C Mitch Morse announced his retirement from the NFL after 10 seasons spent with the Chiefs, Bills, & Jaguars. The former 2nd round pick earned just under $64M on the field, foregoing the final $4.65M available on his current contract.

The Jaguars will take on a $3.2M dead cap hit per the retirement, creating $2.25M of cap space for the upcoming season.

With news out of Seattle that DK Metcalf has formally requested a trade this offseason, we take a look at previously processed trades from the last 10 years that involved a notable wide receiver age 27-28, including acquired contract details and the future outlooks for each.

Spoiler: The Acquired Contract Matters (with the exception of Tyreek Hill)

Browns Acquire Odell Beckham Jr. from the Giants

March 13, 2019
Browns Get: Beckham Jr., Olivier Vernon
Giants Get: Jabrill Peppers, Kevin Zeitler, 1st, 3rd Rd Picks

Acquired Contract
5 years, $74M remaining
Beckham Jr. would play out 2 years, $31.2M of the deal before a midseason release in 2021.

Bills Acquire Stefon Diggs from the Vikings

March 16, 2020
Bills Get: Diggs, 7th Rd Pick
Vikings Get: 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th Rd Picks

Acquired Contract
4 years, $57.1M remaining
Diggs played out 2 years, $30M on the deal before signing a 4 year, $96M extension in Buffalo.

Cardinals Acquire DeAndre Hopkins from the Texans

March 16, 2020
Cardinals Get: Hopkins, 4th Rd Pick
Texans Get: David Johnson, 2nd, 4th Rd Picks

Acquired Contract
3 years, $40M remaining
Hopkins agreed to a 2 year, $54M extension with Arizona a few months after the trade, locking into a 5 year, $89M total value contract. He would play out 3 years, $55M before a 2023 release.

Texans Acquire Brandin Cooks from the Rams

April 9, 2020
Texans Get: Cooks, 4th Rd Pick
Rams Get: 2nd Rd Pick

Acquired Contract
3 years, $35M remaining (Rams retained $4M)
Cooks played out 2 years, $21M on the deal before signing a 2 year, $40M extension.

Browns Acquire Amari Cooper from the Cowboys

March 16, 2022
Browns Get: Cooper, 6th Rd Pick
Cowboys Get: 5th, 6th Rd Picks

Acquired Contract
3 years, $60M remaining
Cooper played out 2 ½ years on the contract in Cleveland before the Browns shipped him to Buffalo to finish out 2024 (retaining almost all of the remaining salary).

Dolphins Acquire Tyreek Hill from the Chiefs

March 23, 2022
Dolphins Get: Hill
Chiefs Get: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 4th, 6th Rd Pick

Acquired Contract
1 year, $18M remaining
Hill agreed to a 4 year, $120M extension as part of the trade.

Jaguars Acquire Calvin Ridley from the Falcons

November 1, 2022
Jaguars Get: Ridley
Falcons Get: 3rd, 5th Rd Picks

Acquired Contract
1 year, $11.1M remaining
Ridley played out the contract then signed a 4 year, $92M free agent contract with the Titans that offseason.

Bears Acquire D.J. Moore from the Panthers

March 10, 2023
Bears Get: Moore, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd Rd Picks
Panthers Get: #1 Overall 2023 Pick

Acquired Contract
3 years, $52.22M remaining
Moore played out 1 year, $20.1M before agreeing to a 4 year, $110M contract extension in Chicago.

The Atlanta Falcons (currently -$5M of cap space) have been vocal about their intent to keep QB Kirk Cousins in 2025, despite the expectation that Michael Penix Jr. will take over the QB1 reins. Cousins is owed a fully guaranteed $27.5M for the upcoming season, with $65M of dead cap sitting on the deal. If he's on the roster March 16th, a $10M bonus for 2026 becomes fully guaranteed as well. Let's lay out a few options:

A Standard Pre-March 16 Trade
It seems unlikely, but if Atlanta can find a dance partner to take on Cousins' contract, the Falcons would take on a $37.5M dead cap hit in 2025, but free themselves of any salary owed. The acquiring team would take on:

2025: $27.5M (fully guaranteed)
2026: $45M ($10M guarantees March 16th)
2027: $45M

A Salary-Retained Trade (Pre-March 16)
A slightly more possible option is that the Falcons agree to eat a portion of Cousins' $27.5M salary in order to facilitate a trade. Anything more than $2.5M retained would result in Atlanta taking a cap loss on the move, but the juice still might be worth the squeeze when including less money paid out, and a draft pick coming back in return.

A Standard Post June 1st Release (Pre-March 16)
The Falcons will keep Cousins' $40M cap hit on the books into June, then take on dead hits of $40M for 2025, $25M for 2026.

