This is the time of year where contract considerations may possibly play a role in a teams decision about how much longer they play certain players. He is a look at the top five players whose teams could have concerns simply due to the player’s contract for 2025.
Derek Carr, QB, Saints- $30 Million Injury Guaranteed
Carr has not had a standout run in his two years with the Saints and right now his career arc seems to be at a similar place as Ryan Tannehill’s was with the Titans two years ago when it was clear the Titans needed to begin to rebuild. Carr has a $51.5 million salary cap figure in 2025 and $10 million is already guaranteed to him. On the 3rd day of the 2025 league year the remaining $30 million of his salary will be guaranteed, tying the Saints to Carr and his massive cap hit for at least one more year. The Saints cap troubles and need to rebuild should make them strongly consider finding a way out from the Carr contract and save that $30 million. A late season injury would lock that money in for Carr and force the Saints into another contract restructure for Carr next season.
Daniel Jones, QB, Giants- $23 Million Injury Guaranteed
Jones’ struggles with the Giants have been well documented and the organization likely wants to turn the page on him next year. Jones’ 2025 salary cap figure is $41.6 million while his salary is worth $30.5 million. If he is uninjured the rest of this season they can release him with a $22.2 million salary cap charge and owe him no additional salary. A late season injury complicates things for the team. Jones has $23 million guaranteed for injury of which $12 million becomes fully guaranteed on the 3rd day of the league year. Those numbers would prevent the Giants from cutting Jones in March and while there would still be the possibility of cutting him in the summer if he is healthy by that time, the damage to the Giants salary cap and free agent prospects would be finished. This move seems likely very soon.
Cam Jordan, EDGE, Saints- $11 Million Injury Guaranteed
Jordan has had a historic career with New Orleans and while the salary cap implications of releasing him may ensure another year with the Saints if he does not retire, New Orleans may want to consider protecting themselves from an $11 million injury guarantee which will become a full guarantee in early March. Jordan has just one sack on the year and two sacks over the last two seasons and he has become a part time player, seeing his playing time drop from 70% to under 45% on the year. He has a small full guarantee for next season and if that is all that remains there should be plenty of flexibility for the Saints to deal with either a retirement or renegotiation, but an additional $11 million in guarantees would make things far more difficult.
Trevon Diggs, CB, Cowboys- $9 Million Injury Guaranteed
The Cowboys are crashing this season and their defense has been downright abysmal. The team is likely having some level of buyer’s remorse over big contract extensions handed out to Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb and they could certainly be looking to cut some salary next year. Diggs has a $9 million injury protected salary that becomes guaranteed in March of 2025. Diggs has a reasonable $14.25 million cap charge and would cost $12.75 million against the cap to release. Given that $10 million is a fair salary for a starting cornerback I would consider this one less likely, but I do think it can be open for discussion as the season winds down.
Darious Williams, CB, Rams- $8 Million Injury Guaranteed
Williams missed the first few weeks of the season on IR but has moved back into a starting role now that he is active. The Rams are sitting at 4-5 and as long as they remain in contention should be playing Williams, who is still capable of being a starter in the NFL. However, if they fall out of playoff contention, they should strongly consider moving on from a 32 year old cornerback especially if the expectation is that Matt Stafford retires after the year. Currently the Rams would open up $6.8 million in cap room if Williams was released next year. He has $8 million that is injury protected and would be fully guaranteed in March.