Feb. 16, 2026, 3:59 p.m. MT

The NFL has the new league year coming up next month, and that will trigger many player releases to create salary cap space. We saw some of these first moves from the Miami Dolphins, who cut offensive lineman James Daniel, wide receiver Tyreek Hill and pass rusher Bradley Chubb.

The Arizona Cardinals have a decent amount of salary cap space, projected at more than $39.1 million. However, they could create a lot more with a number of player cuts.

The biggest move the Cardinals can do is trade quarterback Kyler Murray. A trade before his $17 million roster bonus is due on March 15 would create more than $34.7 million in cap space, although it would create more than $17.1 million in dead money.

But as for player cuts, the following players are potential cuts to save money.

CB Sean Murphy-Bunting

A Murphy-Bunting release seems inevitable. He missed all last season after injuring his knee and needing surgery outside of football activities. Set to count more than $9.2 million against the cap, cut him will create more than $7.2 million in cap space and leave $2 million in dead money.

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Nichols also feels like an inevitability. After playing in only six games in 2024, he played in only four last year. He will count more than $7.8 million against the cap. A release will save more than $5.8 million and leave $2 million in dead money.

RB James Conner

Conner will be a tough cut, but it could be coming. He suffered a season-ending ankle injury and will be 31 years old in May. He has no guarantees remaining on his contract.

He counts more than $9.8 million against the cap, but cutting him will save more than $7.5 million in cap space, leaving less than $2.3 million in dead money.

LB Akeem Davis-Gaither

Davis-Gaither will count almost $6.7 million against the cap in 2026. He had a limited role in 2025 and was not great. The Cardinals would save $5.2 million against the cap and leave $1.5 million in dead money.

DT Dalvin Tomlinson

Tomlinson was one of the Cardinals’ high-priced free agent signings last offseason but had an underwhelming season. He had only 13 tackles and a sack in 17 games, playing in 555 defensive snaps.

He accounts for $16.2 million cap space. If cut before June 1, it would save $9.4 million cap space and leave $6.8 million in dead money. A post-June 1 designation would mean carrying the cap hit until June 2 but it would save $14.5 million in cap space and leave only $1.7 million in dead money, pushing $5.1 million in dead money next year.

OLB Baron Browning

Browning only had two sacks last season after signing a two-year deal to return. He will count more than $9.4 million against the cap. He has a $2 million roster bonus due on March 15. If cut before that, it will save nearly $6.7 million and leave$2.75 million in dead money.

OLB Zaven Collins

Collins’ contract counts almost $6.1 million against the cap. Cutting him will save $4.35 million in cap space and leave $1.7 million in dead money.

OL Evan Brown

Brown enters the second year of his two-year deal, but he didn’t play the final six games of the year. If they want to move on from him and go in a different direction, they can save over $4.9 million in cap space, leaving $1.5 million in dead money.

OL Hjalet Froholdt

Froholdt enters the final year of his deal. He counts almost $7.0 million against the cap. Cutting him would create more than $5.6 million in cap space, leaving more than $1.33 in dead money.

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