Possible Cap Casualties - NFC South Edition

Justin's 2014 Mock Draft
Possible Cap Casualties - AFC East Edition
Possible Cap Casualties - NFC East Edition
Possible Cap Casualties - AFC North Edition
Possible Cap Casualties - NFC North Edition
Possible Cap Casualties - AFC South Edition

2014 Projected NFL Salary Cap: $126.3 million

NFC South:
Atlanta Falcons
2014 Projected Salary Cap: $121.2 million
Projected released players:

Tony Gonzalez (Team saves $7 million)

Gonzalez has announced his retirement, so the Falcons will actually receive an extra $8.75 million to spend.

Asante Samuel ($4.2 million)

Samuel's best playing days are behind him.  There are already rumors circulating that he will not be in Atlanta next season.

Steven Jackson ($1.8 million)

Jackson missed four games last season and had a career-low in yards per carry.  Atlanta may look for a younger replacement since Jackson will turn 31 this year.

Carolina Panthers
2014 Projected Salary Cap: $113.7 million
Projected released players:

Carolina is in one of the more unique position in the NFL.  Many players on their roster are young and don't command a high salary, while others still have guaranteed money in their contracts and releasing them would actually lose money for the team (DeAngelo Williams).  Carolina will make a few minor cuts, but nothing too serious.

Dwan Edwards ($1.4 million)

With the rise of Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei, Edwards is expendable.  He also turns 33 in May.

New Orleans Saints
2014 Projected Salary Cap: $140.2 million

Projected released players:

Will Smith ($11.6 million)

Smith missed all of 2013 following a preseason knee injury, but even before then his play has been regressing.  He has not had a double-digit sack season since 2009.  Smith turns 33 in July.

Roman Harper ($2.2 million)

Harper just turned 31 and was injured for much of 2013.  He stand to receive a large salary increase, so the Saints could just move on without him instead.

Jabari Greer ($3.2 million)

Greer is coming off of an ACL injury and turns 32 next month, New Orleans will likely restructure their secondary.

Lance Moore ($2.5 million)

Moore turns 31 this offseason and is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career.  A cheaper alternative in the draft can be found.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2014 Projected Salary Cap: $126.2 million

Projected released players:

Donald Penn ($7.4 million)

Penn has had his share of weight issues and inconsistency at left tackle.  With the new regime in place, they will likely rid themselves of Penn's awful contract.

Michael Koenen ($3.3 million)

Koenen finished 26th in net yards and 29th in punts inside the 20.  Koenen is paid way too much to not produce.

Gabe Carimi ($1.3 million)

Carimi didn't compete for a starting spot as expected in Tampa Bay.  With offensive line coach Bob Bostad officially out of Tampa Bay, the new regime will likely sever ties with him.

Possible Cap Casualties - AFC South Edition

Justin's 2014 Mock Draft
Possible Cap Casualties - AFC East Edition
Possible Cap Casualties - NFC East Edition
Possible Cap Casualties - AFC North Edition
Possible Cap Casualties - NFC North Edition

2014 projected NFL salary cap: $126.3 million

AFC South:
Houston Texans
2014 Projected Salary Cap: $125.8 million
Projected released players:

Matt Schaub (Team saves $4 million)

Schaub is done in Houston.  The fans pretty much ran him out of town when they arrived at his house during the season to ridicule him for his poor play.  New head coach Bill O'Brien will likely use the team's first overall pick on a quarterback.

Brice McCain ($850 thousand)

McCain doesn't make much of an impact in the Texans secondary.  Houston can find similar production in the draft at a cheaper price.

Indianapolis Colts
2014 Projected Salary Cap: $93.9 million
Projected released players:

Cory Redding ($3.5 million)

Redding just turned 33 and is overpaid for his lack of production/  Indianapolis should expect Bjoern Werner to take over Redding's role next season.

Darius Butler ($2.5 million)

Butler has been too inconsistent of a player for the Colts to pay him as much as they do.  

Jacksonville Jaguars

2014 Projected Salary Cap: $95.3 million
Projected released players:

Jason Babin ($6.2 million)

Babin is long removed from the 2010-11 stretch where he notched 30.5 sacks.  He can still provide a pass rush threat, but not at the salary he is commanding. Babin turns 34 in May.

