The 2025 NFL free agent class is stacked with big-named stars at each premier position, but here’s the fun part: It’s about to get even more loaded with several prominent stars about to be released in cap-saving moves.
With the official league new year approaching, let’s dive into the 15 biggest NFL names most likely to get cut this offseason. Before we start, here is a hat tip to OvertheCap.com for all player contract details.
Who are the top NFL players likely to be cut this offseason?
Aaron Rodgers
After a disastrous season in Gotham, the New York Jets have decided to pull the plug on the Aaron Rodgers era. The four-time league MVP was informed by the new regime of head coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey that they’ll be moving in another direction.
Releasing Rodgers will cost the Jets $49 million in dead money. If he’s designated as a post-June 1 release, it’ll be $14 million in dead money for 2024 and $35 million for 2026. Or they can cut him pre-June 1st and take on the entire $49 million for 2025.
Either scenario is just fine for a team entering rebuilding mode. Rodgers’ age and contract make it tough to move him out via the trade route. And Rodgers should be happy to be released outright anyway since it’ll open up the pool of suitors.
His tenure in New York was short and not so sweet at all. But it’s not too late for a redemption tour and third act before he hangs up the cleats for good.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Davante Adams
Imagine being told a few years ago that Rodgers and Adams would both be released in the same NFL offseason. Well, it’s not just a possibility — but the most likely outcome here.
A mid-season trade for Adams did nothing to inject the Jets’ offense. As he enters the twilight years of his career, you gotta think Adams would be more than happy to be released so that he can pursue a ring elsewhere. And really, would anyone be surprised if he and Rodgers joined forces elsewhere?
The Jets would save $29.8 million if they released Adams before June 1. That’s an easy call for Glenn and Mougey, and Adams would immediately jump into the top 10 of available free agents.
Derek Carr
The New Orleans Saints are the golden standard of how NOT to run a football team when your Hall of Fame quarterback retires — and when your Hall of Fame coach departs.
The Saints have now missed the playoffs in four straight years yet continue to operate as if they’re in title contention every year. With a new head coach in Kellen Moore calling the shots, might he get through to ownership and GM Mickey Loomis about the need to rebuild?
If so, the Saints can start by releasing starting quarterback Derek Carr, who hasn’t provided much since signing a $150 million contract in 2023.
Cutting Carr post-June 1st would save the Saints $30 million against the cap in 2025 with a dead money charge of $21.58 million. They would have dead money charges of $11.458 million for 2026 and 2027 but also save a whopping $50 million in cap space for next year.
The Denver Broncos cut Russell Wilson last year and ate up a record $85 million dead money charge. They got their next franchise QB in Bo Nix, so Sean Payton and company aren’t sweating the whole dead money thing.
The Saints should consider a similar path. If they can find another quarterback, they really like this NFL offseason, just bite the bullet and move on from Carr already. This roster needs an overhaul, and cutting the 34-year-old QB is a nice start.
Deebo Samuel
During Super Bowl 59 weekend, it was reported that the San Francisco 49ers gave Samuel and his agent permission to seek a trade. The 2021 All-Pro had a down season that saw him finish with just 51 catches for 670 yards and three touchdowns.
Samuel is entering the final season of a three-year extension he signed in 2022. The 49ers offense has more than enough firepower with Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Jauan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall, so they can easily get by without Samuel.
If the 49ers designate Samuel as a post-June 1st release, they’ll save $5.1 million against the cap. With a Brock Purdy extension looming, that would be a very helpful cash dump by GM John Lynch.
Joey Bosa
Bosa’s name appeared frequently last year on lists of potential big-name cap casualties, but he agreed to a restructured deal to remain with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Well, Bosa had a down 2024 campaign that saw him log just five sacks in 14 games. The oft-injured Bosa has now failed to log double-digit sacks in four of the last five seasons, suggesting that he really may be past his best-before date.
If the Bolts cut or trade Bosa, they save $25.36 million against the cap. Honestly, how could Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz say no to that? Bosa will most likely get cut unless he agrees to a massive hometown discount.
Jaire Alexander
The All-Pro cornerback is a virtual lock to be let go by the Green Bay Packers after another season riddled with injuries.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported that the Packers have become frustrated with his injury history…and let’s not forget that he told reporters he had “nothing good to say” after their playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Alexander is still a difference-maker when healthy, but the Packers had a top-10 defense, with him missing all but seven games. Cutting him before June 1st can save $6.838 million against the cap – or a whopping $17 million post-June 1st.
Christian Kirk
After a career year in his first season with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022, Kirk has been limited to 20 total games over the last two seasons.
With Brian Thomas Jr. emerging as the Jaguars’ top wide receiver in 2025, it’s hard to envision bringing Kirk back — especially on his current cap hit of $24 million. If the Jaguars release the one-time 1,000-yard receiver, they’ll clear up $10.437 million in cap space.
Jacksonville needs to address its offensive line, front seven, and cornerback room this NFL offseason. They have enough weapons to survive without Kirk, so expect the former Arizona Cardinal to hit free agency.
Marcus Williams
The former Saints stalwart safety fell out of favor in Baltimore and was inactive for the team’s final five regular-season games and two postseason contests. In January, Williams agreed to a significant contract adjustment that makes his pending release much easier for GM Eric DeCosta.
