I don’t think an immediate release is as likely as we think it should be. Maye hasn’t been horrible in the games he’s played. Howden looks like a serviceable starter. But not confidently good enough yet to move on from Maye when the offseason begins, a year before his contract expires imo. Howden also has some injury history. 7M is close to lowend starter salary and it’s just one year remaining on the contract.
According to OTC, a preJune 1 Maye cut will trigger 8.5M dead cap. The 1.5M cap savings is just the difference amount between the dead cap and cap hit. It won’t really be cap savings on the available cap while the negative 8.5M dead cap will be counted towards the cap space. Dead cap from a release is accounted for on the cap right away. He could be released but it’s better off waiting until after June when the dead cap is just 2.4M and cap savings are 7.5M.
We’ll need a definite contingency plan in place in the draft or FA if he’s cut early before June or at any point. We’d have to draft a year 1 contributor Safety in the 2nd but we need to address QB, OL and DL early on. Our next picks likely won’t be until the 5th round with our pick and the comp picks. Draft needs and the number of safeties under contract in ‘24 is why I don’t think an early Maye cut needs to happen.
Lonnie Johnson, Abram and Amadi will all become UFAs in March. Abram could maybe return on vet minimum without much bidding. Most or all 3 will pursue FA interest for a little above vet minimum, possibly double-triple, at the max $ that they could get. Maye under contract for his final year makes it easier to begin the offseason with 3 starter-level Safeties under contract, and 3 base Safeties under contract, in general, plus JT Gray.