The major landmarks of the NFL offseason are flying by, and training camp will be here in no time. Teams are still shaping their rosters and trying to figure out who has the best chance to contribute to their 53-man roster. A very important milestone for that goal is June 1. This is the date after which the NFL’s top cut candidates will know their fates.
For those who don’t know, June 1 is when teams can cut a player and split up their guaranteed money or signing bonuses over two seasons instead of taking the entire hit in one year. Many teams will hang onto players until that date (or designate roster moves as a “post-June 1 decision”) to help them manage their cap.
We have already seen some big names cut from rosters, but there are plenty of other well-known veterans who are waiting to find out what their future holds. Who are some of the top potential cap casualties? Find out below.
PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning Redraft rankings and tools. Our Player Rankings are second to none, and the World Famous Draft Kit contains detailed player write-ups and cheat sheets to help You dominate fantasy drafts! Check it out!
2025 NFL Cut Candidates
CB Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers
Potential Cap Savings: $17.1 million
The Packers tried to trade Jaire Alexander away during the draft, but they couldn’t find a return that seemed fitting. There was an initial thought that the team might be committed to keeping him on the roster after Green Bay failed to add a notable defensive back during the draft, but Green Bay doubled down on wanting to move him despite the lack of an obvious replacement.
Jaire Alexander Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
There is still a chance that the team can re-work Alexander’s deal ahead of the season, but that would require both sides to come to an agreement. The Packers don’t believe that Alexander is worth his price tag given how often he is injured (fewer than eight games played in three of the last four seasons). However, it’s hard to see Alexander being willing to take a pay cut from his $16.1 million base salary given those same injury issues.
The Packers could cut Alexander after June 1 and free up over $17 million with $7.5 million in dead money. Getting anything in return as trade compensation would be preferable, but it seems unlikely that another team would willingly take on his considerable injury risk for more than a seventh-round pick.
CB Jamel Dean, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Potential Cap Savings: $12.8 million
The Buccaneers’ secondary struggled mightily in 2024. The team gave up the second-most passing yards in the NFL (4,464) while generating the fourth-fewest interceptions (seven).
On the surface, Jamel Dean is a solid cornerback. He has never had a PFF grade below 71.0 in his six-year career. However, he was aided by the Buccaneers’ zone-heavy defensive scheme and his strong tackling ability. Over the last two seasons, Dean has allowed a 66.3-percent completion rate while giving up five touchdowns (all in 2023). He’s broken up 13 passes on 140 targets against.
Jamel Dean Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Zyon McCollum has developed into Tampa Bay’s top cornerback, and 2024 third-round pick Tykee Smith had a strong first season playing in the slot. The Buccaneers also drafted two cornerbacks in the 2025 draft, Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison (second round) and Kansas State’s Jacob Parrish (third round). Morrison missed most of 2024 with a hip injury, but he has first-round talent when healthy.
Dean has become expendable and could free up $12.8 million in cap space with a paltry $2.2 million dead cap hit if he is cut. He’s a useful player, but his talent may not outweigh his cap hit now that the Buccaneers have a bunch of young corners in the wings.
TE Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Potential Cap Savings: $11 million
Mark Andrews was a popular trade name during the NFL draft, but the Baltimore Ravens never moved him. Last year, Andrews had an extremely slow start to the season, but he finished 2024 with 55 receptions for 673 yards and 11 touchdowns. Unfortunately, he also had a crucial drop on a game-tying two-point conversion against the Bills in the NFL playoffs.
Mark Andrews Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The Ravens could free up $11 million in cap space and open up more snaps for dynamic tight end Isaiah Likely by cutting Andrews. As it is, the Ravens have a glut of weapons in their two tight ends, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and DeAndre Hopkins. However, it makes very little sense from a competitive window perspective for the Ravens to move on from Mark Andrews in the final year of his contract. Baltimore’s roster is set to win now, and Andrews is seemingly a key cog in their offensive success.
The Ravens certainly would have traded Mark Andrews if the right offer materialized during the NFL draft. Since it didn’t, it seems like a near-certainty that he will be on the team in 2025. Still, given the large amount of potential cap savings, he deserves a spot on this list.
TE Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Potential Cap Savings: $10 million
Taysom Hill has been a staple of New Orleans’ offense over the past five seasons. Since 2020, Hill has racked up 373 carries for 2,085 yards and 30 rushing touchdowns while adding 77 receptions on 102 targets for 705 yards and five receiving scores. He also completed 187 of 289 passes for 2,250 yards and 11 passing touchdowns with eight interceptions.
Taysom Hill Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Unfortunately, Hill tore his ACL in December of last season. At the very least, the injury will cost him part of the 2025 season. That is assuming his healing process stays on time as a 34-year-old player.
