NFL Free Agency: Who are some remaining potential cap casualties?

Things are quieting down on the free agency market. While there are plenty of projected top-200 free agents still available to sign, and teams have nearly a collective billion dollars left in available cap space, per Over The Cap’s latest projections, clubs are now turning their attention to another matter: internal restructures. If you’ve been paying attention in recent days, the restructures are coming in faster while the signings are slowing down.

This is sort of the third wave of the free agency cycle. The first was the two-day legal tampering period (Monday and Tuesday), when the top free agents were all scooped up. The second wave came when the first day of the new league year started on Wednesday, when teams needed to become cap-compliant for the first time in 2026 and executed their releases of cap casualties, who were then finally able to sign with other teams.

Now, the third wave focuses on this staring contest between teams and their own players. There are more expenses to come for clubs, as they’ll need around a $7 million piggybank to make it through the season (the cost to go from the offseason 51-man salary cap to the in-season cost of the full 53-man roster, injured reserve, 17-man practice squad, signing their rookie draft class, plus some wiggle room) and have in-season extensions to pay for, too. But, for now, teams are holding onto players whom they don’t want to pay at their current rate for 2026, but the players also aren’t being allowed to hit the open market while cap dollars are being depleted. That’s the strength of clubs’ leverage when they’re approaching these same players and asking them if they’re willing to take less to remain on the team. If the players say no, there’s a risk that the team will still end up releasing them down the line, but when other clubs have used up even more of their available cap space. (See: Alexander, Jaire – 2025)

We have you covered on the cap casualty front, as we have a tracker that lets you know whenever one of these players, who have played at least one offensive or defensive snap in 2025, becomes available. But who are the players who could potentially become available down the line when teams’ circumstances change? That’s what we’re here to show you today.

Back in January, Over The Cap dropped their 100 most likely cap casualties. As of now, nearly half of them have had their situations change, either by a trade, release, restructure or retirement. There’s not a 100 percent chance that these players become available at some point this offseason (they have the Green Bay Packers’ Josh Jacobs and Keisean Nixon making the list, for example), but it’s a good watchlist to keep track of.

Let’s go position-by-position, looking at the remaining players from OTC’s top 100 and who could be available down the line.

Quarterbacks

Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are probably expecting Jacoby Brissett to be their starting quarterback in 2026, despite signing Gardner Minshew in free agency. Maybe Brissett is available post-draft, if the Cardinals take a quarterback early, but I wouldn’t expect Brissett to be moved before then.

The other interesting one here is Justin Fields, who is due $10 million guaranteed from the New York Jets in 2026. As he’s unlikely to sign more from that on the open market, he’s incentivized to make the Jets pay that money as close to full, taking a minimum contract with his next club. Every dollar he signs for with his next team will just offset money for the Jets, rather than make Fields more money in 2026 (unless he makes more than $10 million this year, which seems very unlikely). As of now, the Jets seem to be fine squatting on Fields’ contract, despite the cap hold, in hopes of a contract restructure or a trade down the line, but it seems highly unlikely that New York will actually pay him the $20 million he’s due ($10 million guaranteed) as a backup with the Jets this year.

Running Backs

The New Orleans Saints signed running back Travis Etienne to a big contract in free agency, and I’m going to assume the team moves off Alvin Kamara at some point this year. The Saints, ever innovative from a cap standpoint, found a loophole in the collective bargaining agreement that allowed them to drop Kamara’s salary cap number without actually having to guarantee him money like they would have if they converted his salary into a signing bonus. This seems to be a short-term move to squat on him, at a reduced cap rate, for a potential trade down the line. This mechanic can only be used in specific circumstances (the player must have already had void years on his deal prior), but I’d assume that it’ll be used more in the coming years now that Pandora’s box has been opened.

Receivers

Do not hold your breath that Davante Adams will be released.

Tight Ends

I’m including Dalton Schultz here, even though he’s in a weird spot. The Houston Texans and him agreed to a new contract restructure…but the NFL declined it without letting the public know what was wrong with the deal. He’s probably going to end back with the Texans, but technically his contract hasn’t officially been touched until the team submits a new deal that actually works with the league.

Offensive Linemen

Nick Allegretti, Commanders

Interior Defensive Linemen

Broderick Washington, Ravens
Roy Robertson-Harris, Giants
Tedarrell Slaton, Bengals

I’m putting Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner firmly with Davante Adams in the “they won’t be made available” category, even though Jacksonville’s salary cap situation is in a bit of a mess. Both would be 3-4 defensive ends for new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, anyway, roles that are highly likely to be filled by Devonte Wyatt and the recently-signed Javon Hargrave. The Packers should be more in the 3-4 nose tackle market than for someone who can help them at 3-4 end or in their nickel package (Hargrave can play nose tackle in nickel).

Edge Defenders

Anthony Nelson, Buccaneers
Baron Browning, Cardinals
Dorance Armstrong Jr., Commanders
Jonathan Greenard, Vikings
Patrick Jones II, Panthers

By all accounts, Jonathan Greenard is actively being shopped by the Minnesota Vikings. No trigger has been pulled yet, though.

Off-Ball Linebackers

Christian Elliss, Patriots

I heard from a league source that Patrick Queen was being shopped by the Pittsburgh Steelers going into free agency. I don’t think the Packers are going to add more to their linebacker room, though, unless they get a trade offer for Isaiah McDuffie that they like, as it’s going to be tough for them to keep more than five off-ball linebackers on the team, and they are fine with that fifth player being a special teams-only contributor.

Cornerbacks

The big one here is Marlon Humphrey, who is due $19.25 million in cash this year. He’s due a $4 million bonus on the fifth day of the new league year, which will be March 15th, so this one should be decided soon, one way or another. I’m assuming he stays in Baltimore. We’ll see.

Safeties

Jessie Bates III, Falcons

Kickers

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