A Conversion + Post June 1st Release (Pre-March 16)
The Falcons convert $26.245M of Cousins' salary into signing bonus, then designate him a Post 6/1 release. They carry his updated $19M cap hit into June, then take on dead hits of $19M in 2025, $46M in 2026.

The Post-March 16th Move
Everything jumps up by $10M (including the cash owed). A trade becomes even less likely (if not impossible), and the total dead cap now sits at $75M.

The Actually Keep Him Move
We'll play along here. The Falcons decide to keep Cousins as a backup/QB1 competitor, paying him the $27.5M in 2025, allowing the $10M in 2026 to vest. If they don't touch the contract any further (no cap conversions), it will hold $35M of dead cap after 2025, the cost to release the nearly 38-year-old before another $10M bonus becomes guaranteed in early March 2027. If the Falcons process any sort of conversion on Cousins' current $40M cap hit, it will increase this $35M dead cap hit respectively. 

The Los Angeles Chargers are set to make a significant move Thursday, releasing 9-year veteran edge rusher Joey Bosa out of the final year of his contract. LAC will take on an $11.1M dead cap hit, freeing up a whopping $25.36M of space for the upcoming season.

The Chargers now hold around $90M of Top 51 cap space, with 45 contracts on the books. They are largely expected to be active both in free agency and the trade market this month.

Bosa earned just under $143M through his nine seasons in SD/LA.

The Bengals have another hole to fill this offseason, as 29-year-old DE Sam Hubbard announced his retirement from the NFL today. Hubbard spent all 7 of his pro seasons in Cincinnati, collecting $35.6M across that span.

He was scheduled to earn $9.6M in 2025, the final year of his contract. Instead, Cincy takes on a $2M dead cap hit, freeing up that $9.6M for the upcoming league year.

The Chicago Bears continued their early push toward fixing Caleb Williams' offense line, agreeing to a trade that will bring in Joe Thuney from Kansas City. Chicago will send back a 2026 4th Round pick, taking on a 1 year, $16M remaining contract for the 4-time All-Pro.

$2M of Thuney's salary is set to become fully guaranteed on March 14th, however it is largely expected that he and the Bears will negotiate an extension that provides both a pay raise, and ample guarantees. The 32-year-old carries a 2 year, $42M valuation in our system currently.

For Kansas City, they free up $16M of (much needed) cap space, taking on a $10.9M dead cap hit per the move. The Chiefs now head toward free agency with around $500,000 of Top 51 room.

Spotrac's MLB Offseason recap series continues with a look at the NL East that features a billion dollar Mets winter, notable additions for the Phillies, a bit of a purge for Atlanta, and continued rebuilding for Washington & Miami.

Atlanta Braves

The Braves won 89 games in 2024, good enough for 2nd in the NL East. They held MLB's 4th ranked tax payroll at $276M, putting them well over the second threshold last season. They enter 2025 a little lighter on the books, projecting toward a $229M Opening Day payroll, $12M or so under the first threshold.

2025 Projections

93 wins, 1st in the NL East

Notable Subtractions

Quite a few notable names left Atlanta this winter, factoring into the decrease in payroll to start the upcoming season.

(C) Travis d’Arnaud
(OF) Ramon Laureano, Adam Duvall, Whit Merrifield
(3B) Gio Urshela, Brian Anderson
(SP) Max Fried, Charlie Morton, Griffin Canning
(RP) AJ Minter, John Brebbia, Luke Jackson

Notable Additions

Despite a long list of subtractions, Atlanta treaded lightly both in free agency and in the trade market, a rare occurrence for this front office. Profar (3 years, $42M) figures to be the opening day left fielder/leadoff man, but all other additions here are slated for depth roles out of the gate. The Braves spent $43.6M in free agency this season, 18th in the league.

Via Free Agency
(OF) Jurickson Profar, $14M
(OF) Bryan De La Cruz, $860k
(RP) Connor Gillispie, $820k

Via Trade
(SS) Nick Allen

Prospects/Farm System

The Braves' farm system currently ranks 28th according to Baseball America, led by top prospect Drake Baldwin (C) and AJ Smith-Shawver (RHP). Atlanta has promoted or traded most of their top prospects in recent offseasons, putting their MLB in division/league contention, but thinning out their minor league system for a few years.

Top 100 Prospects
(C) Drake Baldwin, (SP) Cam Caminiti

2025 Storylines

• This has been one of the highest projected rosters on paper for years, but injuries & early postseason exits continue to haunt Atlanta. Will this be the year it all comes together?
• OF Ronald Acuna Jr. and SP Spencer Strider are both on their way back from significant 2024 injuries. They should be able to rejoin the team by Early May, giving Atlanta another boost.
• 2024 Cy Young Winner Chris Sale refound his old self after years of consistent injuries. Was it a fluke, or is he a legitimate SP1 for this team again in 2025?

