25 big-name NFL players who could get cut soon

With less than a month before free agency starts, NFL teams will be scrambling over the next few weeks to clear as much cap space as possible. Here are 25 players who could fall victim to a salary dump, in order of how much money their teams would save by making the move.

1. Adrian Peterson, RB Minnesota Vikings ($18 million)

Peterson is already talking like someone who knows he'll be in a different uniform next year. No running back is worth $18 million for one season, especially not one on the wrong side of 30 coming off a major knee injury.

2. Colin Kaepernick, QB San Francisco 49ers ($16.9 million)

The 49ers' new brain trust will likely want a fresh start at quarterback, and with the second overall pick, San Francisco should be able to land its top QB target in the draft. There's no need to keep Kaepernick and his big cap number around to be a lame duck next season.

3. Tyrod Taylor, QB Buffalo Bills ($15.9 million)

The Bills gave Taylor a prove-it deal an offseason ago. And while Taylor may have proven to be an adequate starter in the league, Buffalo does not seem to be committed to him going forward.

4. Jay Cutler, QB Chicago Bears ($14 million)

A breakup would be best for all parties here. Cutler is the best QB the Bears have had in a long time, but the team needs a fresh start behind center.

5. Clay Matthews, LB Green Bay Packers ($10.9 million)

This is probably the most unlikely cut on this list, but Green Bay has to at least think about re-structuring Matthews' deal. He's no longer the player he was when he initially signed this deal, and that's a lot of money the Packers can save by parting ways with the fan favorite.

6. Nick Foles, QB Kansas City Chiefs ($10.7 million)

Foles was never going to see the second year of the two-year deal he signed with Kansas City last offseason. Not one dollar of his 2017 salary is guaranteed.

7. Russell Okung, LT Denver Broncos ($10.1 million)

Man, Okung's agent really needs to be fired. What's that? Okung negotiated this team-friendly deal he signed with Denver last year himself? Well, that makes a lot of sense. He played OK in 2016, but Denver needs to rebuild this line from the ground up and that $10.1 million will go a long way.

8. Jimmy Graham, TE Seattle Seahawks ($10 million)

This is another long shot, but the Seahawks have to consider giving up Graham, whose production in Seattle hasn't justified his big cap number, and using that money to build a competent line in front of Russell Wilson.

9. Ryan Clady, LT New York Jets ($10 million)

The Jets need to cleanse the roster of overpaid veterans, and the oft-injured Clady seems to be a good place to start.

10. Jason Peters, LT Philadelphia Eagles ($9.7 million)

The Eagles have reportedly asked Peters to take a pay-cut to stay in Philadelphia. If he doesn't agree to do so - and why would he? - he'll hit the open market next month, where he could fetch a lot of money.

11. Mario Williams, DE Miami Dolphins ($8.5 million)

Williams is no longer the pass rusher Miami thought it was getting when it handed him a two-year, $17 million deal last offseason. Fortunately for the Dolphins, they can move on from the veteran with minimal cap penalties.

12. Jared Odrick, DE Jacksonville Jaguars ($8.5 million)

The Jaguars overpaid for Odrick, who is not much more than a solid rotational lineman, two years ago. Jacksonville can easily replace his production with the money it can save by cutting him.

13. Brandon Albert, LT Miami Dolphins ($7.2 million)

Albert is blocking Laremy Tunsil from kicking over to left tackle, and his $10.6 cap hit is a little too high for a player who has struggled to stay on the field throughout his career.

14. D.J. Fluker, RG Los Angeles Chargers ($8.8 million)

Fluker recently guaranteed a playoff berth for the Chargers next season, but he may not be around to see it through. The disappointing 2013 first-round pick hasn't played well enough to justify his cap hit for 2017.

15. Doug Martin, RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($7 million)

Martin's off-the-field issues should make this an easy decision for the Buccaneers. He's a running back with two productive seasons under his belt and he gets paid like a top-10 back. The Muscle Hamster's time in Tampa is done.

16. Robert Griffin III, QB Cleveland Browns ($6.9 million)

If the Browns do not fall in love with one of these quarterback during the draft process, RG3 may get one more shot in Cleveland. If they do, Griffin will be looking for his third team in as many years.

17. Kyle Williams, DT Buffalo Bills ($6.8 million)

Williams has struggled to stay on the field for the last couple of years and he'll turn 34 in June. It's time for Buffalo to move on from the defensive tackle.

18. Alterraun Verner, CB Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($6.5 million)

Verner was a big-money free agent three season ago; now he's struggling to get snaps for a young Bucs secondary. He'll have a new home in 2017.

19. Adam Jones, CB Cincinnati Bengals ($6.3 million)

Jones still has some productive years in him, but Cincinnati is going young at the corner position, and the team may feel like the off-the-field headaches he creates are not worth the $6.3 million it can save by releasing him.

20. Haloti Ngata, DT Detroit Lions ($5.7 million)

Ngata's play fell off a cliff in 2016. He may still be a useful player, but it's hard to see him earning the $7.7 million he's set to make in 2017.

21. Lardarius Webb, CB Baltimore Ravens ($5.5 million)

The former cornerback improved as a safety down the stretch of the 2016 season, but he's on the wrong side of 30 and the Ravens sure could use that extra cap space to fill in holes elsewhere on the roster.

22. Antonio Gates, TE Los Angeles Chargers ($4.9 million)

If the Chargers keep Gates, who has been replaced by Hunter Henry in the starting lineup, it will be a sentimental move. Gates may have earned that, but it still doesn't make a lot of sense to keep around.

23. Lamarr Houston, DE Chicago Bears ($4.9 million)

Just two years ago, Houston was a prized free agent. Then he went ahead and tore his ACL celebrating a sack in a blowout loss. Then he tore it again last season. Chicago would be wise to part ways with the free agent bust.

24. DeAngelo Hall, S Washington Redskins ($4.2 million)

Hall is playing out of position, he's old and he gets injured far too often. This is a no-brainer for an organization that can use that money to lock up its quarterback.

25. Harry Douglas, WR Tennessee Titans ($3.7 million)

Another disappointing free agent signing, Douglas lost snaps to younger receivers and will have a hard time justifying his price tag this offseason. Douglas has bigger things to worry about this offseason, though.