The Super Bowl confetti may still be clinging to cleats, but for NFL front offices, the offseason grind is already in full swing. The calendar waits for no one.
With the Scouting Combine just around the corner and the new league year kicking off on March 11, teams are under pressure to make tough financial decisions. That means it’s officially cap casualty season-where even productive veterans can find themselves on the chopping block if their contracts no longer align with a team’s future plans.
Let’s break down some of the biggest names who could be on the move-or out the door entirely-as the numbers take center stage.
Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons
The Kirk Cousins era in Atlanta may be wrapping up before it ever truly got off the ground. While the veteran quarterback did manage to lead a few wins late in the year, the financial reality of his contract has become a major obstacle for the Falcons’ roster-building efforts.
Cousins’ deal was always backloaded, and now it’s ballooning into something that’s tough to justify. The key number here?
A jaw-dropping $67.9 million bonus that activates if he’s still on the roster past mid-March. That’s a massive check to cut for a quarterback on the back nine of his career-especially with Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings, even as he recovers from an ACL tear.
Cousins still has value as a veteran presence-possibly even as a bridge starter-but at this price point, Atlanta is likely to move on. The Falcons would take the dead cap hit and hit reset, leaving Cousins to navigate a market that may no longer see him as a franchise cornerstone, but rather as a high-end insurance policy.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
This one would send shockwaves through the league. Tyreek Hill has been the heartbeat of Miami’s offense, a human highlight reel who can flip a game in a single play. But the NFL salary cap doesn’t care about past glory or YouTube-worthy touchdowns-especially when injuries and age start creeping in.
Hill is coming off a tough season, one hampered by a significant knee injury. He’s also heading into his age-32 campaign, a critical age for a player whose game is built on elite, game-breaking speed.
For Miami, the math is hard to ignore. By designating Hill as a post-June 1 release, the Dolphins would free up $35 million in cap space. That’s the kind of money that can reshape a roster-fortify a defense, upgrade the offensive line, or even set the stage for a quarterback transition.
While a trade might’ve been ideal, Hill’s recent injury clouds his value on the market. With Tua Tagovailoa’s future uncertain, Miami could be staring down a full-scale offensive retool. Cutting ties with Hill would be a bold move-but potentially a necessary one.
Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans
Joe Mixon’s situation in Houston is a reminder of how quickly things can change in the NFL-especially at running back. After missing the entire 2025 season with a foot injury, Mixon finds himself on shaky ground.
General Manager Nick Caserio hasn’t said much publicly, calling the injury a freak occurrence, but the silence speaks volumes. Availability is everything in this league, and paying top dollar for a player who isn’t suiting up just doesn’t add up.
The Texans have depth in the backfield and saw flashes from younger, cheaper options throughout the year. Cutting Mixon would free up around $8 million in cap space-money that could be put to use elsewhere on a roster looking to make a leap.
Mixon has been a workhorse in the past, but with no guarantees he’ll return to form, Houston seems poised to move on and invest in fresher legs through the draft or free agency.
L’Jarius Sneed, CB, Tennessee Titans
Sometimes, even the best-laid plans don’t pan out. The Titans brought in L’Jarius Sneed hoping to stabilize their secondary, but instead, they’ve been left with more questions than answers.
Sneed has struggled to stay on the field, appearing in just 12 games over two seasons. A degenerative knee condition has clearly impacted his performance, and in a position that demands quick-twitch athleticism and fluid movement, that’s a major red flag.
Tennessee now has a chance to cut bait and recoup some cap space-$11.4 million, to be exact. For a team in the midst of a rebuild, that’s money that can be better spent plugging multiple roster holes.
Sneed’s talent isn’t in question, but his availability and long-term viability are. The Titans need to get younger, healthier, and faster, and parting ways with Sneed seems like a logical step in that process.
Stefon Diggs, WR, New England Patriots
Stefon Diggs’ time in New England might end as quickly as it began. On paper, he delivered-topping 1,000 receiving yards and helping the Patriots pull out some close wins. But when the lights were brightest in the postseason, Diggs faded.
His playoff production didn’t match his price tag, and for a team looking for a true alpha receiver, that’s a problem.
The structure of Diggs’ contract tells the real story. There’s no guaranteed money left, meaning the Patriots can move on without much financial blowback. And with Diggs turning 33 this upcoming season, the question becomes whether his best days are behind him.
New England is in the middle of a youth movement, and paying top dollar for a veteran whose explosive playmaking is starting to wane doesn’t align with their trajectory. The sideline frustrations, the drop in big plays-this feels like a natural point of separation.
Bottom Line
This is the cold, calculated side of the NFL. As teams prepare for a new league year, they’re forced to make decisions that go beyond box scores and Pro Bowl nods. Contracts, injuries, and timelines all collide, and the result is a wave of veteran talent hitting the open market.
It’s a harsh reality, but also an opportunity-for teams to retool, for players to find fresh starts, and for fans to see just how quickly the NFL landscape can shift.