7 potential salary cap casualties for 2024 Dallas Cowboys
Star players will soon sign large contracts, and some Cowboys may be released to help pay for the new agreements.
The contracts of elite players like quarterback Dak Prescott, linebacker Micah Parsons, and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb are going to heat up once more as the offseason gets underway. The Cowboys’ salary cap issue may force some difficult choices elsewhere on the roster if they plan to work on their agreements this season.
According to the current contracts inked through the 2024–21 season, Dallas is currently expected to exceed the cap by at least $11 million.They are $16 million over the cap, according to another source. The $7.3 million in dead money included in both estimates is primarily from the release of running back Ezekiel Elliott last year, although a couple of other guys as well.
Now these figures don’t begin to tell the whole story of where the Cowboys will actually wind up in terms of their cap figure. Whatever happens with Prescott, he’s not going to count $59.5 million in 2024. They will also find ways to bring down Zack Martin’s $28.5 million hit and probably reduce the $18 million and $16 million hits for Lamb and Trevon Diggs.
But with those likely reductions will also come increases. Parsons is likely to hold out if the team doesn’t give him a healthy raise from the $5.4 million due on the fourth year of his rookie contract. The Cowboys also have to deal with some significant upcoming free agents: RB Tony Pollard, OT Tyron Smith, C Tyler Biadasz, CB Stephon Gilmore, S Jayron Kearse, and others who will either need to be re-signed or replaced.
So with all of that looming, which current contracted players are most at risk of becoming salary cap casualties? Here are seven players and what Dallas can gain in new cap space by releasing or trading them.
DE DeMarcus Lawrence
$2.56 million (pre-6/1)
$10 million (post-6/1)
Lawrence just finished one of his best seasons in a while, but Dallas’ spiritual leader on defense turns 32 in April and carries a huge cap hit. In the interest of keeping Parsons happy, the Cowboys may have to rob the Tank to pay the Lion.
Hopefully, as has happened before, the two sides could rework Lawrence’s deal to keep him in Dallas at a more cap-friendly number. He’s still one of their top defensive players and youngsters like Chauncey Golston and Viliami Fehoko have yet to show they’re in any position to replace him.
Unfortunately, the salary cap doesn’t care. If the Cowboys are pushed against the wall financially, Lawrence presents one of the biggest opportunities to reduce cost. It could just come down to cold, harsh math.
WR Michael Gallup
$800 thousand (pre-6/1)
$9.5 million (post-6/1)
This one seems more like a certainty than a possibility. After a rough season that showed he still hasn’t fully recovered from past injuries, Gallup’s time in Dallas feels unlikely to continue.
Different from the situation at defensive end, wide receiver does have guys ready to step up. Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, and Jalen Brooks all seem deserving of more opportunities. Assuming Lamb and Brandin Cooks are back as starters, running with those guys and perhaps a low-priced veteran would be sufficient for 2024.
Sure, Gallup at times flashes his remaining skills and chemistry with Prescott. But he’s making far too much now for random showings. The Cowboys bet on him returning to pre-injury form in 2022 and now it’s time to cut their losses.
LB Leighton Vander Esch
$2.5 million (either)
Vander Esch may not even give Dallas an option here if he chooses to retire, which seems possible given his ongoing neck issues. But regardless of it’s by his own hand or the team’s, Dallas would get back the same amount from his contract.
Unfortunately, even if Vander Esch still wants to play, the Cowboys have to consider his availability. He missed 12 games this year and has a brutal
history. With Damone Clark and Markquese Bell returning, plus the hopes for what DeMarvion Overshown can do when he comes back, Dallas might rather not leave a decent chunk of the cap tied up in such an unreliable asset.
QB Cooper Rush
$2.25 million (either)
Trey Lance wasn’t acquired by the Cowboys last year for nothing. Dallas is practically forced to release Rush in order to help pay for the adjustment, as Lance’s cap cost is expected to go from $940k to about $5.3 million.
Of course, it’s possible that this was always the plan. During the season, Lance was placed on the shelf to be developed further. Rush’s only roles in the QB room were to be a stabilizing presence and to come in for the occasional blowout. Now, though, it’s difficult to imagine him coming back if Dallas moves on to the next stage of the Lance project.
P Bryan Anger
$3 million (either)
While cutting the Pro Bowler would come with potential risk, it also provides solid cap relief. After the wizardry they pulled off in finding Brandon Aubrey at kicker, who only counted $750k against the cap in 2023, Dallas might make another bold move to reduce their cap liability on special teams.
DE Chauncey Golston
CB Nahshon Wright
$1.2-1.3 million each (either)
Two fourth-year players who play little roles on the squad and have little remaining dead money on their contracts. Although the $1.2-$1.3 million in cap savings for each of them may not seem like much, Dallas may reinvest that cash in other players with greater upside as well as some newer, less expensive draft picks.
Golston was discussed in relation to the choice made about DeMarcus Lawrence, and it’s important to remember that he would be the most likely choice to assume more of Tank’s run-stopping responsibilities. However, he hasn’t had much of an influence this year.
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