Miami Marlins

The 62-win Marlins finished last in the NL East last season, carrying a $121M tax payroll (27th in MLB). They've dialed things back even more this winter, projecting toward a league-low $80M payroll for the upcoming season.

2025 Projections

70 wins, 5th in the NL East

Notable Subtractions

Jesus Luzardo's trade to Philly could prove to be one of the bigger moves of the offseason, while Jake Burger figures to be the everyday 1B on a loaded Texas roster for 2025.

(3B) Jake Burger
(2B) Vidal Brujan
(SP) Jesus Luzardo
(RP) Matt Andriese

Notable Additions

Not much to talk about here. Quantrill should fill in the back of the starting rotation, but 2025 is about clearing out space to let more than a few young players (most of whom were aquired in recent trades) stretch out at the MLB level and try to find their sea legs. The Marlins spent $3.5M total in free agency, 29th in MLB.

Via Free Agency
(SP) Cal Quantrill $3.5M

Via Trade
Minor Prospects

Prospects/Farm System

The Marlins' farm system currently ranks 21st according to Baseball America, led by top prospect Thomas White (LHP). Front office changes have slowed development of this pool from various avenues, and a few rough drafts have set things back a bit, but there are glimmers of hope (and a Sandy Alcantara trade) still yet to come.

Top 100 Prospects
(SP) Thomas White, (SS) Starlyn Caba, (SP) Nobel Meyer

2025 Storylines

• It's Year 2 of this new front office and the band-aid appears to be almost totally ripped off. Will Miami trade SP Sandy Alcantara and complete the ordeal?
• Focus has clearly been placed on the next few drafts, which must be successful in order to get this organization engaged in spending again.
• Will the league allow Miami to bottom out for multiple years?

New York Mets

The Mets put together a blazing second half to finish 2024 with 89 wins, tied for 2nd in the NL East. They posted a league runner-up $347M tax payoll, though $92M of that stemmed from retained/dead salary. New York finds themselves in similar waters to start 2025, projecting toward a $324M payroll, 2nd in MLB.

2025 Projections

86 wins, 3rd in the NL Eeast

Notable Subtractions

Severino is the splashy loss here, signing an historic 3 year, $67M deal with the Athletics. Martinez, Iglesias & Raley all remain available at the time of this piece.

(DH) JD Martinez
(OF) Harrison Bader
(SS) Jose Iglesias
(SP) Luis Severino, Jose Quintana
(RP) Brooks Raley

Notable Additions

Manaea returns to the rotation, while Holmes & Montas come in as replacements for Severino & Quintana. Alonso's return could be short-lived (opt-out after 2025), while Soto's contract ($765M) built a mountain on top of the previous highest paid player mountain. The Mets spent over $1B in free agency, 1st in MLB.

Via Free Agency
(OF) Juan Soto, $51M
(SP) Sean Manaea, $25M
(1B) Pete Alonso, $27M
(SP) Clay Holmes, $12.6M
(SP) Frankie Montas, $17M
(RP) AJ Minter, $11M

Via Trade
(OF) Jose Siri

Prospects/Farm System

The Mets' farm system currently ranks 12th according to Baseball America, led by top prospect Jett Williams (SS). Many of the notable young players in the system battled injuries in 2024, so the upcoming season will be both about rehabilitation & development. With that said, there are 3-4 bats, and 3-4 college-drafted arms nearing promotion in the coming months.

Top 100 Prospects
(SP) Brandon Sproat, (SS) Jett Williams

2025 Storylines

• Soto's addition will be judged daily, but the 26-year-old has managed expectations about as well as any star MLB in recent memory. The Mets boast one of baseball's best Top 3 in Lindor, Soto, & Alonso.
• Free agent losses and early injuries have put a lot of pressure on Clay Holmes to be a Day 1, top of the rotation success. Is he up for the challenge?
• Starling Marte & potentially Jeff McNeil pose buried contracts on an otherwise locked-in Mets roster. Is there a trade or two forthcoming out of Queens?

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies won 95 games in 2024, good enough to secure the NL East division while carrying a 7th-ranked $264M tax payroll. Philly found themselves squarely over the 2nd tax threshold last season, and may find themselves in deeper waters this season. Philadelphia currently projects toward a $302M Opening Day payroll, 3rd-most in MLB.

2025 Projections

87 wins, 2nd in the NL East

Notable Subtractions

Hoffman and Estevez are notable losses, but Philly's bullpen has been its achilles heel for the better part of the decade. It's clear that the organization is willing to make this a revolving door situation until they land on something that works.

