Cut Candidates For All 32 NFL Teams

Photo: Imagn Images

The NFL offseason continues to churn on, and some big decisions will need to be made by NFL teams here shortly. There's only so much money to go around, and some very talented players could be hitting the free-agent market sooner than later.

In this article, we'll look at one likely cut candidate for all 32 NFL teams.

Salary Cap Information courtesy of Over the Cap.

Arizona Cardinals: Robbie Anderson (WR)

The old regime in Arizona made a trade halfway through the 2022 NFL season to acquire Anderson. We know now that it didn't exactly go the way that they had hoped. Anderson amassed just 7 receptions for 76 yards and zero touchdowns in his 10 games with the team, and it's highly likely that he'll be playing elsewhere in 2023.

It's even more likely when you consider the amount of money that he's owed. This new front office will look to shake things up this offseason, and Anderson is likely going to be one of the first players out of the door.

• Dead Money: $0
• Salary Cap Savings: $12,000,000

Atlanta Falcons: Casey Hayward (CB)

Marcus Mariota could easily be the answer here based on his salary cap situation, but a backup veteran that's familiar with the system could be valuable to retain behind their young and unproven quarterback. Regardless of whether or not Mariota is released by the Falcons, though, Hayward's time in Atlanta is likely up.

He'll account for a $7,000,000 cap hit in 2023, and he was barely on the field last season for this defense. At 33 years of age, too, it's likely that Atlanta looks to a younger - and less expensive - alternative for the position via the NFL Draft or free agency.

• Dead Money: $2,000,000
• Salary Cap Savings: $5,000,000

Baltimore Ravens: Calais Campbell (iDL)

Campbell's one of the best interior defensive linemen to ever play the game, but Baltimore could consider moving on as he is now set to return for his 16th NFL season and carries a large cap hit for 2023. The veteran defensive lineman is set to account for a $9,440,000 cap hit this next year, and that's a lot to dedicate to Campbell when Baltimore's currently trying to determine how to retain their star quarterback.

Campbell's a great player, but he'll need to restructure his contract to remain with this team.

• Dead Money: $2,440,000
• Salary Cap Savings: $7,000,000

Buffalo Bills: Nyheim Hines (RB)

The Bills made a trade at the 2022 NFL Trade Deadline to bring in Hines from Indianapolis, which made it seem as though Hines was going to have a major role on offense. That didn't exactly manifest, though, and Hines was primarily a punt and kick returner for this team.

Buffalo has questions at RB going into 2023, but Hines' contract for just a special teams option could likely be best allocated elsewhere.

• Dead Money: $0
• Salary Cap Savings: $4,790,000

Carolina Panthers: Damien Wilson (LB)

It's a new coaching staff in Carolina, so only the top-tier players should be considered safe heading into 2023. Wilson signed a two-year deal this past offseason, but he went on to play just a mere 204 total snaps in 2022.

As Eijo Evero seeks to retool this defense with his guys, it's likely that Wilson will be released sooner than later.

• Dead Money: $1,075,000
• Salary Cap Savings: $3,610,000

Cincinnati Bengals: Tyler Boyd (WR)

There's a far greater likelihood that Boyd would be traded than outright released, but there's a strong possibility that the veteran slot receiver is not on this roster at the start of the 2023 NFL season.

Boyd has had some solid years of production during his seven-year NFL career, but he's now 28 years old and will count $10,300,000 against the salary cap this year. With a Tee Higgins contract extension incoming, it'd be the smart move for Cincinnati to move on from Boyd and replace him with one of the many slot receivers in this NFL Draft.

• Dead Money: $1,400,000
• Salary Cap Savings: $8,900,000

Chicago Bears: Justin Jones (iDL)

With over $90,000,000 in projected salary cap space already, the Bears really don't need to shed any bad contracts from their roster. However, they can move on from a player that underwhelmed in 2022 and that also accounts for the 3rd largest cap hit on the books for 2023.

Jones will account for $7,400,000 of the Bears' salary cap space this next season, and his production came nowhere close to that compensation. It's possible, with more talent around him, that Jones could live up to that contract, but GM Ryan Poles likely would want to use that money elsewhere on this rebuilding roster.

• Dead Money: $2,500,000
• Salary Cap Savings: $4,900,000

Cleveland Browns: Jordan Elliott (iDL)

The Browns need help on the defensive line, which makes this suggestion slightly puzzling. However, Elliott's production - or lack thereof - indicates that Cleveland would be best moving on and attempting to replace him with another option in free agency or the NFL Draft.

According to Pro Football Focus, Elliott ranked 158th out of 169 eligible defensive linemen for run defense grades (minimum of 100 snaps played). He was a complete liability out on the field in that area, and Cleveland will likely look to move on.

• Dead Money: $224,259
• Salary Cap Savings: $2,743,000

Dallas Cowboys: Neville Gallimore (iDL)

Despite Dallas' best efforts to shore up the interior of their defensive line over previous seasons, they've continued to swing and miss at the plate. Gallimore - a former 3rd round pick for the Cowboys - was a major liability in run defense this year.

According to Pro Football Focus, Gallimore ranked 164th out of 169 eligible defensive linemen for run defense grades (minimum of 100 snaps played). He'll likely find his way to the free agent market this offseason.

• Dead Money: $240,989
• Salary Cap Savings: $2,743,000

Denver Broncos: Graham Glasgow (iOL)

Glasgow wasn't terrible for Denver last season on the interior of the offensive line, but his contract is the biggest reason why he could be playing elsewhere in 2023.

Glasgow is slated to account for a whopping $14,000,000 against the cap for Denver in 2023, which is too much to allocate for a player that's not at the top of his position group. Denver's working with limited resources this offseason, and clearing Glasgow's contract off the books would help give them some wiggle room.

• Dead Money: $3,000,000
• Salary Cap Savings: $11,000,000

Detroit Lions: Michael Brockers (iDL)

Brockers was once considered one of the better players at his position several years ago, but he's seen a significant drop-off in production recently. After playing just a total of 123 total snaps in 2022, combined with his extremely high cap hit, it's only a matter of time before Brockers finds his way to the free-agent pool.

• Dead Money: $3,975,000
• Salary Cap Savings: $10,000,000

Green Bay Packers: Aaron Jones (RB)

Moving on from a player of Jones' caliber would not be an easy decision, but the Packers could be in some salary cap trouble if they do end up moving on from Aaron Rodgers. They'll need to make some other moves to create a bit of financial flexibility, and Jones could end up being a cap casualty.

There would need to be some cap gymnastics with this move, though, and potentially designating Jones as a post-June 1 release. If that were the case, the Packers would save $16,000,000 in 2023 while only taking on $4,000,000 in dead money.

• Dead Money: $9,552,000
• Salary Cap Savings: $10,461,000

Update: Jones has restructured his contract to remain with the team.

Houston Texans: Dare Ogunbowale (RB)

With this roster in the middle of a complete rebuild, there aren't many bad contracts on it that Houston needs to move on from. The front office's attention can solely be dedicated to adding talented players to this foundation now, which has to be a major priority this offseason.

The Texans have brought in multiple aging veterans at running back in previous seasons, and Ogunbowale has done very little to contribute during his stint with the team. It's a minor cap hit for 2023, but his roster spot should be dedicated to a younger - and more explosive - player.

• Dead Money: $150,000
• Salary Cap Savings: $1,400,000