these players, let’s take a look at one sensible cut candidate to create cap space for all 32 NFL teams.
Note: All salary cap figures are via Over the Cap.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills: Trent Murphy
Potential Savings: $8.025 million ($1.75 million dead cap) – Trent Murphy actually has the second-highest cap hit on the Bills roster for the 2020 season at $9.775 million. While he’s been a solid veteran presence and a tough-minded player on a defense that values that type of play, he’s simply been no better than average on the field, totaling just nine sacks over the past two years.
As Buffalo looks to get aggressive in trying to improve on both sides of the ball this offseason, they could look to save north of $8 million by jettisoning Murphy.
Miami Dolphins: Daniel Kilgore
Potential Savings: $4,031,250 ($0 dead cap) – Over the next couple of years, we’re going to see the entire Dolphins roster get overhauled, which is by the design of general manager Chris Grier. But while some players in various areas will remain, it’s highly unlikely anyone on the offensive line is in the long-term plans, Daniel Kilgore included. He was bad for Miami in 2019 and, as they can cut him with no dead cap while they look to add talent, he could be on his way out.
New England Patriots: Rex Burkhead
Potential Savings: $2,906,250 ($1 million dead cap) – Considering the Patriots’ need for offensive weapons, Tom Brady staying or not, saying that they could cut one of those weapons might seem odd. However, with Sony Michel and James White in tow, among others, Rex Burkhead has been injury-prone and inconsistent. If New England can save money by releasing him, that might be more valuable than keeping him around.
New York Jets: Brian Winters
Potential Savings: $7,281,250 ($0 dead cap) – Though in a less dire situation than the Dolphins, the Jets are another club that will be making drastic changes on the offensive line this season. And upgrading from Brian Winters on the interior should be one of their first moves as he’s been downright abysmal. And as cutting him holds no dead cap penalty, it should be an easy decision to hand him his walking papers.