Welcome to the fourth installment of the cap casualty series, where we will be focusing on the AFC West division. The Denver Broncos currently have $35.78 million, the Kansas City Chiefs have $11.50 million, the Las Vegas Raiders have $92.33 million, and the Los Angeles Chargers have $63.05 million cap space. Each team has at least one contract they would like to eliminate, regardless of how much cap space they have. Without further ado, here are the cap casualties for the AFC West.
Note: Information regarding contracts and cap space has been derived from Spotrac and Over The Cap. Also, if a player’s name is in italics, the team doesn’t necessarily have a definitive player who is considered a cap casualty.
Also Read: Predicting Each AFC South Team’s Most Likely Cap Casualty for 2025, Predicting Each AFC North Team’s Most Likely Cap Casualty for 2025, Predicting Each AFC East Team’s Most Likely Cap Casualty for 2025
Denver Broncos: Alex Singleton
- Contract: 3-years, $18,000,000 (2026 Free Agent)
- Cap Hit: $6,913,334
- Cap Savings: $5,580,000 ($1,333,334 dead cap)
First, Alex Singleton is coming off a significant season-ending knee injury. Singleton tore his ACL in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Since he is 31 and is recovering from a significant injury, it’s too early to tell whether he will be ready for the beginning of training camp or the start of the 2025 season. There is a chance he will miss at least four games.
Second, since the Broncos have plenty of cap space to work with, they could upgrade the linebacker position during the offseason.
Kansas City Chiefs: Skyy Moore
- Contract: 4-years, $6,450,498 (2026 Free Agent)
- Cap Hit: $2,052,434
- Cap Savings: $1,584,615 ($467,819 dead cap)
First, Skyy Moore hasn’t panned out with Kansas City, nor has he lived up to the lofty draft expectations when they selected him in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Moore has caught 43 passes on 71 targets for 494 yards and one touchdown in his first two seasons. He failed to register a reception after being targeted three times in six games before being placed on season-ending injured reserve with core muscle surgery.
Second, the young wide receiver, who isn’t expected to win a starting receiver job in 2025, needs a change of scenery and a fresh start. It’s still early in his three-year career to consider Moore a draft bust just yet, but we will have a better idea in the next year or so. Give him an opportunity to thrive with a new team.
Las Vegas Raiders: Gardner Minshew
- Contract: 2-years, $25,000,000 (2026 Free Agent)
- Cap Hit: $14,000,000
- Cap Savings: $6,340,000 ($7,660,000 dead cap)
First, the Gardner Minshew experiment simply did not work out in Las Vegas. Minshew did not play well, and the Raiders benched him three times this season. He completed 203 out of 306 pass attempts for 2,013 yards, nine touchdowns, ten interceptions, and a 2-7 record. Unfortunately, his 2024 campaign came to an abrupt end after he suffered a season-ending broken collarbone in Week 12 against the Denver Broncos.
Second, the Raiders are expected to acquire a starting-caliber quarterback in free agency or the draft, meaning Minshew’s days in Las Vegas are numbered. The Raiders will not keep him on the roster, making $11.84 million in base salary and a $14 million cap hit to be their backup quarterback.
Los Angeles Chargers: Joey Bosa
- Contract: 2-years, $40,360,000 (2026 Free Agent)
- Cap Hit: $36,471,668
- Cap Savings: $25,360,000 ($11,111,668 dead cap)
First, Joey Bosa had an underwhelming 2024 campaign. Bosa recorded 22 tackles (third-lowest), five TFLs (tied for second-lowest), 13 QB hits (fourth-lowest), five sacks (second-lowest of career), and two forced fumbles in a career-low 50% of defensive snaps. He would miss three games with a lingering hip injury.
Second, given his extensive injury history and underwhelming 2024 campaign, the Chargers cannot justify keeping Bosa for the 2025 season with his $13 million base salary and $36,471,668 cap hit.
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