The Red Zone: 2017 NFL offseason player releases

With the Super Bowl all wrapped-up the NFL’s 2016 season has come to a close. Teams have now begun to transition to offseason mode and make preparations for the 2017 season. Many have already started making roster cuts to free up salary cap space ahead of the free agency period in March. Most have begun to evaluate their rosters and positional needs as they look towards April’s draft.

For some players this means their tenure with their team has come to an end as they enter free agency and hope to find a new fit in a new home. Others who are more fortunate will see their contracts extended or have a franchise tag placed on them as teams look to wrap them up before they can test the waters elsewhere.

The NFL’s offseason is one of the busiest times of the year. It can be anything short of chaos with all the moving pieces and nearly impossible to stay on top of the latest transactions. cover32’s Red Zone is aimed at keeping you apprised of all the latest moves, week in and week out, through the fast-paced environment that is the NFL offseason.

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Browns Released QB Josh McCown and DB Tramon Williams

Last week the Cleveland Browns got an early start on their spring cleaning and released two of their most respected veterans in quarterback, Josh McCown and defensive back, Tramon Williams. By releasing them, the Browns are off the hook of having to pay them their roster bonuses due if they were still with the team on March 11th.

McCown, a 14-year veteran, was set to make a $750,000 roster bonus while drawing a $3.625 million salary this year. Williams, a 10-year veteran, was due to claim a $1.225 million roster bonus with a 2017 salary of $5.7 million. All said and done, Cleveland saved $11.3 million against their 2017 payroll by cutting McCown and Williams and will only have to carry a little under $1.2 million of their contracts. The moves give the Browns more than $100 million of cap space to work with, the most in the NFL.

The 38-year-old McCown, was 1-10 — 1-7 in 2015 and 0-3 in 2016 — as a starting quarterback in his two years with the Browns. He endured several injuries during his time with the team, including two broken collar bones and was instrumental in the development of rookie signal caller, Cody Kessler, last season. With the release of McCown, Cleveland is left with Robert Griffen III, Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan at quarterback. Upgrading the quarterback position is considered a top priority for the Browns this offseason.

Williams, who is on the wrong side of 30 at 33-years-old, joined the Browns in 2015 and started 22 of 27 games. In 2016 he started five games at the corner position and two at safety, where he excelled, recording 36 tackles, five passes deflected and one interception.

With the Browns cutting McCown and Williams well in advance of the March 11th roster bonus deadline, there is a much better chance that both will land with another team.

Packers Released RB James Starks and CB Sam Shields

The Packers decided to party ways with longtime veterans, running back, James Starks and cornerback, Sam Shields last week. The two had made major contributions on the field for Green Bay during the tenure, but had begun to struggle as of late.

Starks was set to make $2.6 million in salary with another $400,000 in bonuses this season. After signing Shields to a four-year, $39 million contract in 2014, the Packers will save $9 million in cap space by cutting the veteran corner, but will have to carry $3.125 million in dead money. With the moves, Green Bay now has $43 million of cap space for the 2017 season.

Starks joined the Packers in 2010 as a sixth-round rookie and helped guide the team through the playoffs and to their first Super Bowl win for the first time since 1996. In 76 games with Green Bay, Starks rushed for 2,506 yards while scoring nine touchdowns. With the release of Starks and Eddie Lacy set to become an unrestricted free agent, the Packers’ backfield is thin and suddenly lacking depth.

Shields also joined Green Bay as a rookie in 2010 and through six seasons with the team, played in 80 games, recorded 211 tackles and 18 interceptions, including five in the postseason. Shields has suffered with concussion issues through the course of his career and missed nearly all of 2016 with the fifth concussion of his career.

Giants Released WR Victor Cruz and RB Rashad Jennings

Earlier this week, the New York Giants parted ways with veteran wideout, Victor Cruz and running back, Rashad Jennings. Cruz was set to draw $9.4 million against the cap in 2017, but with his release the Giants will free up $7.5 million. Jennings was due to account for a little under $3.1 million against the salary cap, but his release will give New York another $2.5 million of cap space. By releasing the pair, the Giants will save significant cap space, freeing up $10 million in 2017.

