Biggest 2026 NFL Cap Casualties do not get more violent than speed meeting surgery and money meeting reality. Hill still changes coverage with one motion. However, the contract gives Miami a lever few teams ever get with a superstar.
NFL Network reported on September 30, 2025 that Hill dislocated his knee and tore multiple ligaments, including his ACL, ending his season four games in. Reuters reported he finished those four games with 21 catches for 265 yards and one touchdown, then underwent surgery. Consequently, Miami enters 2026 needing both a medical rebound and a cap plan.
OverTheCap lists Hill’s 2026 cap number at $51.134044 million, with $36 million in cash due and zero in guarantees. A pre June 1 cut leaves $28.24875 million in dead money and opens $22.885294 million in cap savings. A Post June 1 designation drops 2026 dead money to $15.89875 million and opens $35.235294 million.
At the time, the question becomes brutally football specific. Does Hill regain the same acceleration after that knee injury. On the other hand, if he loses even a slice, Miami pays elite money for a different kind of receiver. Suddenly, the Dolphins must decide whether they trust the rehab, trust the track speed, and trust the bet.
The 295.5 million headline that still hides landmines
At the time, the projected 2026 salary cap sits at $295.5 million per OverTheCap’s January 2026 projection. That number sounds like breathing room. However, teams spend tomorrow’s room today.
Signing bonus proration lingers. Void years sit like IOUs. Dead money waits in the hallway and never blinks. Consequently, a club can “grow” the cap and still feel broke.
Miami and New Orleans carry the loudest pressure because both sit underwater on the 2026 cap space table at OverTheCap. Hours later, every high dollar veteran in those buildings becomes part of the same internal argument. Does the team chase savings now, or does it push pain into 2027 again. Despite the pressure, the cap does not force every cut. Front offices still choose their discomfort.
Washington and Arizona show the other version of the story. Both clubs project as cap healthy, even top ten in available room at OverTheCap. However, cap space does not equal cap laziness. A team with room can still cut to reallocate. A team with room can still decide that an aging contract blocks a younger core.
Before long, the league reaches the same fork it reaches every year. Pay for past production, or pay for the next plan.
What separates a tough conversation from an actual release
Because of this loss, fans often assume a team cuts only when it panics. However, clubs usually follow three signals that feel colder and more consistent.
Cash comes first. How much real cash hits the player’s pocket in 2026, and how much of that cash stays protected by guarantees. Consequently, a non guaranteed salary can turn a star into a bargaining chip.
Pain comes next. What does the team carry in dead money, and what does it save on the cap depending on timing. A Post June 1 designation can change everything, even when it changes nothing about the relationship.
Replacement closes the loop. Who takes the snaps, and does the scheme demand different traits now. A coordinator can prefer faster hips at corner. A line coach can want quicker get off inside. Years passed, and the league learned to treat those preferences like law.
With those three signals in mind, Biggest 2026 NFL Cap Casualties becomes less about vibes and more about pressure points. Ten names sit in the crosshairs for different reasons, and the reasons matter.
The 2026 cut board where film meets finance
At the time, every entry here carries at least one loud problem. Some carry two.
One player loses burst after an injury. Another player still plays well, yet his cap number crowds out a needed signing. A third player forces an ugly choice because his pre June 1 savings look small while his Post June 1 savings look tempting.
Consequently, these ten veterans fit the most common “risk versus reward” calculation for 2026. The list leans on OverTheCap contract tables for cap numbers, dead money, and savings, plus 2025 reporting from outlets like Reuters, NFL Network, Sports Illustrated, and local beat coverage for injuries and context. Hours later, the numbers will change for some players if teams restructure. The pressure will not change.
10. Dalvin Tomlinson, Cardinals
At the time, Tomlinson still stacks and sheds like a pro. However, the tape also shows a defender who wins later than he used to.
Early in games, he holds the point. Late in games, the first step looks heavier. Consequently, Arizona can chase a quicker interior profile without pretending Tomlinson stopped playing hard.
OverTheCap lists Tomlinson’s 2026 cap number at $16.2 million. A pre June 1 cut leaves $6.8 million in dead money and opens $9.4 million in cap savings. A Post June 1 move drops 2026 dead money to $1.7 million and frees $14.5 million.
Despite the pressure, Arizona does not need the money to survive. The Cardinals can use the money to chase disruption instead of sturdiness. Before long, this becomes a “who replaces the snaps” question, not a “who deserves respect” question.
9. Arik Armstead, Jaguars
Hours later, coaches still love Armstead’s effort on the edges of plays. He closes down screens. He crushes tight ends on split blocks. However, Jacksonville pays starter money for a body that may soon need starter rest.
In pass rush, he wins with length and hand placement. On the other hand, the burst does not always show up on third down the way it did earlier in his career. Consequently, the Jaguars can look at a younger rotational rusher and decide they can spread the work.