Roy Miller ($2.7 million)

Miller is coming off of back-to-back poor seasons and could be replaced this spring.

Tennessee Titans

2014 Projected Salary Cap: $127.9 million
Projected released players:

Chris Johnson ($4 million)

After Johnson's 2,000 yard campaign in 2009, he regressed into an average back who became way overpaid.  Now the team needs to create some cap room and he will likely not return.

Kamerion Wimbley ($2.4 million)

Wimbley's sack totals have decreased in each of the past four seasons and Tennessee is moving to a 3-4 scheme. 

David Stewart ($6.4 million)

Stewart turns 32 this August and has become a major topic of discussion for release.  Though he has regressed, he is still a talented right tackle.

Nate Washington ($4.8 million)

Washington will turn 31 this offseason and is not a starting-caliber receiver anymore.  Tennessee will likely find his replacement in the draft.

Possible Cap Casualties - NFC North Edition

Justin's 2014 Mock Draft
Possible Cap Casualties - AFC East Edition
Possible Cap Casualties - NFC East Edition
Possible Cap Casualties - AFC North Edition

2014 projected NFL salary cap: $126.3 million

NFC North:
Chicago Bears
2014 Projected Salary Cap: $120 million
Projected released players:

Julius Peppers (Team Saves $9.8 million)

Peppers just turned 34 and is coming off of his worst season since 2007.  Chicago is mulling their future with him, but I think it is more likely that they restructure his deal.

Lance Briggs ($5.5 million)

Briggs recently turned 33 and has undergone a steady decline in production.  Chicago could look towards the draft to bring in his replacement.

Earl Bennett ($2.5 million)

Bennett has been replaced by Alshon Jeffery on the offense and his numbers have dropped every year since his rookie season.  His 7.6 yards per reception was ranked 141st out of 152 eligible receivers.

Detroit Lions
2014 Projected Salary Cap: $131.6 million
Projected released players:

Nate Burleson ($5.5 million)

Burleson turns 33 this summer and isn't worth the high salary he has in Detroit.  The Lions need to find a more reliable no. 2 receiver.

Mikel Leshoure ($843 thousand)

Leshoure is frustrated in Detroit, who he has fallen out of favor with.  He is expendable following the team's signing of Reggie Bush, but Joique Bell is a free agent so the team may draft another running back as well.

Green Bay Packers

2014 Projected Salary Cap: $111.5 million
Projected released players:

Brad Jones ($2 million)

Green Bay needs help on the interior of their linebacking core, where AJ Hawk is aging and Jones' play has been subpar.  Green Bay has been rumored to seek a middle linebacker earlier in the draft.

Jarrett Bush ($1.7 million)

Bush played well when he reverted to the dime role until the playoffs, where his blown assignment allowed Colin Kaepernick to run wild on a third and eight situation that ultimately led to the 49ers win.  Bush's salary makes him expendable.

Minnesota Vikings

2014 Projected Salary Cap: $103.5 million
Projected released players:

Matt Cassel ($3.7 million)

Minnesota has brought in a new head coach who will likely clean house at quarterback.  Cassel's high salary makes him expendable.

Erin Henderson ($2 million)

Henderson has been arrested twice since November for DUI.  New head coach Mike Zimmer may look to make a statement about responsibility by releasing him.

John Carlson ($2 million)

Carlson is not the team's feature tight end and is making a high salary at the team's no. 2.  Kyle Rudolph makes him expendable.

Possible Cap Casualties - AFC North Edition

Justin's Current Mock Draft
Possible Cap Casualties - AFC East Edition
Possible Cap Casualties - NFC East Edition

2014 projected NFL salary cap: $126.3 million

AFC North:
Baltimore Ravens
2014 Projected Salary Cap: $112 million
Projected released players:

Sam Koch (Team saves $1.6 million)

Koch's net yard average was ranked 23rd in the NFL.  Baltimore could seek a cheaper alternative in the draft.

Cincinnati Bengals
2014 Projected Salary Cap: $114.6 million
Projected released players:

Leon Hall ($5.1 million)

Hall is coming off of a major Achilles injury that cost him the 2013 season.  Hall's salary could force the team to release him.

