NFL salary cap will lead to these 5 stars being cut or traded in 2026

The confetti from the Super Bowl has barely settled, but for NFL front offices, the honeymoon is already over. The league calendar is unforgiving, and attention has immediately shifted to Indianapolis for the Scouting Combine in late February, followed rapidly by the start of the new league year on March 11. As teams scramble to get under the salary cap and secure funds for free agency, difficult or perhaps not-so-difficult conversations are taking place behind closed doors. We are entering the season of the cap casualty, where past production clashes with future financial flexibility.

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Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons

Oct 26, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) passes against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The Kirk Cousins experiment in Atlanta appears destined for an abrupt and expensive ending. While the veteran quarterback managed to string together wins late in the season, the financial mechanics of his contract have become a vice grip on the Falcons’ roster construction. Cousins’ deal was always backloaded, designed to swell painfully in these final years, and a recent restructure has only complicated the math.

The headline number here is a staggering $67.9 million bonus that effectively triggers if Cousins remains on the roster past mid-March. Even with the designated heir apparent, Michael Penix Jr., rehabbing an ACL tear, owner Arthur Blank is unlikely to authorize that check for a quarterback on the wrong side of his prime.

While Cousins might still have value as a bridge starter in this league, his current price tag in Atlanta is simply untenable. Expect the Falcons to eat the dead money and turn the page, likely forcing Cousins to test a market that may view him more as a high-end backup than a franchise savior.

Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins

In what would be the biggest shockwave of the offseason, the “Cheetah” could be running his final routes in South Beach. Tyreek Hill has been the engine of the Dolphins’ offense, but the ruthless nature of the NFL salary cap cares little for highlight reels when injuries pile up.

Hill is coming off a grueling season marred by a severe knee injury, and he is now entering his age-32 campaign, which is a dangerous cliff for players reliant on elite speed.

The logic for Miami is purely mathematical. By designating Hill as a post-June 1 release, the Dolphins can clear a massive $35 million in cap space. That is the kind of financial windfall that allows a team to completely retool a defense or shore up an offensive line. While trading him would have been the preferred route, his injury status likely tanks his value on the open market.

Miami is facing a pivotal offseason regarding its quarterback future, with Tua Tagovailoa likely on his way out. Shedding Hill’s massive contract might be the necessary, albeit painful, first step in its reconstruction.

Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans

Jan 18, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (28) runs the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of a 2025 AFC divisional round game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The situation in Houston regarding Joe Mixon is a stark reminder that availability is the most important ability in professional football. General Manager Nick Caserio has been tight-lipped, describing Mixon’s lost season due to a foot injury as a freak occurrence, but the silence speaks volumes.

Mixon missed the entirety of the 2025 campaign, and in a league where running backs are increasingly treated as disposable assets, paying a premium for one who isn’t on the field is bad business.

Cutting Mixon is arguably the easiest decision on this list. The move would instantly free up roughly $8 million in cap space for a Texans team looking to contend. While Mixon has been a workhorse in the past, the Texans saw enough from their other backs to know they can replicate production at a fraction of the cost.

With no guarantee that Mixon returns to his pre-injury form, Houston will likely take the savings and invest in younger, cheaper legs via the draft or the bargain bin of free agency.

L’Jarius Sneed, CB, Tennessee Titans

Sometimes, a front office has to admit a mistake, cut its losses, and move on. That is the exact scenario facing the Tennessee Titans regarding cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.

The trade to acquire him was meant to solidify the secondary; instead, it has become an albatross. Sneed struggled to stay on the field, appearing in only 12 games over two seasons, plagued by a degenerative knee condition that has clearly sapped his effectiveness.

The Titans are looking at a “get out of jail” card this offseason. By terminating Sneed’s contract, Tennessee can save $11.4 million against the cap. In a league where cornerback play relies heavily on athleticism and change-of-direction ability, a chronic knee issue is a career-alterer.

Tennessee is in a deep rebuild and needs every dollar to fix a roster with holes on both sides of the ball. Paying elite money for part-time availability isn’t an option, making Sneed a near-certain cap casualty as the new league year approaches.

Stefon Diggs, WR, New England Patriots

Jan 11, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (8) reacts after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC Wild Card Round game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Stefon Diggs’ tenure with the Patriots seems destined to be a short, one-act play. Statistically, his season looks respectable on the surface. He broke the 1,000-yard barrier and helped New England secure some tight victories.

However, the playoffs revealed the cracks in the foundation. When the games mattered most, Diggs vanished, managing pedestrian numbers when the team needed a true No. 1 receiver to take over the game.

The structure of his deal with New England was essentially a “prove-it” year disguised as a multi-year contract. With zero guaranteed money remaining, the Patriots can move on with minimal financial penalty.

Diggs will be turning 33 during the upcoming season, and his history of sideline frustration, combined with fading explosive plays, makes him a prime candidate for release. The Patriots need to get younger and more explosive on the perimeter, and allocating top-tier money to an aging possession receiver doesn’t fit their timeline.