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NFL players who could be salary-cap casualties this offseason

The NFL salary cap causes teams to make tough decisions cutting veterans each offseason. These 25 players could be salary-cap casualties this offseason.

1 of 25

Nelson Agholor, WR, Patriots

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The Patriots might have buyer's remorse after signing Agholor for $16 million guaranteed last offseason. He caught only 37 passes in 2021 and could save New England $5 million if he's cut.

2 of 25

Cole Beasley, WR, Bills

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Beasley remains an effective slot receiver, but he's entering his age 33 season and saw his production plummet last year. It would be an easy decision for Buffalo to cut him and save $6.1 million.

3 of 25

Cameron Brate, TE, Buccaneers

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It wouldn't be great timing for the Bucs to cut Brate with the potential retirement of Rob Gronkowski, but the cap savings makes it likely. Tampa would save over $5.3 million next season and over $6.5 million in 2023.

4 of 25

Bryan Bulaga, RT, Chargers

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Bulaga has been injured for most of his two seasons in LA and would save the Chargers $10.75 million if he's cut. It seems like an easy decision for the team.

5 of 25

Chris Carson, RB, Seahawks

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The thought that a player can't lose his job to injury could be disproven again with Carson's situation. He played only four games last season, while former first-round pick Rashaad Penny shined late in the year. Carson could save the team over $3.4 million if he's cut.

6 of 25

Randall Cobb, WR, Packers

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Cobb was acquired in training camp as seemingly a favor to Aaron Rodgers. He had only 28 catches in 12 games, and cutting him would save the Packers over $6.7 million.

7 of 25

Landon Collins, S, Commanders

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Collins has struggled since joining Washington in 2019, and it could be to the point that the team is better off without him. The Commanders would save nearly $6.5 million in 2022 and almost $26 million over the following two seasons by moving on from Collins.

8 of 25

Frank Clark, DE, Chiefs

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Clark has one of the worst contracts in the NFL, seeing his play deteriorate over the last two years along with off-field issues. The Chiefs would save $12.7 million in 2022 and $21 million in 2023 by cutting Clark.

9 of 25

Mike Davis, RB, Falcons

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Davis signed to be Atlanta's starting running back last season, but he was upstaged by Cordarrelle Patterson. After averaging only 4.2 yards per touch in 2021, the Falcons wouldn't lose much by cutting Davis and would gain $2.5 million in cap space.

10 of 25

Jack Doyle, TE, Colts

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Doyle has been a staple in Indy, but he hasn't done much on the field over the last two years. The Colts save nearly $5.5 million by cutting Doyle this offseason.

11 of 25

Trey Flowers, DE, Lions

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An expensive holdover from the Matt Patricia regime, Flowers has played a total of 14 games over the last two seasons. He's an easy cut, as the Lions would save nearly $10.4 million in 2022 and $18 million in 2023.

12 of 25

Dee Ford, DE, 49ers

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Injuries continue to hinder Ford, who played only one game in 2020 and six games last season. While he was productive, the risk probably isn't worth the $2 million-plus San Francisco would save by cutting him.

13 of 25

Anthony Hitchens, LB, Chiefs

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Hitchens remained a valuable linebacker for the Chiefs last season, but the team has viable replacements with Nick Bolton and Willie Gay. The Chiefs can save nearly $8.5 million by cutting Hitchens before the final year of his contract.

14 of 25

Matthew Ioannidis, DT, Commanders

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Ioannidis has been overshadowed by Washington's bevy of first-round picks on their defensive line. They can't afford to keep everyone, and cutting Ioannidis would save nearly $6.9 million after he recorded only 2.5 sacks last season.

15 of 25

Myles Jack, LB, Jaguars

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Jack is the face of the Jacksonville defense, but the team could opt to be bolder in their rebuild by cutting him. Moving on from Jack would save $8.35 million in 2022 and $11.5 million in 2023.

16 of 25

Devon Kennard, LB, Cardinals

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Kennard has played sparingly in his two seasons with Arizona, but he's still receiving a significant salary. Arizona can save over $4.8 million by cutting him this offseason.

17 of 25

Taylor Lewan, LT, Titans

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Injuries have plagued Lewan over the last three seasons, and his play has slipped, as a result. Tennessee is likely to either cut or renegotiate Lewan's contract considering they would save $12.9 million in 2022 by cutting him.

18 of 25

Brandon Linder, OC, Jaguars

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Jacksonville's offensive needs to improve and get healthier. Linder has played only nine games in each of the last two seasons and would save the team $10 million if he's cut.

19 of 25

Michael Pierce, DT, Vikings

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After opting out of the 2020 season, Pierce played only eight games last season. Minnesota's defense could be in transition with a new coaching staff, and cutting Pierce would save the team $6.5 million.

20 of 25

Justin Pugh, OG, Cardinals

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Pugh has had a strong run over four seasons with the Cardinals, but his play has declined in his early 30's. Arizona can save nearly $10 million by cutting him.

21 of 25

Bradley Roby, CB, Saints

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Roby joined the Saints last year but played very sparingly over 14 games. No team in football has a worse cap situation than the Saints, and Roby could be one of their first cuts to save nearly $9.5 million.

22 of 25

Kyle Rudolph, TE, Giants

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The veteran Rudolph saw plenty of snaps last season for the Giants, but he had only 26 catches and one score. The team would gain $5 million by cutting him.

23 of 25

Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants

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Shepard suffered a torn Achilles in December while playing only his seventh game of the year. It's unfortunate timing, but Shepard's inability to stay healthy and the Giants deep wide receiver corps makes him a likely cut with a savings of over $4.5 million against the cap.

24 of 25

Alejandro Villanueva, OT, Ravens

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Baltimore appreciated Villanueva's versatility to play both tackle positions last season when they needed him, but his play wasn't great. The team can save $6 million by cutting the veteran.

25 of 25

Trae Waynes, CB, Bengals

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Cincinnati's secondary showed marked improvement in 2021 despite Waynes playing only four games due to injury. After missing most of the last two seasons, Cincinnati seems likely to cut him and save over $10.8 million.

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