ESPN credits Armstead with 5.5 sacks. OverTheCap lists his 2026 cap number at $19.385 million. A pre June 1 release leaves $17.1 million in dead money and saves $2.285 million. A Post June 1 release drops 2026 dead money to $4.9 million and opens $14.485 million.
Because of this loss, timing becomes everything here. Jacksonville can keep Armstead and chase continuity. Suddenly, the Post June 1 lever makes the opposite choice look smarter on paper.
8. Aaron Jones, Vikings
At the time, Jones still sees cutback lanes before linebackers see them. He presses the hole, then snaps his foot into daylight. However, durability keeps grabbing the mic.
Sports Illustrated reported in December 2025 that Minnesota placed Jones on injured reserve after six games, with 78 carries for 206 yards and two touchdowns. That line reads like a season that never started. Consequently, the Vikings can view 2026 as a health bet more than a talent bet.
OverTheCap lists Jones’ 2026 cap number at $14.55 million. A cut leaves $6.8 million in dead money and clears $7.75 million in cap space.
Despite the pressure, Minnesota can choose a softer landing. A pay cut plus incentives can keep Jones in the building. Before long, the negotiation turns into a question of pride versus security.
7. Joe Mixon, Texans
Hours later, a running back room still wants Mixon’s contact balance. He falls forward. He finishes runs angry. However, 2025 turned his contract into a medical file.
Reuters reported in October 2025 that Mixon missed the season because of a rare foot condition. Consequently, Houston must decide how much it trusts a return to form.
OverTheCap lists Mixon’s 2026 cap number at $10 million. A pre June 1 cut leaves $2 million in dead money and opens roughly $8 million in cap savings.
At the time, that savings buys real options. It can fund a guard signing or a defensive depth move. On the other hand, Mixon’s steadiness can still keep an offense on schedule. Suddenly, the leverage sits with the team, and the likely outcome looks like a pay cut demand, not a clean release.
6. James Conner, Cardinals
At the time, Conner still runs through arm tackles like they insulted him. However, the lower body injuries stack up, and the league notices.
Reuters reported in October 2025 that Arizona placed Conner on injured reserve, noting 95 rushing yards and 38 receiving yards at that point. That snapshot screams “limited season,” even if Conner’s style always looks violent.
OverTheCap lists Conner’s 2026 cap number at $9.83 million. A pre June 1 release leaves $2.25 million in dead money and clears $7.58 million in cap savings.
Because of this loss, Arizona can justify the move without blaming the player. The Cardinals can draft a back, pair him with a cheaper veteran, and spend elsewhere. Consequently, Conner becomes vulnerable even on a team with room.
5. Calvin Ridley, Titans
Hours later, Ridley still wins with route craft on the tape you can find. He sells stems. He snaps breaks. However, availability creates the whole argument.
A Reuters report from September 2025 noted Ridley suffered a broken left fibula, and the report pegged his early season line at 17 catches for 303 yards. Consequently, Tennessee heads into 2026 needing a medical win and a financial win.
OverTheCap lists Ridley’s 2026 cap number at $26.45 million. A pre June 1 cut leaves $13.02 million in dead money and opens $13.43 million in cap savings. A Post June 1 cut drops 2026 dead money to $8.02 million and opens $18.43 million in savings.
At the time, that extra space can fund offensive line help or a second receiver. On the other hand, Ridley’s separation quickness can still change coverage rules if the leg heals cleanly. Suddenly, a restructure offer becomes the fork in the road.
4. Marshon Lattimore, Commanders
Despite the pressure, Lattimore still carries the profile teams pay for. He plays press. He fights through releases. However, 2025 turned into a knee story.
NFL.com credits Lattimore with nine games and 40 tackles in 2025. The Washington Post reported in December 2025 that he tore his ACL against Philadelphia. Consequently, Washington must balance elite corner value against a rehab timeline.
OverTheCap lists Lattimore’s 2026 cap number at $18.5 million. The contract table shows zero dead money tied to a release, which means a cut clears the full $18.5 million.
At the time, Washington does not need that money to escape the red. The Commanders can cut to reshape spending, not to survive. On the other hand, a cap rich team can also afford patience, and elite corners rarely hit the market in their prime. Suddenly, the decision becomes a statement about direction more than dollars.
3. Marlon Humphrey, Ravens
At the time, Humphrey still reads route combos like a safety. He jumps quick game. He drives on outs with confidence. However, the body has absorbed years of collisions, and the cap number keeps climbing.
Baltimore also keeps drafting corners who can play early. Nate Wiggins arrived as a first round talent, and the Ravens pipeline often turns young defensive backs into starters quickly. Consequently, roster math can get ruthless even when the locker room loves the veteran.
