We’re in the midst of the pre-draft frenzy, and the free agency “silly season” is officially underway! Among the most talked-about rumors are potential trades involving Cooper Kupp and Myles Garrett. It’s looking like Kupp is almost certainly on his way out, with a deal brewing that could shake up the landscape. As for Garrett, he’s reportedly eager to play for a contender. Sorry Vikings fans, but with JJ McCarthy starting at quarterback next season, it’s hard to see him in Minnesota. I’d love to be proven wrong here, but I’m not holding my breath.
Adding another layer to Garrett’s situation, the Cleveland Browns face a hefty cap penalty if they trade him before June 1st, having to absorb an additional $16.5 million in dead money. I’m skeptical they’ll find a way around that, though trades before June 1 typically can’t be designated as post-June 1 moves. However, cuts can. If they wait until after June 1st, they’ll save $5 million in cap space, but that still leaves them on the hook for $14.7 million in dead money in 2025 and $21.4 million in 2026.
Meanwhile, Deshaun Watson made some adjustments to his contract to reduce his monstrous $73 million cap hit. Although we haven’t seen the changes reflected on OverTheCap just yet, the details are out there. Watson is still tied to the Browns on a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract he signed when he was traded to Cleveland in 2022. With two years remaining, Watson’s deal requires the Browns to pay him $46 million in each of the next two seasons. However, his cap hit in 2025 and 2026 is set to be an eye-watering $72.9 million, the second highest in the NFL.
The restructuring adds two more void years to Watson’s contract, shifting his dead cap into 2030. His original deal already included void years for 2027 and 2028, but now there are four in total. He’s under contract until 2026 and would hit free agency in 2027.
At the moment, the Browns are dealing with negative $30 million in cap space, though this figure is likely out of date. I’ve toyed with the Vikings’ cap space myself, and even I can’t come up with a realistic scenario where they pull off a trade for Garrett, but I’m sure they’ll figure something out.
As for whether the Vikings should pursue either Kupp or Garrett, I’m personally not a fan. With Jalen Nailor showing potential, the Vikings would be better off focusing their resources on upgrading their offensive and defensive lines, cornerbacks, and safety positions.
But hey, it’s always fun to dream, right?