The Saints could free up $10 million if they cut Hill after June 1, although he would still carry a $7.9 million dead cap hit. Given his injury and the fact that the Saints are trying to get younger to start a rebuild, it wouldn’t be surprising if Hill finds himself on the open market before the 2025 season.
TE Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
Potential Cap Savings: $8.9 million
Noah Fant was an important part of the Russell Wilson trade in 2022, but he has never had the same production in Seattle as he did during his tenure with the Broncos. Over the last three seasons, Fant has caught 130 of 170 targets for 1,400 yards and five touchdowns. Last season was the first time he reached 500 receiving yards since 2021, finishing with 500 on the dot.
Noah Fant Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The Seahawks’ offense will look completely different in 2025. Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are gone. Sam Darnold will be under center. In theory, Noah Fant is poised to be a focal point in an offense with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp at receiver.
However, Seattle at least opened up the possibility of cutting Noah Fant by selecting Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo in the second round of the draft. Arroyo has the size and athleticism to play on the outside and is coming off a season that saw him catch 35 passes for 590 yards and seven touchdowns. The Seahawks can free up $8.9 million with a $4.5 million cap hit if they move on from Fant after June 1.
OL Trey Pipkins, Los Angeles Chargers
Potential Cap Savings: $6.75 million
Trey Pipkins III was the Chargers’ starting right tackle for two seasons before the team drafted Joe Alt with the fifth-overall pick in 2024. He wasn’t terrible at tackle but struggled to get movement in the run game and was inconsistent in pass protection, allowing 11 sacks and 78 pressures on 1,322 pass-blocking snaps. There was hope that a move to guard could reduce those struggles.
Trey Pipkins Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Unfortunately, Pipkins’ season on the interior showed the same issues. Pipkins logged a career-worst PFF pass-blocking grade (49.7) and gave up six sacks and 29 pressures on 521 passing snaps. His 57.8 PFF grade was the second-lowest of his career.
The Chargers bolstered their interior offensive line this season by signing Mekhi Becton as a free agent. Los Angeles also signed center Andre James, which allows them the ability to use Bradley Bozeman at guard or center this season.
Trey Pipkins has the fifth biggest cap hit of any player on the Chargers in 2025 ($9.2 million), which is quite a bit to pay for a backup offensive lineman. His guard and tackle versatility has value as a backup, but the team can also save $6.7 million with a $2.5 million cap hit if they cut him after June 1.
WR Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots
Potential Cap Savings: $6.3 million
Kendrick Bourne appeared in just 12 games in 2024 while he recovered from a torn ACL suffered in 2023. The Patriots were desperate for receiving talent, but he struggled to provide any meaningful production (38 targets, 28 receptions, 305 receiving yards, and a touchdown) in an offense helmed by Drake Maye.
Kendrick Bourne Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
New England worked to overhaul their offense this offseason, especially at wide receiver. The Patriots signed veterans Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins in free agency. They also drafted Kyle Williams in the third round of the draft. DeMario Douglas will man the slot once again while Kayshon Boutte and 2024 rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker work to develop bigger roles. That could leave Bourne as the odd man out, especially since the team could save $6.3 million by cutting him after June 1.
The Patriots have a lot of youth in their receiving group, so having a veteran like Bourne on the roster provides valuable mentorship. On the other hand, Bourne has no clear ties to the new coaching staff, and his cap space could be better used upgrading the offensive line even further.
RB Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders
Potential Cap Savings: $3.4 million
In 2024, Austin Ekeler showed that his dip in efficiency with the Chargers in 2023 (3.5 yards per carry) was due to his environment, not his ability. Ekeler was productive in his first season with the Commanders, handling 77 carries for 367 yards and four touchdowns while adding 366 yards on 35 receptions. In his new backup role, this was the worst pure production season of Ekeler’s career. However, he posted his best yards per carry since 2018 (4.8) and his best yards per reception since 2019 (10.5).
Austin Ekeler Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Unfortunately, things weren’t all positive for Ekeler in 2024. He suffered two concussions during the 2024 season, which limited him to 12 games played. He was able to return from both concussions, but it does call into question his ability to stay on the field entering his age-30 season.
The Commanders would save $3.4 million if they were to cut Ekeler after June 1, which probably isn’t enough to justify taking out a valuable part of their offense. However, the team does have Jeremy McNichols and 2025 seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt behind him on the depth chart to provide explosive plays in the passing attack.
There is a high likelihood that Ekeler will be on this team in 2025, but a strong camp performance from one of Washington’s young backs (Croskey-Merritt or 2023 sixth-rounder Chris Rodriguez Jr.) could lead the Commanders to cut the veteran loose in favor of more explosive options.
For more articles from PlayerProfiler, check out the fantasy home page – NFL Fantasy | PlayerProfiler – Fantasy Football News & Media
