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NFL Free Agency 2020: One cap-saving cut each team can make

By Cody Williams

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 22: Xavier Rhodes #29 of the Minnesota Vikings on the field before the game against the Oakland Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 22: Xavier Rhodes #29 of the Minnesota Vikings on the field before the game against the Oakland Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /
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NFL Free Agency (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
NFL Free Agency (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

AFC West

Denver Broncos: Joe Flacco

Potential Savings: $10.05 million ($13.6 million dead cap) – Drew Lock has clearly taken up the mantle as the future quarterback for the Denver Broncos after the franchise traded for Joe Flacco last offseason. The simple truth is that you can’t pay a backup quarterback over $23 million, even if you have the room. It’s better to just save the $10 million, even with a large dead cap hit and use that money to build around your second-year quarterback on a rookie deal.

Kansas City Chiefs: Sammy Watkins

Potential Savings: $14 million ($7 million dead cap) – Fresh off their first Lombardi Trophy in five decades, the Chiefs now have a defense of the title in mind. One big hindrance in that is that, without Chris Jones’ franchise tag hit or new deal on the roster, they only have $13.67 million in cap space. And that’s why Sammy Watkins could be released.

Watkins has been quite good for Kansas City when on the field and, frankly, he’s a prime candidate to be cut and then re-signed by the Chiefs. But even still, they can’t keep his current massive deal on the books given their current situation.

Las Vegas Raiders: Tahir Whitehead

Potential Savings: $6.25 million ($1,041,668 dead cap) – Tahir Whitehead is one of many pieces that the Raiders have brought in over the years to try and aid a lacking linebacker group. A solid veteran, Whitehead looked the part in the 2019 season. But with him being due north of $7 million in the 2020 season and with the draft capital Las Vegas has, it doesn’t seem to make sense for them to roll forward with Whitehead on the roster.

Los Angeles Chargers: Russell Okung

Potential Savings: $13,187,500 ($3,519,318 dead cap) – When healthy in recent years, Russell Okung has been a great player for the Chargers. But health has been an issue for Okung over his career and, with what he’s being paid and the state of the Bolts’ offensive line, that’s a tough place to be.

Frankly, I’d like to see the Chargers renegotiate his contract to save some money. But if they can’t, going into the 2020 season with him taking that big of a cap hit is something LA can’t really afford.

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