For those that want to keep Carr in 2025, I am now going to do another version of the cap cleanup. I do not think this is the way the team should do it, but it is an alternative way. I will show the amount of savings for each player. No players being restructured will having expiring contracts with void years next season. I will also show some of the financial repercussions of the Carr restructure.
Restructures
Player Name (2025 Savings)
Derek Carr ($31m) will cost $59.6m to cut in 2026
Erik McCoy ($6.7m)
Cesar Ruiz ($6.4m)
Carl Granderson ($5.25m)
Alvin Kamara ($1.4m)
Pete Werner (2.5m)
Cuts
Player Name (2025 Savings)
Jamal Williams ($1.6m)
Cedrick Wilson ($2.4m)
The moves above get the team $3m under the cap for 2025 while only cutting 2 players and without restructuring a single contract that will void in 2026. If the team wanted to open up space for free agents, they’d need to start digging into contracts that will void in 2026, re-signing players like Juwan and Chase Young who are going to void in 2025, or extending young players with a year left on their contracts (the most reasonable option, but there is limited saving there). There is also the option to designate no more than 2 of the players below as June 1 cuts and regaining some cap space in June. Cam and Taysom netting $20m in June, but pushing their 2026 void numbers up.
What this looks like in 2026 for players that will be or likely to be gone.
Player Name (Reason for leaving, Cap Charge)
Derek Carr (Cut, $59.6m)
Cam Jordan (Void, $14.9m)
Taysom Hill (Void, $9.7m)
Demario Davis (Void, $8.7m)
Tyrann Mathieu (Void, $7.2m)
Nathan Shepherd (Void, $4m)
Foster Moreau (Void, $1.4m)
Khalen Saunders (Void, $1.4m)
JT Gray (Void, $1m)
Total Dead 2026 money: $107 million ($22m MORE than what the Broncos had in 2024 when they cut Russel Wilson)
Someone WILL come along and argue how they can kick the can out to 2027 and beyond for new players. The question is whether we SHOULD do that. I don’t think we should do that this year. I don’t think we should take on $59.6m in dead money in 2026 for Carr.