It wasn’t the official start of summer in the NFL, but June 1 was a massive date around the league, and that date played a crucial role in several players moving on or teams taking a risk on a considerable trade.
In NFL terminology, June 1 is the final day that teams see all future prorated money accelerate as “dead money” if a player has been released. Teams like the Eagles and others around the NFL gained salary cap space, as any player designated for a post-June one release earlier this year moves from the active roster to the dead money side of the books.
What, exactly, is a dead money charge?
A dead money charge is a charge on an NFL team’s salary cap for a player no longer on the roster. It represents any remaining signing bonus proration that was not accounted for before the player’s release or trade. It is not a cash payment but rather a cap charge resulting from the rule that allows teams to prorate a signing bonus evenly over as many as five years. If a player is released before the end of those five years, all remaining signing bonus proration accelerates onto the team’s salary cap for the current year.
With mandatory minicamps underway, we’re ranking all 32 NFL teams by dead money cap space via Over The Cap.
Dec 31, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Buffalo Bills helmet against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 25, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Detailed view of the helmet of Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko (96) against the Jacksonville Jaguars during a wild card playoff game at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2022; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; General view of a New York Jets helmet during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 10: A Philadelphia Eagles helmet is pictured during the football game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Nov 27, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers helmet on the bench against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 17: A detailed photo of a Carolina Panthers helmet during their game against the Minnesota Vikings at Bank of America Stadium on October 17, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Mar 11, 2023; Metairie, LA, USA; Detailed view of New Orleans Saints helmet at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Tennessee Titans helmet on the bench against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general veiw of a Seattle Seahawks helmet prior to a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 17, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, US; A general view of a Miami Dolphins helmet on the field during practice at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Detailed view of a Las Vegas Raiders helmet before the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders helmet on the field before the game against the Cleveland Browns at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; A Detroit Lions helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; A Jacksonville Jaguars football helmet sits on a crate on the sidelines during the first half against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; The helmet of the Pittsburgh Steelers on the field during warm up prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; A detail shot of a Houston Texans helmet prior to a press conference introducing Demeco Ryans as head coach at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of the helmet of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) against the New Orleans Saints at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; A New England Patriots helmet sits idle before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys players’ helmets rest on the bench against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; A general view of San Francisco 49ers helmet on the bench before game against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; A detailed view of a New York Giants helmet at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; General view of the Baltimore Ravens helmet during the warm ups before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Cleveland Browns players’ helmets rest on the bench prior to their game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 25: A detail of the Chicago Bears helmet pregame at Soldier Field on September 25, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Mar 3, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; The Indianapolis Colts helmet logo at midfield at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A detail view of a Cincinnati Bengals helmet on the field against the Kansas City Chiefs prior to the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; General view of a Atlanta Falcons helmet during warm ups against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, US; A detail view of a Kansas City Chiefs helmet before Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2022; Munich, Germany; A large Los Angels Rams helmet at fan activation event at Odeonsplatz. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports