NFL Post June 1st Designations

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertMay 31, 2023
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#brandon mcmanus #john johnson #j.j. watt #rodney hudson #chase roullier #ezekiel elliott #byron jones
© Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

As the calendar flips to June, 5 NFL teams will receive salary cap adjustments thanks to June 1st Designation releases in the past few weeks. Our look at each of the 8 players who were released with this designation, including the dead cap ramifications, and respective cap savings for this and next season.

Related: Understanding NFL Dead Cap & the Post June 1st Designation

Team Cap Savings

Team 2023 Cap Savings 2024 Cap Savings
Miami Dolphins $13,600,000 $8,723,000
Cleveland Browns $10,915,000 $0
Dallas Cowboys $10,900,000 $9,180,000
Washington Commanders $8,370,000 $10,160,000
Arizona Cardinals $4,215,000 $0
Denver Broncos $3,750,000 $3,950,000

Brandon McManus (K, Broncos)

2023 Cap Savings: $3,750,000
2023 Dead Cap: $1,231,250
2024 Cap Savings: $3,950,000
2024 Dead Cap: $1,231,250

McManus’ release was a bit of a surprise, as the Broncos don’t yet have a known replacement at the kicker position for the upcoming season. But with $3.75M to be freed up come June 2nd, business became a priority here. The 31-year-old quickly signed on with the Jaguars to continue his career. UPDATE: The Broncos have signed Elliott Fry to compete for McManus' old gig.

Jadeveon Clowney (DE, Browns)

2023 Cap Savings: $1,165,000
2023 Dead Cap: $1,600,000
2024 Cap Savings: $0
2024 Dead Cap: $4,800,000

Clowney's 1 year deal with Cleveland included 4 voidable years, but the Browns built in a minimum salary for 2023 to allow them the opportunity to split up the $6.4M of dead cap as such. The 30-year-old remains unsigned as the calendar flips to June.

John Johnson (S, Browns)

2023 Cap Savings: $9,750,000
2023 Dead Cap: $3,750,000
2024 Cap Savings: $0
2024 Dead Cap: $8,850,000

Johnson played 31 games for the Browns over the past two seasons amidst a 3 year, $33.75M contract, but still finds himself looking for work in 2023. He earned $24M across 2021-2022 after $4.8M reeled in on his rookie deal with the Rams. Cleveland will free up $9.75M of cap space on June 2nd, taking on $3.75M of dead cap while pushing the remaining $8.85M into the 2024 season.

J.J. Watt (DE, Cardinals)

2023 Cap Savings: $1,165,000
2023 Dead Cap: $2,400,000
2024 Cap Savings: $0
2024 Dead Cap: $4,800,000

While Watt rode off into the sunset months ago, his contract was held in place in order to process his release/retirement after June 1st for salary cap purposes. Arizona built in a minimum base salary to 2023 in order to open up the possibility for a Post 6/1 move, so the Cardinals will free up just $1.165M of space on June 2nd.

Rodney Hudson (C, Cardinals)

2023 Cap Savings: $3,050,000
2023 Dead Cap: $1,760,000
2024 Cap Savings: $0
2024 Dead Cap: $3,520,000

Like Watt, Hudson’s retirement is being processed after June 1st for cap purposes, offering up an additional $3.05M of savings come June 2nd. Hudson & Watt will account for a combined $8.32M of dead cap in 2024.

Chase Roullier (C, Commanders)

2023 Cap Savings: $8,370,000
2023 Dead Cap: $4,050,000
2024 Cap Savings: $10,160,000
2024 Dead Cap: $4,050,000

Back-to-back injury-filled seasons (10 games played across 2021-2022) and a cap figure approaching $12.5M this year forced Washington’s hand here. The 29-year-old earned $23.3M of a possible $42.3M on his extension, and will look to latch on in a depth role somewhere once he returns to full health. The Commanders will open up $8.37M of cap space this year on June 2nd, freeing up another $10.16M in 2024 per this transaction.

Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Cowboys)

2023 Cap Savings: $10,900,000
2023 Dead Cap: $5,820,000
2024 Savings: $9,180,000
2024 Dead Cap: $6,040,000

Though still a productive back (especially in terms of finding the endzone), Elliott’s contract was always going to be too rich to handle after year 4. The near 28-year-old earned $50.1M of a potential $93M tied to this contract, and remains an available free agent as the offseason flips to June. His release opens up $10.9M of cap space for the Cowboys on June 2nd, with another $9.18M freed up in 2024.

Byron Jones (CB, Dolphins)

2023 Cap Savings: $13,600,000
2023 Dead Cap: $4,751,000
2024 Cap Savings: $8,723,000
2024 Dead Cap: $10,053,000

Jones signed a 5 year, $82.5M contract with the Dolphins in March of 2020, the largest contract of that free agent season. The deal offered $54M in practical guarantee through the 2022 season, putting the 2023 offseason as the first available potential out. An achilles injury buried his 2022 season in Miami, and the recovery process hasn’t shown favorable results, forcing the Dolphins to move on from the 30-year-old this past March. Miami will open up $13.6M of cap space on June 2nd, while also freeing up $8.7M for the 2024 season.


#brandon mcmanus #john johnson #j.j. watt #rodney hudson #chase roullier #ezekiel elliott #byron jones
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