The NFL salary cap is on the rise again - and this time, it’s a big one. League officials have informed teams that the 2026 cap is projected to land somewhere between $301.2 million and $305.7 million. That’s a jump of over $20 million from 2025’s figure of $279.2 million, and nearly $100 million more than the $208.2 million cap just four seasons ago in 2022.
For teams like the Dallas Cowboys, that kind of spike opens up new possibilities - but it doesn’t erase existing problems. According to OverTheCap, Dallas is currently $31.4 million over the projected salary cap. That’s not a small hole to climb out of, especially with several key contributors due for a raise.
Kicker Brandon Aubrey, wide receiver George Pickens, and running back Javonte Williams are all coming off standout seasons in Dallas, and all three are expected to command significant new deals. Retaining even two of them would require some financial gymnastics.
Keeping all three? That’s going to take some tough decisions - and likely some painful ones.
The Cowboys have a few options. Restructuring contracts is the most obvious move, and they’ll almost certainly go that route with some veterans.
But restructuring only gets you so far. If Dallas wants to clear real room under the cap, they may have to part ways with some familiar names.
Let’s take a look at three veterans who could be cap casualties - not because they can’t still play, but because the math just doesn’t work anymore.
Kenny Clark: A Costly Luxury?
When Dallas pulled off the blockbuster Micah Parsons trade, Kenny Clark was part of the return package from Green Bay - a former Pro Bowler with a strong résumé and two first-round picks to boot. At the time, it looked like a win-win. Pairing Clark with Osa Odighizuwa gave the Cowboys a formidable duo on the interior - stout against the run and capable of collapsing the pocket from the inside.
But that picture changed quickly when Dallas doubled down and traded for Quinnen Williams. With Williams locked in on a long-term deal and Odighizuwa carrying a hefty dead cap hit ($32 million in 2026, $12 million in 2027), Clark suddenly became the odd man out.
He’s still a solid player, but the production has dipped - just four sacks and 26 quarterback pressures over the past two seasons. And with no dead money on his deal if he’s released, cutting Clark would free up $21 million in cap space. That’s a hard number to ignore, especially for a team that needs every dollar.
Malik Hooker: Youth Movement Incoming?
The Cowboys’ secondary could be in for a shake-up, especially with Christian Parker stepping in as the new defensive coordinator. Parker has a strong track record of developing young defensive backs, and that could spell change at the safety position.
Malik Hooker, who turns 30 in April, has been a steady presence but hasn’t exactly been irreplaceable. Fellow veteran Donovan Wilson, also approaching his 30s, is set to hit free agency. Meanwhile, Juanyeh Thomas is a name to watch - a young safety who could take a leap under Parker’s guidance.
Add in the fact that Dallas is already being linked to top safety prospects in the upcoming draft - with Caleb Downs catching early buzz - and it’s easy to see how Hooker could be on the outside looking in. Releasing him would save the Cowboys $6 million and give them a fresh start at the back end of the defense.
Terence Steele: Tough Call on the Right Side
Dallas has long prided itself on building through the offensive line, and for the most part, it’s worked. Four of their five starters were drafted in the top three rounds, and three were first-rounders.
The lone exception? Right tackle Terence Steele, an undrafted gem out of Texas Tech who earned his way into the starting lineup - and then into a five-year, $86.8 million deal signed in 2023.
But since inking that contract, Steele’s performance has been inconsistent. He remains a strong run blocker, capable of moving defenders off the ball, but his pass protection has been a real concern. Too often, he’s allowed quick pressure off the edge - the kind that leaves Dak Prescott scrambling before plays can develop.
The numbers back it up. In 2026, Steele posted a 54.9 pass-blocking grade per PFF, ranking 75th out of 89 eligible tackles.
That’s not the kind of return you want on a major investment. Cutting Steele would clear $9 million in cap space - and if Dallas also moves on from Clark and Hooker, they could free up a total of $36 million.
Bottom Line
The Cowboys are staring down a cap crunch, even with the NFL’s financial boom. Keeping their rising stars - Aubrey, Pickens, and Williams - is going to require some hard choices. That means evaluating every contract, every position group, and every dollar.
Kenny Clark, Malik Hooker, and Terence Steele aren’t bad players. In fact, they’ve all been valuable at times.
But in the NFL, value is always weighed against cost. And for a team that’s $31.4 million in the red, those costs might be too high to justify.
The next few months in Dallas are going to be about more than just roster building - they’ll be about financial strategy, prioritization, and, yes, a few tough goodbyes.