NFL Teams Facing Difficult Seasons

It’s always tough to come to terms with the fact that it’s just not your year in the NFL. A season that once held promise can quickly spiral into disappointment, and Sundays that used to be filled with excitement feel blank again. It’s disheartening to think the only bright spot in November might be the upcoming draft. Knowing your team is in a slump and that recovery won’t be immediate makes it sting even more.

Right now, three teams in the NFL are struggling, all under .500 and facing serious salary cap constraints in the near future. For these franchises, the real challenges are just beginning. Let’s take a closer look at each situation, ranked from best to worst, and explore what options lay ahead.

2026 Commitments: 43 players under contract, $25.2 million over cap.

The primary issue for the Vikings is their leadership’s reluctance to face reality and allow for a proper rebuild. There was a moment when Minnesota needed to move on from Kirk Cousins and a few veterans, perhaps bringing in JJ McCarthy for a fresh start. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

Time will only reveal whether McCarthy can truly thrive. He isn’t the obstacle to building a sustainable future, and neither are Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw—both of whom are among the highest-paid players. They can be the cornerstone for future development.

The concern lies in Minnesota’s assumption that certain players were essential to their success. They tried to keep some personnel to patch up gaps in the roster, but now they find themselves burdened with questionable contracts. The five biggest liabilities include:

• Jonathan Allen ($21 million cap hit, $17 million dead cap): Allen’s signing was a response to a need on the defensive line, but he’s struggled significantly this season, ranking poorly across various metrics.
• Javon Hargrave ($21.4 million cap hit, $10.5 million dead cap): Committing to two aging defensive linemen hasn’t yielded positive results, especially in run defense.
• Jonathan Greenard ($22.3 million cap hit, $9.9 million dead cap): It’s painful to acknowledge that Greenard is earning more than his contributions warrant; he’s severely overpaid for his level of play.
• TJ Hockenson ($21.3 million cap hit, $12.4 million dead cap): While extending Hockenson made sense at first, the high payout and subsequent restructuring have not justified his current impact.
• Aaron Jones ($14.8 million cap hit, $6.8 million dead cap): He faced injury issues and wasn’t performing well prior to that. It might be time to explore other options at his position.

To truly improve, the Vikings need to make some tough choices. Restructuring multiple contracts would only jeopardize their future, similar to the predicament faced by the Saints.

The most straightforward approach is to make key cuts. This will help them free up necessary cap space, which currently stands at $15.1 million, adding more flexibility to the roster.

1. Jonathan Greenard: $12.4 million in savings
2. Javon Hargrave: $11 million in savings
3. TJ Hockenson: $8.9 million in savings
4. Aaron Jones: $8 million in savings

This strategy could potentially set the Vikings up with about $25 million in salary cap space, allowing them to support a complete rookie class and target specific needs in free agency. That said, it’s a tough situation overall—the team is heavily reliant on its passing offense.

2026 Contracts: 35 players under contract, $157,000 cap hit.

Next, we have the 1-6 Dolphins—a true disaster, to say the least. This team began the season facing challenges and has only seen things worsen. Tyreek Hill’s injury has shed light on numerous shortcomings, and coach Mike McDaniel’s job security is now in question.

Miami is in a tough spot, particularly with Tua Tagovailoa’s hefty contract looming. While there’s plenty of dead money involved, his contract has become a significant liability, perhaps the worst among quarterbacks right now.

This offseason will bring considerable strain, as the Dolphins will have to navigate signing 18 players without much cap flexibility while simultaneously addressing their roster woes. This might mean letting go of some hefty contracts, such as:

• Tyreek Hill ($51.8 million cap hit, $28.2 million dead cap): He’s a suitable candidate for a post-June 1 cut, but $28 million in dead cap is quite the burden for the Dolphins.
• Bradley Chubb ($31.2 million cap hit, $23.9 million dead cap): Initially seen as a key defensive asset, but the Dolphins may need to reassign this contract to enhance their cap situation.

The silver lining for the Dolphins is that much of their cap is tied up in just two players—they could save a substantial amount by making thoughtful cuts.

1. Tyreek Hill designated for June 1 release: $37.7 million in savings.
2. Bradley Chubb: $7.3 million in savings.

Ideally, Miami should act quickly rather than prolonging the financial strain. If those two contracts are released, it could free approximately $45 million. However, a complete reset will take time—particularly if Tagovailoa cannot regain his form, locking the team into a challenging quarterback situation until at least 2027.

2026 Commitments: 43 players under contract, $18.4 million over cap.

The Saints are in a bit of a bind, and this situation has been anticipated for years. Since Drew Brees’ retirement, they’ve clung to the hope of competition instead of genuinely rebuilding. As a result, they’ve continually faltered with a record of 31 wins and 44 losses, risking further issues by overspending and bloating their roster.

You might wonder why, despite having signed a similar number of players as the Vikings but with better cap space, the Saints are struggling. The main thing is their roster lacks flexibility. Most contracts come with heavy penalties if cut, making it hard to reduce spending. Not to mention, veteran players like Cameron Jordan and Taysom Hill command significant portions of the cap.

Here’s a rundown of the most problematic contracts currently weighing them down:

• Carl Granderson ($18.06 million cap hit, $18.5 million dead cap): Despite limited impact, his re-signed contracts have granted him a price tag far surpassing his worth.
• Juwan Johnson ($13.1 million cap hit, $22.5 million dead cap): A decent tight end, but his salary is nearing the top tier for his position, which raises eyebrows.
• Justin Reid ($11.5 million cap hit, $18.4 million dead money): Unfortunately, Reid isn’t contributing much anymore, yet cutting him would be financially challenging.

The Saints have no choice but to consider strategic cuts as a path to financial recovery. Although it would hurt, trading Chris Olave could provide room to rebuild. However, letting go of such talent might complicate efforts to secure a new quarterback.

1. Carl Granderson designated for June 1 release: $9.25 million in savings.
2. Brandon Cooks designated for June 1 release: $5.59 million in savings.
3. Chris Olave trade: $15.5 million in savings.

More restructuring will likely be necessary as they navigate this difficult landscape. Closing off financial avenues isn’t viable; they must capably deal with the situation to avoid further complications. If things align, New Orleans could potentially find some measure of stability and flexibility in the future.