NFL Salary Cap Casualties: 10 Defensive Linemen Who Might Be Giants

The New York Giants were among the worst in sacks, hurries, hits, and pressures in 2015. The defensive front four sorely missed Jason Pierre-Paul for half the season and eventually lost Johnathan Hankins for the tail end. The blitz packages and schemes dialed up by Steve Spagnuolo were rarely-to-occasionally successful. There have been reports the players believe Spagnuolo had the right call, but couldn’t execute, which means the Giants need better players.

We’ve already taken a look at the unrestricted free agents that might be signed by Big Blue. Now, let’s take a look at the NFL salary cap casualties who are defensive linemen to see who the Giants could sign.

1. Mario Williams, DE (Buffalo Bills)

2016 Cap: $19,900,000

Age: Will be 31

Trade / Cut Likeliness Grade: A+

If Traded or Cut:

• Before March 13th: $7 million in 2016 dead cap for Bills ($12.9M savings)
• Between March 13th and June 1st: $9.5 million in 2016 dead cap for Bills ($10.4 million savings)
• After June 1st: $7.9 million in 2016 dead cap for Bills ($12 million savings), $1.6 million in 2017 dead cap

I wrote an article about Williams getting cut back around New Year’s Day when the news first broke. The Bills would save almost $13 million if they release Mario before March 13th. You want a guy who doesn’t get hurt? Of Mario’s 10 seasons, he only had one season in which he failed to play less than 13 games (2011) and two seasons in which he played less than 15 (2010, 2011). While 2015 was a big step back for Williams – due in part to Rex Ryan misusing him – Mario had double digit sacks in the previous three seasons. Buffalo is actually $2 million OVER the cap, so they should be cutting and re-structuring a bunch of contracts.

2. Chris Long, DE (Los Angeles Rams)

2016 Cap: $14,250,000

Age: Will be 31

Trade / Cut Likeliness Grade: B

If Traded or Cut:

• Before March 11th: $2.5 million in 2016 dead cap for Rams ($11.75 million savings)
• After March 11th: $4.5 million in 2016 dead cap for Rams ($9.75 million savings)

Long’s best years are probably behind him. He’s only played in 18 games the past two seasons with only 11 starts, 24 combined tackles and 4 sacks. But, from 2010 – 2013, he didn’t miss a game and collected 41.5 sacks. The Rams have about $35 million in cap space, so they might make an offer to Long, but will most likely use a good portion of that to sign one or both of their free agent cornerbacks Trumaine Johnson and Janoris Jenkins.

3. Kyle Williams, DT (Buffalo Bills)

2016 Cap: $8,000,000

Age: Will be 33

Trade / Cut Likeliness Grade: B

If Traded or Cut:

• Before March 13th: $3 million in 2016 dead cap for Bills ($5 million savings)
• Between March 13th – June 1st: $3.5 million in 2016 dead cap for Bills ($4.5 million savings)
• After June 1st: $2 million in 2016 dead cap for Bills ($6 million savings), $1.5 million in 2017 dead cap

As I mentioned, Buffalo is $2 million over the cap, so both Williams – Mario and Kyle – should be on the market. If I had to pick one, I’d take Mario. Kyle’s only had two seasons in which he played less than 14 games, last season and 2011. Before 2015, he made the Pro Bowl three straight seasons, but I don’t see him being that big of an upgrade to warrant the spend.

4. Paul Soliai, DT (Atlanta Falcons)

2016 Cap: $6,837,500

Age: 32

Trade / Cut Likeliness Grade: B

If Traded or Cut:

• Before June 1st: $4.2 million in 2016 dead cap for Falcons ($2.6375 million savings)
• After June 1st: $1.9 million in 2016 dead cap for Falcons ($4.9375 million savings), $2.8 million in 2017 dead cap

The Falcons rank 22nd in the league in available salary cap and don’t have a lot of high-priced free agents. They might try to keep Kroy Biermann, but not Adrian Clayborn. Soliai’s stats don’t jump off the page, his lone Pro Bowl season came in 2011.

5. Sen’derrick Marks, DT (Jacksonville Jaguars)

2016 Cap: $4,675,000

Age: Will be 29

Trade / Cut Likeliness Grade: B

If Traded or Cut:

• Before March 9th: $400,000 in 2016 dead cap for Jaguars ($4.275 million savings)
• Between March 9th and June 1st: $1.4 million in 2016 dead cap for Jaguars ($3.275 million savings)
• After June 1st: $1.2 million in 2016 dead cap for Jaguars ($3,475 million savings), $200,000 in 2017 dead cap

The Jaguars have the 5th most salary cap available to spend at ~$42 million and don’t have many, if any, free agents that would eat up that much cap. Sen’derrick only started two games last season, but had solid seasons in 2013 and 2014, totaling 12.5 sacks and 76 combined tackles with 2 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries and 10 passes defended.