The Arizona Cardinals have limited salary cap space at the moment. According to the NFLPA website as of Wednesday afternoon, the Cardinals had under $6.3 million in cap space. They gain more than $1 million more in space with the release of receiver Kevin White.
However, with pressing needs on the defensive and offensive lines, the Cardinals don’t have a lot of money to work with.
Appearing on Fox Sports 910, Arizona Republic beat writer Bob McManaman suggested the Cardinals might be in a position to have to make player cuts based on freeing up salary cap space.
With that in mind, who are the players the Cardinals could cut and save money?
Here are eight players where significant savings could be had, although several of them would make so sense.
RT Marcus Gilbert
Gilbert could be cut and the Cardinals would save more than $4.9 million. However, he is their most talented offensive lineman and they don’t have anyone who could replace him, and signing someone capable would probably cost at least that much.
So, while it would create salary cap space, it would not make any sense.
DT Corey Peters
Peters has two years remaining on his contract. Cutting him would save the Cardinals nearly $4 million, but the problem is they already don’t have depth on the defensive line. Peters is a starter and they can’t really afford to cut him. He is their best defensive lineman.
OLB Brooks Reed
Reed might make sense. Cutting him would save $1.375 million in cap space. He is not a starter. Andre Branch still gives the Cardinals veteran depth and Pete Robertson has emerged as a guy who could play rotationally as well.
S D.J. Swearinger
Cutting Swearinger would save the Cardinals nearly $5 million cap space. However, he is a starter and a leader. he is also a pretty dang good safety. Would Josh Shaw or rookies Deionte Thompson or Jalen Thompson be ready to start? Not likely.
Cutting him would save money but would make the team worse.
C A.Q. Shipley
Shipley looks like the team’s starting center. However, the team seems very confident in Mason Cole. Cutting Shipley would save the Cardinals just over $1 million in cap space. Would it make the team better? Probably not, because then Cole becomes the starter and then you have to rely on rookie Lamont Gaillard as the backup center and guard. Of course, if Max Garcia comes back, he could fill that role.
Still, cutting Shipley would be a surprise.
RG J.R. Sweezy
Signed in March, Sweezy is the starter at right guard. Cutting him would make an already suspect offensive line even more suspect, especially considering it is unknown who would replace him. That said, cutting him would save nearly $2.5 million this year.
OL Max Garcia
Garcias is still not healthy and is on PUP. However, if cut, the Cardinals would save more than $1.5 million in cap space. However, he was signed knowing he was coming off an ACL tear. He is expected to be veteran depth once he is able to play. They currently have little experience on the bench on the offensive line.
TE Charles Clay
Clay recently came off PUP and has not played in the preseason. He is the team’s most talented tight end on the roster but they do have Maxx Williams already and, if Kliff Kingsbury is confident in players like Ricky Seals-Jones or Darrell Daniels, then Clay perhaps becomes expendable.
Cutting him would save $1.65 million of the $2 million deal he signed in February.
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