OverTheCap lists Humphrey’s 2026 cap number at $26.276 million, with $19.25 million in cash due. A pre June 1 cut leaves $18.9477 million in dead money and clears $7.3283 million. A Post June 1 move drops 2026 dead money to $7.0167 million and opens $19.2593 million in savings.
Years passed, and Baltimore mastered the art of replacing corners without collapsing. However, a team that chases January football still needs the right blend of experience and speed. Suddenly, Humphrey’s future can hinge on whether the Ravens view him as a matchup piece or as a cap lever.
2. Alvin Kamara, Saints
At the time, Kamara still makes linebackers hesitate. He turns an angle route into a free first down. However, the Saints carry debt, and debt punishes running backs fast.
OverTheCap places New Orleans in the red. Consequently, every high cap veteran becomes a hard conversation, even the face of a whole era.
The Saints’ own 2025 season recap credits Kamara with 131 carries for 471 yards and a touchdown, plus 33 receptions for 186 yards, across 11 games because of knee and ankle issues. That is not collapse. It is erosion.
OverTheCap lists Kamara’s 2026 cap number at $18.571471 million. A pre June 1 cut leaves about $18.211942 million in dead money and saves only about $359,529. A Post June 1 designation drops 2026 dead money to about $10.071471 million and opens roughly $8.5 million.
Because of this loss, New Orleans faces a choice that feels personal. They can keep the offense’s safety blanket and keep bleeding cap. Finally, they can take the Post June 1 savings and accept a quieter version of themselves.
1. Tyreek Hill, Dolphins
Biggest 2026 NFL Cap Casualties do not get more violent than speed meeting surgery and money meeting reality. Hill still changes coverage with one motion. However, the contract gives Miami a lever few teams ever get with a superstar.
NFL Network reported on September 30, 2025 that Hill dislocated his knee and tore multiple ligaments, including his ACL, ending his season four games in. Reuters reported he finished those four games with 21 catches for 265 yards and one touchdown, then underwent surgery. Consequently, Miami enters 2026 needing both a medical rebound and a cap plan.
OverTheCap lists Hill’s 2026 cap number at $51.134044 million, with $36 million in cash due and zero in guarantees. A pre June 1 cut leaves $28.24875 million in dead money and opens $22.885294 million in cap savings. A Post June 1 designation drops 2026 dead money to $15.89875 million and opens $35.235294 million.
At the time, the question becomes brutally football specific. Does Hill regain the same acceleration after that knee injury. On the other hand, if he loses even a slice, Miami pays elite money for a different kind of receiver. Suddenly, the Dolphins must decide whether they trust the rehab, trust the track speed, and trust the bet.
March 2026 will expose what teams really value
Biggest 2026 NFL Cap Casualties will not land the same way in every city. Some buildings will call it housekeeping. Others will call it heartbreak. However, the league will treat it as normal.
At the time, teams still talk about leadership like it lives beyond the cap sheet. Film rooms still love veterans who fix alignments and calm chaos. Consequently, several of these names will get the first call that matters, the restructure call. A club will ask for a pay cut. A player will ask for respect. Hours later, the agent will ask for a deadline.
Because of this loss, injuries will decide leverage as much as performance. A torn ACL changes timelines. A broken fibula changes confidence. A rare foot condition changes a risk model. Before long, the market will sort players into two lanes, the “prove it” deals and the “we will see after camp” deals.
Despite the pressure, some teams will choose patience. Washington can afford to wait on Lattimore if the medical outlook looks strong. Baltimore can keep Humphrey if the scheme still needs his instincts. On the other hand, Miami and New Orleans cannot pretend the red ink does not exist, and both clubs will feel every dollar.
Years passed, and fans learned to live with the idea that the cap cuts fast. However, the Biggest 2026 NFL Cap Casualties list still carries one lingering question that no spreadsheet answers cleanly. When a veteran still scares opponents but no longer fits the number, do teams pay for fear, or do they pay for flexibility and hope the next name scares someone just as much.
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FAQs
Q1: Why do teams cut big name veterans even when the cap goes up? The cap can rise, but old bonus proration and dead money still sit on the books. Teams cut to reset cash and future flexibility.
Q2: What does a Post June 1 cut change for a team? It can spread dead money across two years. That often creates more cap space in the current season.
Q3: Are these cuts guaranteed to happen in 2026? No. Teams can restructure, extend, or keep players if the health and role still match the contract.
Q4: Why does injury history matter so much in cap decisions? Injuries change a player’s burst and availability. That shifts leverage toward the team and makes pay cuts more common.
Q5: What usually happens to veterans who get released? Some take prove it deals. Others wait until camp when teams feel one injury away from needing help.
I’m a sports and pop culture junkie who loves the buzz of a big match and the comfort of a great story on screen. When I’m not chasing highlights and hot takes, I’m planning the next trip, hunting for underrated films or debating the best clutch moments with anyone who will listen.
