Welcome to the fifth installment of the cap casualty series, in which we will be focusing on the NFC East division. The Dallas Cowboys have ($2.97 million), the New York Giants have $43.38 million, the Philadelphia Eagles have $18.58 million, and the Washington Commanders have $86.67 million cap space. Although teams like the Giants and Commanders have a ton of cap space compared to their two counterparts, each team has at least one contract they would like to eliminate.
Note: All information regarding contracts and cap space has been derived from Spotrac and Over The Cap. Also, the focus is more on players who don’t live up to their contracts, battle injuries and have less of an impact on the team than someone who is cut because they have a high cap hit. Without further ado, here are the cap casualties for the NFC East.
Dallas Cowboys: Terence Steele
- Contract: 5-years, $82,500,000 (2029 Free Agent)
- Cap Hit: $18,125,000
- Cap Savings: $4,625,000 ($13,500,000 dead cap)
First, Terence Steele has not lived up to the lucrative contract. After a career year during the 2022 season, Steele has regressed, especially in pass protection, over the past two seasons since signing an extension in September 2023. He surrendered 54 pressures, 34 hurries, 12 QB hits, and eight sacks in 2023 and 41 pressures, 26 hurries, six QB hits, and nine sacks in 2024.
Second, because they are currently in the red, the Cowboys need to free up some cap space before the start of the league’s new year. Cutting Steele immediately before the start of the league’s new year would free up $4.625 million, allowing them to be salary cap compliant.
New York Giants: Graham Gano
- Contract: 3-years, $16,500,000 (2026 Free Agent)
- Cap Hit: $5,665,000
- Cap Savings: $3,165,000 ($2,500,000 dead cap)
First, Graham Gano has not been able to stay healthy over the past two seasons, causing him to miss 16 games. Gano missed the final nine games of the 2023 season with a knee injury that required surgery. He then missed seven games (Weeks 3-9) during the 2024 season with a hamstring injury. He currently has the fifth-highest cap hit among kickers for 2025, which is a lot of money for a player who has missed 16 games in the past two seasons.
Second, Gano is up there in age. He turns 38 in April and doesn’t have much gas left in the tank. Given his age and recent injury history, he may have not choice but to hang up the cleats.
Philadelphia Eagles: James Bradberry
- Contract: 3-years, $38,000,000 (2026 Free Agent)
- Cap Hit: $7,819,000
- Cap Savings Post-June 1st: $4,724,000 ($3,095,000 dead cap for 2025 and $7,718,000 for 2026)
First, the last two seasons have not been very friendly to James Bradberry. Bradberry struggled in pass coverage during the 2023 season, giving up 740 yards, 11 touchdowns, and a whopping 114.3 passer rating. The Pro Bowl cornerback lost the starting cornerback job during the offseason and was expected to be the backup safety during the 2024 season. However, he has yet to play this season after suffering a lower leg injury during training camp, which initially carried a six-to-eight-week recovery time.
Second, given his age—he turns 32 in August—his recent injury history, and since he is not expected to start for the Eagles next season, the Eagles cannot justify keeping Bradberry with his $7.819 million cap hit. Finally, given their recent success in drafting cornerbacks, the Eagles could select an outside cornerback if they move on from both Darius Slay and Bradberry. Or they could turn to Kelee Ringo to line up opposite Quinyon Mitchell.
Washington Commanders: Jonathan Allen
- Contract: 4-years, $72,000,000 (2026 Free Agent)
- Cap Hit: $22,470,588
- Cap Savings: $16,470,588 ($6,000,000 dead cap)
First, Jonathan Allen is coming off a significant injury that sidelined him for nine games with a partially torn pectoral. However, he returned to action in Week 17 and played their final five games, but he wasn’t 100% and played on a pitch count. It’s a little concerning to pay a defender $15.5 million in base salary coming off a significant injury.
Second, the Commanders have a viable replacement in Jer’Zhan Newton. Newton, their second-round pick, filled in for the injured Allen and demonstrated his abilities as a starting defensive tackle in his rookie season. The Commanders have confidence that he can take the next step.
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