Cruz was signed by the Giants as an undrafted rookie in 2010, but spent most of his rookie campaign on the injured reserve list. He had back-to-back 1,000-yard breakout seasons in 2011 and 2012. Cruz missed 2014 and 2015 with knee and calf injuries, returning in 2016, but has struggled to regain his form. Cruz recorded 39 receptions for 586 yards and just one score last season, after seeing his role decrease with the emergence of Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard. The 30-year-old wideout has spent his entire seven-year career with the Giants and ranks 10th in franchise history in both receptions (303) and yards (4,549) and 17th in touchdowns (25).

Jennings signed with the Giants as a free agent in 2014 and has been the team’s leading rusher over the past two seasons. He rushed for a career best 863 yards in 2015, but managed just 593 yards and three touchdowns while averaging a mere 3.3 yard per carry in the Giants’ 29th ranked rushing attack last season. With the release of the soon to be 32-year-old back, New York is left with Paul Perkins, Shane Vereen, Orleans Darkwa and George Winn to head the Giants’ rushing attack in 2017.

Colts Released LB D’Qwell Jackson

New Indianapolis Colts general manager, Chris Ballard, began his offseason makeover on Thursday, announcing that they had released Jackson. Jackson, who signed with the Colts in 2014, had one-year left on his contract. By cutting him, Indianapolis saves $5.5 million against the cap.

The 33-year old linebacker recorded 366 tackles in three seasons with the Colts, leading the team in tackles during his first two, but his level of play fell off last year. but has displayed declining skills in recent years.

Jackson was suspended for the final four games of the 2016 season for violating the NFL’s performance enhancing drug policy.

Vikings Released OG Brandon Fusco and OG Mike Harris

The Minnesota Vikings announced last Friday that they had released guards, Brandon Fusco and Mike Harris, as the look to rebuild an offensive line that struggled in 2016. Fusco was due to draw more than $15 million against the cap over the next three seasons. With his release the Vikings recoups $3.2 million in 2017, but will have to eat $1.6 million in dead money. The release of Harris has no cap implications as he was signed to a one-year deal in 2016.

Fusco joined Minnesota as a sixth-round pick in 2011 and started 63 of the 66 games he played for the Vikings over his six-year tenure. He became a starter at right guard in 2012 and looked to be staple on the line after his 2013 breakout campaign. After suffering a pectoral injury in 2014, he was never the same. Fusco moved over to left guard in 2015 and struggled mightily in 2016.

Harris was signed by the San Diego Chargers in 2012 as an undrafted free agent before landing with Minnesota in 2014 where he replaced Phil Loadholt at right tackle, making five starts. In 2015 he moved over to right guard and started all 16 games but missed the entire 2016 season due to a non-football related illness. Harris made 21 starts in the 28 games he played in Minnesota.

Neither release comes as a surprise with the Vikings looking to upgrade an offensive line that was one of the worst in the NFL last season. Minnesota finished last in rushing, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry and surrendered 37 sacks, the sixth most in the league.

Jets Voided the contract of QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

Ryan Fitzpatrick’s days of being a New York Jet have come to an abrupt end, as the team voided his contract last week. He was signed to a two-year deal worth $12 million last season, with a clause allowing the Jets to void his contract after the 2016 season. Fitzpatrick was set to receive a $10 million bonus over two years. With his release New York will carry $5 million of dead money against the cap.

The 34-year-old free agent was acquired by the Jets from Houston in 2015 as a backup, but with Geno Smith breaking his jaw, Fitzpatrick was thrust into the starter’s role. In 2015 he set a franchise record, throwing 31 touchdown passes. 2016 was quite the turnaround for Fitzpatrick who finished with the second worst passer rating and a league worst touchdown to interception ratio with 12 touchdowns compared to 17 interceptions.

The future of the Jets’ quarterback position is uncertain with Smith set to be a free agent next month, leaving just Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg on the roster.

Eagles Released CB Leodis McKelvin

The Philadelphia Eagles announced the release of corner, Leodis McKelvin, just one year after giving him a two-year deal worth $6.2 million with $3 million guaranteed. His release frees up $3.25 million in cap space.

McKelvin played in 13 games for the Eagles in 2016, starting 12 and recording two interceptions. Philadelphia tried making him their top corner, but the experiment failed early as he finished the year as one of the league’s worst defensive backs. The 31-year-old has dealt with nagging injuries while struggling to regain his form. McKelvin played with Jim Schwartz in Buffalo, before coming over to Philadelphia.

The Eagles are expected to bolster their lackluster secondary through free agency and this year’s draft.

– Miles Dittberner, is the National Editor of cover32 and also covers the Minnesota Vikings. Like and follow on Facebook and Twitter.

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