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NFL players who could be salary-cap casualties this offseason
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

NFL players who could be salary-cap casualties this offseason

The NFL salary cap causes teams to make tough decisions cutting veterans each offseason. These 25 players could be salary-cap casualties this offseason.

 
1 of 25

Nelson Agholor, WR, Patriots

Nelson Agholor, WR, Patriots
Rich Barnes / USA Today Sports Images

The Patriots might have buyer's remorse after signing Agholor for $16 million guaranteed last offseason. He caught only 37 passes in 2021 and could save New England $5 million if he's cut.

 
2 of 25

Cole Beasley, WR, Bills

Cole Beasley, WR, Bills
Rich Barnes / USA Today Sports Images

Beasley remains an effective slot receiver, but he's entering his age 33 season and saw his production plummet last year. It would be an easy decision for Buffalo to cut him and save $6.1 million.

 
3 of 25

Cameron Brate, TE, Buccaneers

Cameron Brate, TE, Buccaneers
Eric Hartline / USA Today Sports Images

It wouldn't be great timing for the Bucs to cut Brate with the potential retirement of Rob Gronkowski, but the cap savings makes it likely. Tampa would save over $5.3 million next season and over $6.5 million in 2023.

 
4 of 25

Bryan Bulaga, RT, Chargers

Bryan Bulaga, RT, Chargers
Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today Sports Images

Bulaga has been injured for most of his two seasons in LA and would save the Chargers $10.75 million if he's cut. It seems like an easy decision for the team.

 
5 of 25

Chris Carson, RB, Seahawks

Chris Carson, RB, Seahawks
Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today Sports Images

The thought that a player can't lose his job to injury could be disproven again with Carson's situation. He played only four games last season, while former first-round pick Rashaad Penny shined late in the year. Carson could save the team over $3.4 million if he's cut.

 
6 of 25

Randall Cobb, WR, Packers

Randall Cobb, WR, Packers
Jay Biggerstaff / USA Today Sports Images

Cobb was acquired in training camp as seemingly a favor to Aaron Rodgers. He had only 28 catches in 12 games, and cutting him would save the Packers over $6.7 million.

 
7 of 25

Landon Collins, S, Commanders

Landon Collins, S, Commanders
Geoff Burke / USA Today Sports Images

Collins has struggled since joining Washington in 2019, and it could be to the point that the team is better off without him. The Commanders would save nearly $6.5 million in 2022 and almost $26 million over the following two seasons by moving on from Collins.

 
8 of 25

Frank Clark, DE, Chiefs

Frank Clark, DE, Chiefs
Denny Medley / USA Today Sports Images

Clark has one of the worst contracts in the NFL, seeing his play deteriorate over the last two years along with off-field issues. The Chiefs would save $12.7 million in 2022 and $21 million in 2023 by cutting Clark.

 
9 of 25

Mike Davis, RB, Falcons

Mike Davis, RB, Falcons
Brett Davis / USA Today Sports Images

Davis signed to be Atlanta's starting running back last season, but he was upstaged by Cordarrelle Patterson. After averaging only 4.2 yards per touch in 2021, the Falcons wouldn't lose much by cutting Davis and would gain $2.5 million in cap space.

 
10 of 25

Jack Doyle, TE, Colts

Jack Doyle, TE, Colts
Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today Sports Images

Doyle has been a staple in Indy, but he hasn't done much on the field over the last two years. The Colts save nearly $5.5 million by cutting Doyle this offseason.

 
11 of 25

Trey Flowers, DE, Lions

Trey Flowers, DE, Lions
Raj Mehta / USA Today Sports Images

An expensive holdover from the Matt Patricia regime, Flowers has played a total of 14 games over the last two seasons. He's an easy cut, as the Lions would save nearly $10.4 million in 2022 and $18 million in 2023.

 
12 of 25

Dee Ford, DE, 49ers

Dee Ford, DE, 49ers
Stan Szeto / USA Today Sports Images

Injuries continue to hinder Ford, who played only one game in 2020 and six games last season. While he was productive, the risk probably isn't worth the $2 million-plus San Francisco would save by cutting him.

