Written Steven Ruiz at ForTheWin.com
With less than a month before free agency starts, NFL teams will be scrambling over the next few weeks to clear as much cap space as possible. Here are 25 players who could fall victim to a salary dump, in order of how much money their teams would save by making the move.
1. Robert Griffin III, QB Washington ($16.5 million)
I almost left Griffin off this list, because, at this point, it’s a given he will be released. Just three years ago he was lighting up the league as a rookie. Now he’s an obvious cut.
2. Mario Williams, DE Bills ($12.9 million)
Reports surfaced late last season that Buffalo was leaning toward releasing the four-time Pro Bowler. Williams was an awkward fit in Rex Ryan’s defensive scheme and publicly questioned his role in it.
3. Chris Long, DE Rams ($11.8 million)
At 30, Long is past his prime and his play on the field no longer justifies the $14.2 million salary he’s in line to get in 2016. He has just four sacks in 18 games over the last two seasons.
4. Matt Kalil, LT Vikings ($11.1 million)
Kalil finds himself in a similar situation as RGIII. After a good rookie season, he’s struggled. The Vikings picked up his fifth-year option just in case he was able to bounce back in 2015. That didn’t happen, and now he’s likely to be released with no cap penalty going to the Vikings.
5. Charles Johnson, DE Panthers ($11 million)
Carolina has been waiting to get out from under Johnson’s massive deal ever since he signed it in 2011. Former GM Marty Hurney overpaid to keep an above average pass rusher on the roster, and it’s been crippling the team’s cap ever since. Johnson had only one sack in 2015.
To continue reading this article, click here.
