NFL Salary Cap Casualties: 11 Tight Ends Who Might Be Giants
By Neal Lynch
Ed Dickson (Carolina Panthers)
Age: Will be 29
2016 Cap Hit: $2,566,666
Likeliness Grade of Trade / Release:B
Trade/Cut:
- Pre 6/1: $1,333,334 in 2016 dead cap ($1,233,332 savings)
- Post 6/1: $666,666in 2016 dead cap ($1.9M savings), $666,667 in 2017 dead cap
Relatively speaking, Dickson’s not a large cap hit. Carolina’s middle of the road in the league in terms of salary cap space, but they might have to pony up for impending free agent Josh Norman. Ed hasn’t cracked the 300 yard receiving mark in a season since 2011 with Baltimore and has watched Greg Olsen grab the lion’s share of targets in Carolina.
Jim Dray (Cleveland Browns)
Age: Will be 29
2016 Cap Hit: $2,075,000
Likeliness Grade of Trade / Release: B
Trade/Cut: $300,000 in 2016 dead cap ($1.775M savings)
Cleveland is – and should be – cleaning house. Reports have indicated Johnny Manziel is gone and perennial Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas wants out. Factory of Sadness listed Dray as one of the 10 players who shouldn’t return in 2016, noting that he can’t catch and doesn’t block well. Here’s another Jersey product (Paramus) who might be more comfortable playing near home.
Brandon Myers (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Age: Will be 31
2016 Cap Hit: $1,916,668
Likeliness Grade of Trade / Release: B
Trade/Cut: $166,668 2016 dead cap ($1.75M savings)
The former Giant who kind of sort of probably cost Big Blue the game against the Bears in Chicago during the dreadful 2013 season. After going to Tampa in 2014, Myers has mired: 33 catches for less than 400 yards in two seasons with 0 touchdowns.
Jeff Cumberland (New York Jets)
Age: Will be 29
2016 Cap Hit: $1,900,000
Likeliness Grade of Trade / Release: B
Trade/Cut: No dead cap ($1.9M savings)
The Jets have the 9th least amount of space under the salary cap with around $12 million. Cumberland isn’t a large cap hit for the Jets, but 5 catches for 77 yards in 15 games played last season is grounds for divorce. Plus, no dead cap. The Jets don’t spend a ton on that position, but would probably want an upgrade to help take the heat off Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall.