June 2 is an important day in the NFL calendar. Under the NFL’s salary cap rules, bonus splits from remaining or future contract years are delayed until the next league year when a player is released, waived or traded after June 1.
It’s a date that used to carry a lot of significance in the NFL. It marked the beginning of the last wave of free agency. Teams will primarily release overcontracted or underperforming players due to a change in salary impact.
In some years, more than 20 players are released after June 1. Some of the big-name players to hit the open market as June salary cap casualties include Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Kurt Warner.
These free agents were in a critical position in the market because many teams had already filled their needs through the NFL Draft, and the salary cap space was very high. As a result, most of the released players could not secure deals that reflect their market value if they were available earlier.
This changed in 2006. To remedy the situation, the NFL’s 2006 contract included a provision that allowed teams to release up to two players each league year before June 2 (known as the post-June 1 term) who were treated under the salary cap as if they were released after June 1.
For post-June 1 selections, the team must carry the player’s full number until June 2 even though he is no longer part of the roster. A player’s salary is off the books at that time unless it is guaranteed.
This provision is included in every subsequent CBA, including the current labor agreement. Appointments after June 1 are not valid for trades.
Most of the time when a player is traded or released, there is a residual charge on the cap, mostly due to bonus splits. This fee for a player who is no longer on the team’s roster is often referred to as dead money. It is usually a huge expense that money can be owed to a player. Only when there are salary guarantees or prepaid money in the current league year at the time of release or trade is there an actual payment associated with the dead money.
Eleven players were released for the 2026 league year by being drafted after June 1. Only this year’s bonus share is counted against the 2026 salary cap when players are released or traded after June 1 of this league year. Any future bonus portion becomes a 2027 salary charge.
Four teams — the Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings — used both of their names after June 1. The 11 players are listed below, along with the salary cap implications of their moves.
- 2026 salary cap number: $56,267,647
- 2026 compensation: $55 million
- 2026 dead money: $55.4 million (includes $15 million option bonus and $39 million guaranteed base salary 2026)
- Salary cap savings for 2026: $867,647
- 2027 dead money: $43.8 million
As expected, Tua Tagovailoa was used under the new regime of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. The Dolphins gave Malik Willis a three-year, $67.5 million contract with $45 million fully guaranteed to replace Tagovailoa at quarterback.
The $99.2 million in total dead money is a record tied to a single player contract. The $55.4 million in 2026 is also a league record for a single player in one year.
The dead money is so high because Tagovailoa’s $54 million base salary for 2026 was fully guaranteed. To avoid the 2026 dead money charge of $67.4 million, the Dolphins exercised an option in the 2030 dummy/voiding contract year prior to Tagovailoa’s release in March by making a $15 million payment (i.e., a pick bonus).
Upon exercise, the option bonus was divided into $3 million per year in Miami’s salary from 2026 through 2030. The capital expense would have been $67.4 million in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027 if the option had not been exercised.
- 2026 salary cap number: $51,711,466
- 2026 compensation: $42,542,500
- 2026 dead money: $46,568,966 (includes a guaranteed base salary of $22.835 million for 2026 and a guaranteed roster bonus of $13.965 million for 2026)
- Salary cap savings for 2026: $5,142,500
- 2027 dead money: $3,961,966
Kyler Murray was benched in favor of Jacoby Brissett, the starting quarterback, before going on injured reserve in Week 10 with a sprained right foot that cost him five games into the 2025 season. Arizona’s offense worked very well with Brissett leading the way.
The Cardinals tried to trade Murray before he was released in March but were unable to find a taker due to his contract. Three years worth $125,234,860, including $36.8 million fully guaranteed in 2026, remains on the five-year, $230.1 million contract extension that Murray signed in 2022.
- 2026 salary cap number: $24.6 million
- 2026 compensation: $12.1 million
- 2026 dead money: $22.5 million (includes $10 million 2026 bonus guaranteed)
- Salary cap savings for 2026: $2.1 million
- 2027 dead money: $12.5 million
The Falcons restructured Kirk Cousins’ contract as the end of the 2025 regular season approaches to make way for his post-June 1 post-June 1 release. His $35 million base salary for 2026 was reduced to $2.1 million, freeing up $32.9 million in cap space for 2026.
Cousin’s base salary for 2027 was increased by $32.9 million to $67.9 million, which was fully confirmed on the third day of the 2026 league year (March 13). Per the rules of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, a term after June 1 is prohibited if contract changes occur after the end of the previous regular season.
- 2026 salary cap number: $4.3 million
- 2026 compensation: $1.3 million
- 2026 dead money: $3 million
- Salary cap savings for 2026: $1.3 million
- 2027 dead money: $7.6 million
The one-year, $10.25 million deal that Harrison Smith signed with the Vikings last March was designed with the post-June 1 term in mind. There were contract years of 2026 through 2029 for bonus-split purposes. Smith’s $25 million 2027 salary would be fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2026 league year if he is not released. The Vikings remain open to Smith, 37 and considering retirement, returning for a 15th season in Minnesota.
- 2026 salary cap number: $31,202,742
- 2026 compensation: $20.23 million
- 2026 dead money: $10,972,742
- Salary cap savings for 2026: $20.23 million
- 2027 dead money: $12,886,500
Bradley Chubb had a team-high 8.5 sacks for the Dolphins in 2025 after missing the entire 2024 season due to a severe right knee injury (torn ACL, meniscus and patellar tendon) suffered late in the 2023 season. The Dolphins’ difficult salary situation prompted Chubb’s departure.
- 2026 salary cap number: $10.834 million
- 2026 compensation: $1.3 million
- 2026 dead money: $9.534 million
- Salary cap savings for 2026: $1.3 million
- 2027 dead money: $14.797 million
David Njoku’s contract with the Browns was expected to expire in its terms until the contract agreement in the middle of the 2025 season. Dummy/voiding 2026 to 2028 contract years were converted to actual contract years. Njoku’s 2028 salary was $75 million non-guaranteed which was fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2026 league year (March 13) to ensure he would be released. The Browns would have had $24.331 million in 2026 dead money for Njoku without this old salary cap accounting system.
- 2026 salary cap number: $10,356,666
- 2026 compensation: $9 million
- 2026 dead money: $2,166,666
- Salary cap savings for 2026: $8.19 million
- 2027 dead money: $2,166,668
The Broncos ignored strong concerns about Dre Greenlaw when they signed him to a three-year, $31.5 million contract worth $10.5 million annually and worth up to $34.5 million in 2025 free agency. Greenlaw’s inability to stay healthy was a big reason why Denver released him after just one season.
- 2026 salary cap number: $23,866,666
- 2026 compensation: $17.7 million
- 2026 dead money: $12,666,666
- Salary cap savings for 2026: $11.2 million (includes a guaranteed $8 million base salary in 2026)
- 2027 dead money: $4,666,668
The guaranteed $8 million base salary for 2026 was not enough for Jonathan Allen to earn a second year with the Vikings after signing a three-year, $51 million contract worth up to $60 million in compensation and salary increases as an unrestricted free agent in 2025. Another $8 million of Allen’s money was guaranteed on the third day of 2026 to become the basis for the third day of 2026. league year.
- 2026 salary cap number: $10.393 million
- 2026 compensation: $2.1 million
- 2026 dead money: $8.293 million
- Salary cap savings for 2026: $2.1 million
- 2027 dead money: $13.011 million
The Browns used the poison pill concept used with Njoku in the preseason contract restructuring to create salary cap space for 2026. Wyatt Teller’s $99 million non-secured 2028 salary that is fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2026 league year was the poison pill in this case.
- 2026 salary cap number: $12,838,235
- 2026 compensation: $9.05 million
- 2026 dead money: $4 million
- Salary cap savings for 2026: $8,838,235
- 2027 dead money: $8 million
Signing Nate Hobbs to a four-year, $48 million contract in 2025 free agency backfired for the Packers. Green Bay overrated Hobbs’ ability to play on the perimeter over playing slot cornerback. Hobbs made $17,988,235 during his one season in Green Bay.
- 2026 salary cap number: $5,278,431
- 2026 compensation: $3.7 million
- 2026 dead money: $2,666,666 (includes $1 million listing bonus)
- Salary cap savings for 2026: $2,611,765
- 2027 dead money: $1,666,668
Brandon McManus’ days in Green Bay are numbered after the Packers selected University of Florida kicker Trey Smack in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Making 80% of his field goal attempts last season when the league average conversion rate was 85.6% didn’t help his cause.