(OF) Austin Hays
(RP) Jeff Hoffman, Dylan Covey, Carlos Estevez

Notable Additions

Romano figures to open the season as the 9th-inning closer, while Kepler should begin the year as the Opening Day left fielder. Luzardo is the big get this offseason however, as a potential top of rotation arm now joins the Phillies as their #5 starter. The Phillies spent $22.5M in free agency, 21st in MLB.

Via Free Agency
(OF) Max Kepler, $10M
(RP) Jordan Romano, $8.5M
(RP) Joe Ross, $4M

Via Trade
(SP) Jesus Luzardo

Prospects/Farm System

The Phillies' farm system currently ranks 20th according to Baseball America, led by top prospect Andrew Painter (RHP). This is a balanced, albeit not jaw-dropping group of players. But Painter is yet another top arm ready to make an impact at the MLB level. Philadelphia boasts a rotation of riches right now.

Top 100 Prospects
(SP) Andrew Painter, (SS) Aidan Miller, (OF) Justin Crawford, (C) Eduardo Tait

2025 Storylines

• Is a Romano/Strahm/Kerkering backend of the bullpen a recipe for success? If it doesn't look great early on, don't be surprised to see the front office actively try to bring in competition.
• Notable expiring contracts: J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suarez leave a few question marks as we approach opening day. Suarez likely needs to play out a great 2025 to garner extension discussions, but Schwarber and Realmuto should be locked in before April.
• Philly currently projects to eclipse the 4th tax threshold in 2025. Will they manuever a bit in-season to get themselves under this top-tier?

Washington Nationals

The Nationals finished 4th in the NL East last season, posting 71 wins against 22nd ranked $140M tax payroll. Despite a good amount of additions this winter, Washington will open up 2025 with a slightly less $134M projected payroll.

2025 Projections

72 wins, 4th in the NL East

Notable Subtractions

Patrick Corbin spent 7 years in Washington, reeling in over $128M over that span. He remains a free agent this winter, while Robert Garcia joins the Rangers on a pre-arb deal.

(SP) Patrick Corbin
(RP) Robert Garcia

Notable Additions

Washington added new blood to the rotation, while Paul DeJong (3B) Josh Bell (DH) and Nate Lowe (1B) figure to be in the Opening Day lineup. The Nationals spent $44M in free agency, 17th in MLB.

Via Free Agency
(SP) Michael Soroka, $9M
(SP) Trevor Williams, $7M
(1B) Josh Bell, $6M
(RP) Jorge Lopez, $3M
(SS) Amed Rosario, $2M
(3B) Paul DeJong, $1M

Via Trade
(1B) Nate Lowe

Prospects/Farm System

The Nationals' farm system currently ranks 14th according to Baseball America, led by top prospect Dylan Crews (OF). Crews is a lock to make the Opening Day roster, which should balance out this system a little bit, though there are a few arms ready to figure into the mix that could quickly turn Washington's tide.

Top 100 Prospects
(OF) Dylan Crews, (P) Travis Sykora, (P) Jarlin Susana

2025 Storylines

• 25% of the Nats 2025 payroll stems from Stephen Strasburg's retained salary. Another $35M is slated to hit their 2026, further hampering their ability to rebuild.
• A resolution on the team sale could be around the corner, and should reignite this front office.
• There are half a dozen prospects looking to crack this starting lineup in 2025. How many can prove their worthy of being a part of the future core?

The New Orleans Saints began their push out of negative cap space, releasing RB Jamaal Williams. The nearly 30-year-old was set to earn $3.15M in 2025. Instead, the Saints take on a $2.34M dead cap hit, freeing up $1.59M of space.

The Edmonton Oilers acquired F Trent Frederic from the Boston Bruins in a 3-team trade that incldued 7 pieces in total. Frederic brings over an expiring contract with $527,076 of cash remaining in 2024-25. Both Boston (50%) & New Jersey (25% agreed to retain a portion of his $2.3M cap hit, lowering it to $575,000 for the remainder of the season.

Full Trade Details

Oilers Receive
F Trent Frederic
F Max Jones
F Petr Hauser

Bruins Receive
2025 2nd Rd Pick
2025 4th Rd Pick
D Max Wanner

Devils Receive
F Shane Lachance

The Green Bay Packers extended kicker Brandon McManus to a 3 year, $15.3 million contract Tuesday, locking in the pending free agent before the start of the league year. The 33-year-old will secure a $5M signing bonus (the only portion of contracts the Packers regularly guarantee).

At $5.1M per year, McManus is now the 10th highest average paid kicker in football.