Yet another NFL franchise put significant dead money on its books this offseason.
Prior to the start of the league year, the Miami Dolphins elected to cut quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Miami’s decision resulted in a massive dead cap hit for the former first-round pick.
Tagovailoa’s dead money charge quickly places him amongst the largest charges in NFL history. Here are the 10 biggest dead money hits in NFL history:
10. Julio Jones
Dead Money: $23.25 million
By waiting until after June 1, 2021, to trade Julio Jones, the Atlanta Falcons spread out his dead money over 2021 and 2022. But that didn’t change the figure itself.
Jones signed a three-year, $66-million contract extension in 2019 that kept him under team control through 2023.
He played only 24 more games with the Falcons before the trade to Tennessee on June 6, 2021. That trade left the Falcons with a dead cap of $7.75 million in 2021 and $15.5 million in 2022.
9. Russell Wilson
Dead Money: $26 million
The Seattle Seahawks trimmed $11 million off their 2022 payroll by trading Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos but still took a dead-cap hit of $26 million in 2022.
The hit is a result of a four-year, $140-million deal – at the time the highest average annual value for any player in the NFL – signed after the 2019 season. It included $107 million in guarantees, which ultimately led to the dead money three years later.
8. Stefon Diggs
Dead Money: $31 million
In the 2024 offseason, the Buffalo Bills traded Diggs to the Houston Texans in exchange for draft picks. By executing the transaction after his 2024 salary kicked in, the Bills took on $31 million in dead cap.
It’s the quarterback’s biggest cap hit for a non-quarterback.
7. Carson Wentz
Dead Money: $33.8 million
Included in the four-year, $128-million deal Carson Wentz signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in June 2019 was a signing bonus to be paid before the deal began in 2021 but spread over the four years, 2021-24, to lower his cap hit in each year.
It cost the Eagles nearly 20 percent of their salary cap in 2021.
6. Kirk Cousins
Dead Money: $35 million
Two years removed from signing Cousins, Atlanta released the veteran quarterback. His release led to a $35 million dead money charge for the Falcons.
By designating Cousins as a post-June 1 release, Atlanta will see $22.5 million of that dead money hit its books this season. Next year, the charge will be $12.5 million.
5. Aaron Rodgers
Dead Money: $40.313 million
From the moment Rodgers signed a new deal in March 2022, it seemed possible the Packers would incur a dead cap hit at some point during the three-year, $150-million deal.
All of Rodgers’ dead cap hit came in 2023, accounting for approximately 18% of the Packers’ salary cap.
4. Matt Ryan
Dead Money: $40.53 million
Matt Ryan’s contract was restructured several times over the last three years of his career – including a restructuring just two weeks before his trade to the Colts – that it hardly resembles the original five-year, $150-million deal signed in 2018.
In ending the Ryan era after 14 seasons, the Falcons ate (at the time) the biggest dead-cap hit in NFL history, all of which was on the books for 2022.
3. Kyler Murray
Dead Money: $54 million
Arizona released Kyler Murray after an injury-ravaged 2025 season. That marked the third time in the last four seasons Murray failed to start every game for the Cardinals.
By releasing Murray, Arizona takes on a sizable dead money hit: $54 million. Murray departs Arizona with only one winning season and zero playoff victories.
2. Russell Wilson
Dead Money: $85 million
After acquiring Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks in March 2022, the Denver Broncos signed their new quarterback — who had two years remaining on his previous deal — to a five-year extension worth $245 million.
Wilson didn’t play a single snap under the five-year extension. He has two of the seven biggest dead cap hits in NFL history.
1. Tua Tagovailoa
Dead Money: $99.2 million
Tagovailoa, the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, proved a significant disappointment in Miami.
Although he posted a 44-32 regular-season record, his success never translated to the playoffs. He led Miami to the postseason once, falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024.
Injuries likely also factored into Tagovailoa’s release. In six NFL seasons, he started every game only once (2023).
NFL Odds at BetMGM
At the BetMGM sportsbook, you can bet on NFL games from the preseason through the postseason.
From Super Bowl odds and division odds to weekly NFL spreads and player props, NFL odds are always on the board at the best online sportsbook.
If you don’t have an account, register today with BetMGM’s welcome offer. Once you have an account, check for daily sports betting promos.
The content provided in this blog is intended for entertainment purposes only. All views and opinions expressed are the authors and reflect their individual perspectives on sports, betting, and related topics. This content should not be considered professional betting advice or the official views of BetMGM LLC. Please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know is experiencing issues related to gambling, seek help from a licensed health professional. This blog is not liable for any losses, damages, or consequences resulting from betting activities.
