The bloodletting has already started. Players like Alex Smith, Golden Tate, Desmond Trufant, Kawann Short and other veterans of consequence have already been released by their NFL teams in advance of the massive salary cap reduction that comes into existence on March 17th.
The lower salary cap, a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lost revenue associated with it around the league, is forcing NFL teams to cut notable players who can’t — or won’t — restructure their hefty contracts.
Dianna Russini of ESPN noted she got a text from a current head coach that ominously read,
“It’s going to be a massacre next week all around the league.”
Others like NFL insider John Clayton and former NFL GM Pat Kirwan on Sirius XM NFL Radio have used similar terminology, with Clayton stating, “it will be a bloodbath around the league” in a radio spot this week.
The Browns will not be one of the teams making drastic cuts. Cleveland rolled over considerable cap funds, more than any other team in the NFL. They also have no glaringly overpaid players who aren’t critical to the team’s success.
The other teams’ cap misfortune could be a boon for the Browns. With so many players being released and an already robust free agent market, it’s a buyer’s bonanza for teams with cap room. And the Browns are one of the few that have enough to make a big difference…if they choose.