Welcome to the second installment of the cap casualty series, which we will be focusing on the AFC North division. The Baltimore Ravens currently have $5.84 million, the Cincinnati Bengals have $47.45 million, the Cleveland Browns have ($30.01 million), and the Pittsburgh Steelers have $40.46 million cap space. Even though the cap will continue to increase, teams like the Browns are in the red, while the Ravens are close to being over, and every team has at least one contract they would like to eliminate. Without further ado, here are the cap casualties for the AFC North.
Note: All information regarding contracts and cap space has been derived from Spotrac and Over The Cap. Also, if a player’s name is italicized, the team doesn’t necessarily have a definitive player who is considered a cap casualty. Finally, the focus is more on players who don’t live up to their contracts and also have less of an impact on the team rather than someone who is cut because they have a high cap hit.
Also Read: Predicting Each AFC East Team’s Most Likely Cap Casualty for 2025
Baltimore Ravens: Marcus Williams
- Contract: 5-years, $70,000,000 (2027 Free Agent)
- Cap Hit: $8,823,000
- Cap Savings Post-June 1st: $2,100,000 ($6,723,000 dead cap for 2025 and 2026)
First, Marcus Williams did not perform well and eventually lost the starting safety job during the season. After starting the first seven games and being a liability in pass coverage, the Ravens benched Williams in Week 8, making him a healthy scratch and giving Ar’Darius Washington the starting nod. After being benched, he would play the next four games, including two starts, but his struggles continued. Unfortunately, the Ravens benched their veteran safety for the remainder of the season, making him a healthy scratch for their final five regular season and two postseason games, as they turned to Washington in the starting lineup, allowing Kyle Hamilton to play deep safety.
Second, the Ravens restructured Williams’s contract in early January, paving the way for a post-June 1st cut designation. According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, the Ravens lowered his base salary from $12 million to $2.1 million, and his cap hit dropped from $18.7 million to $8.8 million for 2025.
Yes and no. Under the prior deal they would have had to carry him at $18.7M until June 1 which is a huge burden. Then on June 2nd it would drop. Now they only have to carry him at $8.8M until June 1 https://t.co/McUEk3YoYe
— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) January 7, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals: Sam Hubbard
- Contract: 4-years, $40,000,000 (2026 Free Agent)
- Cap Hit: $11,511,765
- Cap Savings: $9,511,765 ($2,000,000 dead cap)
First, Sam Hubbard has not lived up to his contract lately. After a solid 2022 campaign and recording 6.5 sacks and 62 pressures, Hubbard has since taken a step back in production over the last two seasons. He recorded six sacks and 40 pressures in 2023 and dropped to just two sacks and a measly 18 pressures in 2024, totaling eight sacks and 58 pressures over the last two seasons.
Second, the Bengals need to free up additional cap space to sign Ja’Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson to extensions this offseason. Both players will likely be among the highest-paid at their respective positions. If they are willing to pay him, they may also attempt to re-sign Tee Higgins, who will command a high salary. Finally, freeing up $9 million in cap space would offer some much-needed cap flexibility.
Cleveland Browns: Juan Thornhill
- Contract: 3-years, $21,000,000 (2026 Free Agent)
- Cap Hit: $5,684,000
- Cap Savings Post-June 1st: $3,400,000 ($2,284,000 dead cap for 2025 and $5,668,000 for 2026)
First, Juan Thornhill hasn’t lived up to the expectation of being a serviceable starting safety for the Browns defense after a solid start to his career with the Kansas City Chiefs. Thornhill has been a liability in pass coverage, failing to register an interception and having only four pass deflections, has allowed six passing touchdowns over the last two seasons and gave up a 117.1 passer rating in 2023 and a 141.7 passer rating in 2024 in coverage. Finally, many fans have criticized his effort this season.
Second, the Cleveland Browns need to reassess their current roster after finishing the season with a 3-14 record. Although they might not necessarily be in a rebuild this offseason but are $30 million over the cap, the Browns will review their roster and potentially part ways with veterans like Thornhill to free up cap space.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Preston Smith
- Contract: 4-years, $52,000,000 (2027 Free Agent)
- Cap Hit: $13,400,000
- Cap Savings: $13,400,000
First, Preston Smith did not live up to the expectations after the Steelers acquired him from the Green Bay Packers during the NFL Trade Deadline. The goal was for Smith to provide much-needed depth and to be a reliable rotational pass rusher for an already banged-up outside linebacker position. He recorded 2 sacks in eight games, and the team made him a healthy scratch for two of their final three games.
Second, Smith’s $12 million base salary and $13.4 million cap hit for the 2025 season don’t justify him being the OLB4 behind T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig. The Steelers are better off signing a veteran pass rusher to a cheaper contract or drafting one in the upcoming draft.
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