The 12 biggest NFL cuts, from Xavien Howard to Shaquil Barrett, as teams prepare for 2024 free agency
The 2024 NFL salary cap will be the largest in history. An unprecedented 13 percent increase bumped the league’s per-team spending limit from $224.8 million to $255.4 million. This is set to create a feeding frenzy when the offseason’s legal free agent tampering period gets underway March 11.
That doesn’t mean teams are content with the rosters and spending room they had coming into the offseason. General managers across the NFL have meticulously pored over their books following Super Bowl 58 in order to maximize their spending potential without sacrificing too much on-field talent. As a result, several big name veterans have been shucked away to the free agent marketplace despite outstanding contracts.
Who were the biggest names? Let’s break down the dozen highest profile releases, ranked by how much money each cut saved their respective former teams. Turns out it’s a rough year to be a veteran defensive back.