Jermaine Gresham ($3.6 million)

Gresham never developed into the player the Bengals envisioned him to be.  Last April, the team drafted Tyler Eifert, who makes Gresham expendable.

Terence Newman ($2 million)

Newman turns 36 in September and doesn't have much left in the tank.  The team may look into overhauling their secondary this offseason.

Cleveland Browns
2014 Projected Salary Cap: $104.9 million
Projected released players:

Jason Campbell ($3.3 million)

The Browns have finally found their head coach and there is a good chance he will clean house at the mess of a quarterback situation that he has been handed.  Campbell's salary could dictate his release.

Greg Little ($829 thousand)

Rumor has it that Rob Chudzinski was fired because he refused to release Greg Little and Shawn Lauvao.  Lauvao is a free agent, but Little could be with a new team next season.

Pittsburgh Steelers

2014 Projected Salary Cap: $138.9 million
Projected released players:

Ike Taylor ($7 million)

Taylor turns 34 in May and has had a steady decline in production.  Pittsburgh could really use the salary savings.

Heath Miller ($6 million)

A fan favorite, Miller's high salary could force the team to cut him.  Miller will also turn 31 this year and has seen a decline in production this season.

Troy Polamalu ($8.3 million)

It's more likely that the Steelers will restructure Polamalu's contract, but his cap number is absurdly high and the team needs to fix it.

Levi Brown ($6.3 million)

Steelers lost Levi Brown almost as soon as they acquired him, but his high salary may force them to release him.  Brown has never lived up to the billing as a fifth overall draft selection.

Possible Cap Casualties - NFC East Edition

Justin's Current 2014 Mock Draft
Possible Cap Casualties - AFC East Edition

2014 Projected NFL Salary Cap: $126.3 Million

Dallas Cowboys
2014 Projected Salary Cap: $143 million
Projected released players:

Dallas is in horrible shape cap-wise entering this offseason.  What makes it even worse is that there are not many players who can provide the Cowboys with salary relief.

DeMarcus Ware (Team saves $7.4 million)

Before I continue, no, I do not think Dallas is releasing Ware, but they do need to restructure his contract.  His cap number is $16 million, something Dallas is going to be desperate to fix.

Kyle Orton ($1 million)

Dallas will need to explore a cheaper alternative for their backup quarterback, likely through the draft.

Mackenzy Bernadeau ($1.4 million)

Bernadeau's salary escalates significantly this season and could force the Cowboys to make him expendable.

New York Giants
2014 Projected Salary Cap: $117 million
Projected released players:

Chris Snee ($7.3 million)

Snee just turned 32 and is coming off of a season ending hip injury.  It may be more likely that Snee restructures his contract, especially when you fact that Snee is married to head coach Tom Coughlin's daughter.

Brandon Myers ($3.3 million)

Over the past few seasons, the Giants have had a revolving door at tight end.  Myers did not have a stellar season in New York last year and with the salary relief he provides, the team could look for a new safety valve for Eli Manning.

Philadelphia Eagles
2014 Projected Salary Cap: $124.5 million
Projected released players:

Cary Williams ($3.1 million)

Williams was awful last season in Philadelphia.  The Eagles need some salary relief to he could be an easy option to release.

Brent Celek ($4.1 million)

Celek's high cap number along with the addition of Zach Ertz last season make him expendable.  Celek has no guaranteed money in his contract.

Jason Avant ($3.3 million)

Avant has a high salary for a guy who is the no. 4 receiver on the team.  Avant is expendable, especially if the Eagles draft another wide receiver early.

Arrelious Benn ($1 million)

Benn has an unreasonably high salary for a no. 5 receiver who only caught four passes all season.

Washington Redskins

2014 Projected Salary Cap: $115.9 million
Projected released players:

Josh Morgan ($6.3 million)

Morgan failed to reach the end zone last season and only averaged 10.7 yards per catch.  With a salary as high as his, it is unlikely he returns to Washington.

London Fletcher ($4.1 million)

Fletcher already announced his retirement, so this is just to announced the team's salary relief.

Brandon Meriweather ($2.2 million)

Meriweather has a penchant for being a dirty, overrated player.  Under Jay Gruden, the team may look to move on and find a new strong safety.