K.D. Drummond
June 1, 2024 2:11 pm CT
The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2024 offseason without a ton of cap space, but that wasn’t a real hinderance on their ability to add talent. While the front office played their usual two-inch fiddle about having only so much pie to spread around, those who analyze the salary cap know the club was making a conscious decision to reset their salary cap.
In years past, the Dallas Cowboys have utilized restructure triggers on veteran contracts in order to create as much salary cap space as they needed. Dallas avoided doing that this year, using the phrase all-in to fool the public into thinking they were going to be big-time players in free agency but actually meaning they were rolling with the hand they were dealt, as is. Still, there was one move that has now given them some additional wiggle room for the remainder of the offseason.
More than likely, the majority of the cap space saved from designating WR Michael Gallup as a June 1 cut will be rolled over until next season, but it will be available for Dallas to use as of Sunday. Gallup was released with the designation early in the offseason, which allowed him to seek employment elsewhere while teams still had money to spend, which he did in signing a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Players released after June 1, or when a team uses one of their two annual designations during the spring, do not have their remaining bonus hits accelerated onto the current year’s cap.
Instead, the team still waits to reap the rewards of clearing the base salary off the books until this date, but the current year’s bonus allocation is all that sits as dead money on the current year’s cap.
The remaining bonus money, in the case of Gallup $4.35 million attached to each of his 2025 and 2026 salaries, will hit the cap as $8.7 million of dead money in 2025. If Dallas had outright released Gallup in March, all $13.05 million would’ve hit this year’s cap, costing Dallas more than keeping Gallup on the roster but not adding anything to next year’s cap in dead money.
Dallas was hardly the only team that did business in this manner. Here’s a look at the 12 teams who also just earned additional cap space.
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Las Vegas Raiders: $24 milion – Jimmy Garroppolo
Sep 17, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) on the sidelines during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Miami Dolphins: $18.5 million – Xavien Howard
Aug 11, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard (25) looks on against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco 49ers: $18 million – Arik Armstead
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 08: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys is sacked by Nick Bosa #97 and Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Arizona Cardinals: $16 million – DJ Humphries
Aug 11, 2018; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals fullback Derrick Coleman (48), guard Justin Pugh (67) and tackle D.J. Humphries (74) celebrate a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Green Bay Packers: $10.6 million - D'Vondre Campbell
Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell is the Green Bay Packers nominee for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
Dan Powers/USA TODAY Network-Wisconsin
Detroit Lions: $10.5 million - Cam Sutton
Wednesday: — Thursday: — Friday: DNP
Buffalo Bills: $10.2 million - Tre'Davious White
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) is unable to catch up to a deep pass under pressure from Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White (27) in the fourth quarter of the NFL divisional playoff football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bengals won 27-10 to advance to the AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cincinnati Bengals At Buffalo Bills Afc Divisional Jan 22 347
Dallas Cowboys: $9.5 million - Michael Gallup
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 04: Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of a game against the Indianapolis Colts at AT&T Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
New Orleans Saints: $2.4 million - Jameis Winston, Michael Thomas
Aug 23, 2018; Costa Mesa, CA, USA: Detailed view of New Orleans Saints helmets during joint practice against the Los Angeles Chargers at the Jack. R. Hammett Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $1.9 million - Shaquill Barrett
Sep 11, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) hits his hand against Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett (58) as he throws the ball during the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Baltimore Ravens: $1.2 million - O'Dell Beckham
Dec 25, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) reacts against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
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