The NFL All-Roster-Bubble Team

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertFebruary 27, 2023
© USA TODAY Sports
QB

Ryan Tanehill

Team: TEN | Age: 34

2023 Cap: $36,600,000

PRE 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $17.8M
PRE 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $17.8M
POST 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $27M
POST 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $27M
Tannehill is entering a contract year in 2023, set to earn a non-guaranteed $27M (the traded value). A Pre June 1st trade or release opens up $17.8M of space - but do the Titans have a replacement plan?
RB

Joe Mixon

Team: CIN | Age: 26

2023 Cap: $12,761,754

PRE 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $7.2M
PRE 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $7.2M
POST 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $10M
POST 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $10M
Mixon’s overall production dipped last season after a career-best 2021 campaign. Samaje Perine held his own in a relief role, but is slated for free agency next season. Will the Bengals look to bring him back at a respectable price and save on Mixon’s big deal? There’s $7.2M cap to be freed up Pre 6/1, $10M if processed after. Mixon would carry cap hits of $10.1M, $10.3M with him to a new team if a trade is the way forward.
WR

Keenan Allen

Team: LAC | Age: 30

2023 Cap: $21,700,000

PRE 3/19 RELEASE SAVINGS: $14.8M
PRE 3/19 TRADE SAVINGS: $16.3M
POST 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $14M
POST 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $15.9M
Allen missed 7 costly games last season, but was on pace for his usual 100+ catch, 1,000+ yard, 6+ TD campaign prior to his injury. His cap hit soars to $21.7M next year, then $25.8M in 2024. $1.5M of his 2023 salary is fully guaranteed, but it seems plausible that the Chargers could secure a trade partner ($19M, $23.1M) if they sought a move. There's a $3.5M roster bonus due March 19th, but a trade prior to that would open up $16.3M of cap space.
TE

Logan Thomas

Team: WSH | Age: 31

2023 Cap: $8,675,000

PRE 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $5.175M
PRE 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $5.175M
POST 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $6.925M
POST 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $6.925M
Injuries & inconsistencies haven’t allowed Thomas to recreate his breakout 2020 season since then, and his contract is now right side up in terms of dead cap. The Commanders can open up $5.175M of space by moving on, but with a new QB likely coming into the picture, his veteran experience might be deemed too important to walk away from.
OT

Tyron Smith

Team: DAL | Age: 32

2023 Cap: $17,605,000

PRE 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $9.595M
PRE 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $9.595M
POST 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $13.6M
POST 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $13.6M
Smith enters a contract year, set to earn $13.6M against a $17.6M hit. He was moved to the right side of the line after returning from injury, making way for Tyler Smith (no relation) to take on the blindside role. There’s $9.5M of cap space to open up here if the Cowboys decide to move on, but it still seems like a big if right now.
G

Andrus Peat

Team: NO | Age: 29

2023 Cap: $18,371,000

PRE 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $1.3M
PRE 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $1.3M
POST 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $11.825M
POST 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $11.825M
Back-to-back restructures keep this contract difficult to move off from, but it seems a foregone conclusion anyway. A Pre 6/1 release only frees up $1.3M of cap space, while a Post 6/1 designation would open up $11.825M. The Saints have had players agree to base salary pay cuts in order to help facilitate a Post 6/1 move, and this feels like one of those situations. Dropping Peat’s deal down to the minimum for 2023 lowers his cap hit to $7.71M, a much more tenable number to have to carry through June 1st.
C

Andre James

Team: LV | Age: 25

2023 Cap: $6,980,000

PRE 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $5.06M
PRE 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $5.06M
POST 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $6.5M
POST 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $6.5M
James enters a contract year in 2023, having started 13 games for the Raiders last season. Vegas can open up $5M of cap by moving on, paving the way for 2022 3rd rounder Dylan Parham to take over the reins.
DL

Quinton Jefferson

Team: SEA | Age: 29

2023 Cap: $6,485,000

PRE 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $4.485M
PRE 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $4.485M
POST 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $4.485M
POST 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $4.485M
One of Jefferson or Shelby Harris probably falls off of this roster for cap purposes as the Seahawks look to get younger and faster on their D-Line. Both players had respectable 2022 campaigns, and with Jefferson on an expiring contract that carries $4.2M of cash/cap to be moved, he makes the list as a potential trade target. Especially as he’s spent time on the interior in 3-4s and on the edge in 4-3 defenses.
ED

Frank Clark

Team: KC | Age: 29

2023 Cap: $28,675,000

PRE 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $19.6M
PRE 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $19.6M
POST 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $19.6M
POST 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $19.6M
Clark signed a restructured extension this past March to lower his cap hit and stay in the fold. He responded with a Frank Clark type season (5 sacks, 40 tackles), but now sits with a $28.675M cap hit for the upcoming campaign. With Chris Jones poised for a new deal, can the Chiefs extend Clark again? Will they bite the bullet on a restructure that pushes dead cap down the line? This is a situation to watch - and many teams will be.
LB

Eric Kendricks

Team: MIN | Age: 30

2023 Cap: $11,430,000

PRE 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $9.5M
PRE 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $9.5M
POST 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $9.5M
POST 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $9.5M
He can still fill up a stat-line with the best of them, but the Vikings need to begin the process of getting younger (and subsequently cheaper) especially on the defensive side of the ball. Kendricks’ expiring contract can open up $9.5M of much needed cap space for Minnesota, who may address this position fairly early in the April draft.
CB

Byron Jones

Team: MIA | Age: 31

2023 Cap: $18,351,000

PRE 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $3.547M
PRE 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $3.547M
POST 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $13.6M
POST 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $13.6M
The guarantees fall off of this massive contract for the first time this offseason. With Xavien Howard now under contract, and Jones admitting that he may never return to full health, it feels like the Dolphins are at a point where Miami must move off of this deal, despite its minimal immediate savings ($3.5M). A Post 6/1 release./retirement can open up $13.6M.
S

Chuck Clark

Team: BAL | Age: 27

2023 Cap: $6,768,333

PRE 3/19 RELEASE SAVINGS: $3.4M
PRE 3/19 TRADE SAVINGS: $4.14M
POST 3/19 RELEASE SAVINGS: $2.3M
POST 3/19 TRADE SAVINGS: $2.9M
It stands to reason that Kyle Hamilton is ready to take over this role full-time, but Clark's financials don't immediately scream cap casualty. Factor in $661k of fully guaranteed salary & a $1.1M roster bonus due March 19th, and there are plenty of reasons to think this one might not pan out. An early March trade seems more likely than any move.
S/T

Jason Sanders

Team: MIA | Age: 27

2023 Cap: $3,775,000

PRE 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $3.775M
PRE 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $3.775M
POST 6/1 RELEASE SAVINGS: $3.775M
POST 6/1 TRADE SAVINGS: $3.775M
Sanders made less than 80% of his field goal attempts while going 41/44 on PATs last season. He’s now had back to back inconsistent years from longer range, putting his $3.775M salary on notice.

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