Aaron Rodgers will take up a shade under 18 percent of the Green Bay Packers’ salary cap space for the 2023 NFL season. That’s larger than any other quarterback’s cap hit this fall — and it’s especially notable because Rodgers won’t play a single down for the Packers.
The complex nature of NFL contracts means teams can be stuck accounting for players who are no longer on the roster. Trading or releasing a veteran doesn’t absolve a franchise from the guaranteed money it still owes him. Even retirement can offer little relief; the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have $35 million in sunk costs coming up this season as part of the privilege of rostering Tom Brady for his final three years.
Brady and Rodgers lead the way when it comes to players who’ll take up valuable salary cap resources without even taking a spot in the locker room. 27 players will take up at least $8 million of their former team’s spending room despite no longer being rostered. Here are the top 25 — so far — from Rodgers down to Julio Jones (who’ll cost two different teams space in 2023).
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1
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
2023 dead cap hit: $40,313,570
2
Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2023 dead cap hit: $35,104,000
3
Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans
2023 dead cap hit: $22,220,741
4
Allen Robinson, Los Angeles Rams
2023 dead cap hit: $21,450,000
5
DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals
2023 dead cap hit: $21,077,776
6
Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams
2023 dead cap hit: $19,600,000
7
Leonard Floyd. Los Angeles Rams
2023 dead cap hit: $19,000,000
8
Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
2023 dead cap hit: $18,352,250
9
Matt Ryan, Indianapolis Colts
2023 dead cap hit: $18,000,000
10
Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles
2023 dead cap hit: $15,359,292
11
Kenny Golladay, New York Giants
2023 dead cap hit: $14,700,000
12
DJ Moore, Carolina Panthers
2023 dead cap hit: $14,625,000
13
Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings
2023 dead cap hit: $13,550,000
14
Robert Quinn, Chicago Bears
2023 dead cap hit: $13,233,520
15
Jonnu Smith, New England Patriots
2023 dead cap hit: $12,810,000
16
Deion Jones, Atlanta Falcons
2023 dead cap hit: $12,140,784
17
Javon Hargrave, Philadelphia Eagles
2023 dead cap hit: $11,956,000
18
Bud Dupree, Tennessee Titans
2023 dead cap hit: $10,850,000
19
David Onyemata, New Orleans Saints
2023 dead cap hit: $10,192,555
20
Cory Littleton, Las Vegas Raiders
2023 dead cap hit: $9,986,000
21
Brandon Brooks, Philadelphia Eagles
2023 dead cap hit: $9,797,237
22
Chosen Anderson, Carolina Panthers
2023 dead cap hit: $9,719,168
23
William Jackson III, Washington Commanders
2023 dead cap hit: $9,000,000
24
Dee Ford, San Francisco 49ers
2023 dead cap hit: $8,589,999
25
Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans*
2023 dead cap hit: $8,400,000
*Jones also accounts for a $3,456,236 dead space hit for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is currently a free agent.