By designating Williams as a post-June 1st release, Baltimore would save $2.1 million against the cap. It’s not much, but it’s better than keeping a player who obviously needs a new home after becoming a liability in their secondary.
Von Miller
After the worst season of his career that saw the two-time Super Bowl champion log zero sacks, Miller semi-bouned back with six sacks in 13 regular-season games.
But for the second straight year, Miller also played just one-third of the Buffalo Bills’ defensive snaps in games that he suited up for. The Buffalo defense underachieved in 2025, so you can expect a reset here by Sean McDermott and company.
Releasing Miller ASAP saves the Bills $8.397 million. After June 1st, that number jumps to $17.44 million. Buffalo could find a trade partner for the future Hall of Famer, but Miller would have to agree to a major contract restructure for that to happen.
The likeliest outcome is Miller’s release and him going to the open market for the second time in his career.
Braden Smith
Few NFL teams need a drastic shake-up to their core in the offseason more than the Indianapolis Colts, who have now missed the playoffs in four consecutive years.
The offensive line has been a strength for a while now, but committing all that money and resources to the trenches hasn’t made up for the lackluster quarterback play or problems on defense.
Star offensive tackle Braden Smith is entering the last season of his contract but carries too high of a cap hit at $19.75 million. If the Colts release the fan favorite, they save themselves $16.75 million against the cap.
Smith has been a key cog on the offensive line alongside Ryan Kelly and Quenton Nelson. If he hits the open market, there will be plenty of interest in a stud offensive tackle who’s only entering his age-29 season.
But the Colts will likely cut ties here and spend that money on other positions of need in the NFL offseason.
Marshon Lattimore
The Washington Commanders may have made a surprise trip to the NFC Championship Game with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels leading the charge, but the former Saints superstar certainly didn’t contribute much to the Cinderella run.
Washington gave up three picks to New Orleans — including a third-round selection — to acquire Lattimore before the trade deadline. Injuries limited Lattimore to two regular-season contests, but woof was he ever lit up like a cigar in his three playoff outings.
Per Pro Football Reference, Lattimore allowed 10 of 14 passes to be completed when targeted for 154 yards and a touchdown. Remember, Mike Evans absolutely destroyed him in the Wild Card Round.
Cutting Lattimore would save Washington $18 million against the cap, and they wouldn’t take on a penny in dead money charges. Unless he’s agreeing to a giant hometown discount, expect Lattimore to be released into free agency for the first time in his career.
Darius Slay
“Big Play Slay” finally got the last thing eluding his borderline Hall of Fame career: A Super Bowl 59 ring with the Philadelphia Eagles crushing the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in the big game.
However, as is the case with most Super Bowl champions, the Eagles have to make the difficult choice of bidding farewell to several key contributors to get under the cap. As much as this would sting the Eagles locker room and fanbase, cutting the six-time Pro Bowler is the wise move to remain under the cap.
If the Eagles make Darius Slay a post-June 1 roster cut, they’ll save $4.324 million against the cap. The emergence of rookie cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell makes it that much easier to cut Slay and get out of his $13.765 million cap hit.
Tyler Lockett
This is another case of “it would be a shock if it didn’t happen.”
Lockett has been a mainstay on the Seattle Seahawks’ offense since his 2015 rookie season. But the four-time 1,000-yard receiver has fallen short of 1K in consecutive seasons now, and he finished with only 49 catches for 600 yards and two touchdowns in 2024.
DK Metcalf has been the Seahawks’ No. 1 receiver since 2019, but Lockett is no longer his sidekick. That notion now belongs to rising star Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the Seahawks across the board with 100 receptions for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns.
With Lockett entering the final year of his contract, the Seahawks can save a mammoth $17 million against the cap by releasing the 32-year-old. How do you pass on that opportunity if you’re GM John Schneider this NFL offseason?
Mark Andrews
No, Andrews isn’t on this list because of his two costly mistakes in the Ravens’ Divisional Round loss to the Bills. Even if Baltimore went on to win the Super Bowl, Andrews would still be on this list.
Baltimore’s three-time Pro Bowl tight end hasn’t come close to repeating the career year he posted in 2021, when he caught 107 passes for 1,361 yards and nine touchdowns. In 2024, Andrews had 55 catches for only 673 yards — albeit a career-high 11 touchdowns.
Derrick Henry is Lamar Jackson’s go-to playmaker now. Zay Flowers is the No. 1 pass-catcher in Baltimore, and 2021 first-rounder Rashod Bateman is coming off the best season of his career.
The Ravens would save $11 million against the cap by releasing a guy who’s now merely the No. 4 weapon in their offense.
Cooper Kupp
On Feb. 3, Kupp announced on X/Twitter that the Los Angeles Rams plan to trade him in the NFL offseason. The Super Bowl 56 MVP noted that the two sides will work together to find the right trade destination for him.
But Kupp will have limited suitors on the trade market, given his age, injury history and mammoth $29.78 million cap hit. If the two sides can’t find the right fit, the Rams will release Kupp and let him find his new home through free agency.
Releasing him now saves $7.52 million against the cap, but the number grows to $15 million if they make him a post-June 1st release. Too much money for GM Les Snead to pass up, and the Rams can find an upgrade in the deep free-agent class of receivers.