 
13 of 25

Anthony Hitchens, LB, Chiefs

Anthony Hitchens, LB, Chiefs
Denny Medley / USA Today Sports Images

Hitchens remained a valuable linebacker for the Chiefs last season, but the team has viable replacements with Nick Bolton and Willie Gay. The Chiefs can save nearly $8.5 million by cutting Hitchens before the final year of his contract.

 
14 of 25

Matthew Ioannidis, DT, Commanders

Matthew Ioannidis, DT, Commanders
Jerome Miron / USA Today Sports Images

Ioannidis has been overshadowed by Washington's bevy of first-round picks on their defensive line. They can't afford to keep everyone, and cutting Ioannidis would save nearly $6.9 million after he recorded only 2.5 sacks last season.

 
15 of 25

Myles Jack, LB, Jaguars

Myles Jack, LB, Jaguars
Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today Sports Images

Jack is the face of the Jacksonville defense, but the team could opt to be bolder in their rebuild by cutting him. Moving on from Jack would save $8.35 million in 2022 and $11.5 million in 2023.

 
16 of 25

Devon Kennard, LB, Cardinals

Devon Kennard, LB, Cardinals
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Kennard has played sparingly in his two seasons with Arizona, but he's still receiving a significant salary. Arizona can save over $4.8 million by cutting him this offseason.

 
17 of 25

Taylor Lewan, LT, Titans

Taylor Lewan, LT, Titans
Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today Sports Images

Injuries have plagued Lewan over the last three seasons, and his play has slipped, as a result. Tennessee is likely to either cut or renegotiate Lewan's contract considering they would save $12.9 million in 2022 by cutting him.

 
18 of 25

Brandon Linder, OC, Jaguars

Brandon Linder, OC, Jaguars
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Jacksonville's offensive needs to improve and get healthier. Linder has played only nine games in each of the last two seasons and would save the team $10 million if he's cut.

 
19 of 25

Michael Pierce, DT, Vikings

Michael Pierce, DT, Vikings
Kareem Elgazzar / USA Today Sports Images

After opting out of the 2020 season, Pierce played only eight games last season. Minnesota's defense could be in transition with a new coaching staff, and cutting Pierce would save the team $6.5 million.

 
20 of 25

Justin Pugh, OG, Cardinals

Justin Pugh, OG, Cardinals
Scott Galvin / USA Today Sports Images

Pugh has had a strong run over four seasons with the Cardinals, but his play has declined in his early 30's. Arizona can save nearly $10 million by cutting him.

 
21 of 25

Bradley Roby, CB, Saints

Bradley Roby, CB, Saints
Stephen Lew / USA Today Sports Images

Roby joined the Saints last year but played very sparingly over 14 games. No team in football has a worse cap situation than the Saints, and Roby could be one of their first cuts to save nearly $9.5 million.

 
22 of 25

Kyle Rudolph, TE, Giants

Kyle Rudolph, TE, Giants
Danielle Parhizkaran / USA Today Sports Images

The veteran Rudolph saw plenty of snaps last season for the Giants, but he had only 26 catches and one score. The team would gain $5 million by cutting him.

 
23 of 25

Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants

Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants
Chris Pedota / USA Today Sports Images

Shepard suffered a torn Achilles in December while playing only his seventh game of the year. It's unfortunate timing, but Shepard's inability to stay healthy and the Giants deep wide receiver corps makes him a likely cut with a savings of over $4.5 million against the cap.

 
24 of 25

Alejandro Villanueva, OT, Ravens

Alejandro Villanueva, OT, Ravens
USA Today Images

Baltimore appreciated Villanueva's versatility to play both tackle positions last season when they needed him, but his play wasn't great. The team can save $6 million by cutting the veteran.

 
25 of 25

Trae Waynes, CB, Bengals

Trae Waynes, CB, Bengals
Ron Chenoy / USA Today Sports Images

Cincinnati's secondary showed marked improvement in 2021 despite Waynes playing only four games due to injury. After missing most of the last two seasons, Cincinnati seems likely to cut him and save over $10.8 million.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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