The NFL offseason doesn’t officially begin for a few weeks, but teams are beginning to make major personnel decisions for next year. This time of year is usually dedicated to teams figuring out if they want to put a Franchise or Transition tag onto one of their unrestricted free agents.
Over the past few days, teams have been letting go of notable veteran players to free cap space for this off-season. Derek Carr, Taylor Lewan, Bobby Wagner, and Carson Wentz are some of the players who have already been let go this off-season.
There are plenty of players who could still be released or even traded before the official start of the 2023 off-season. Here are the linebackers that could be moved during the 2023 off-season.
Shaq Thompson, Carolina Panthers
There is a decent chance that the Carolina Panthers decide to part ways with one of their longest-tenured players. Carolina drafted linebacker Shaq Thompson with the 25th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Since being drafted Thompson has been one of the most consistent and best players on their defense. He is currently the longest-tenured player on the team.
PFF gave Thompson a 72.3 grade for his play during the 2022-23 NFL season. He finished the year with 135 combined tackles (78 solo tackles), half a sack, and a fumble recovery. This is the fourth straight year that Thompson finished the year with 100+ combined tackles in a season.
Thompson is in the final year of his four-year $54.4 million deal. The Carolina Panthers are on their third head coach since Thompson signed his extension. This new coaching staff may feel comfortable letting go of Thompson and using the cap space a release or trade creates to build the roster the way they feel is best. The Panthers will have to take on $11.3 million in dead cap space by releasing or trading Thompson. However, the team will also retain $13.2 million from letting him go.
Carolina parting ways with Thompson would have to do more with the value of his position rather than his performance. He has been a rock-solid player for them over the past few seasons. But a team like Carolina that is going through a rebuild could look at Thompson as a luxury they cannot afford at the moment. It is unlikely that a team would give up more than a Day 3 pick for that kind of contract in a trade. Carolina is more likely to release Thompson than find a trade partner that would be willing to take on his contract in a deal.
Jordan Hicks, Minnesota Vikings
Last offseason the Minnesota Vikings signed one of the most underrated linebackers in the league to a very cap-friendly deal. They signed veteran linebacker Jordan Hicks to a two-year $10 million deal. Before joining Minnesota Hicks played seven seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. During his time with the Eagles, he was always a threat to force a turnover or make a huge play. Then during his time with the Cardinals, Hicks established himself as one of the best tacklers in the league.
He has racked up over 110 tackles in each of the past four seasons. This past year Hicks had 129 combined tackles (86 solo tackles), three sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception. PFF gave Hicks a 65.4 grade for his play during the 2022-23 season.
Hicks only has one year left on his deal. But Minnesota is also paying former Pro Bowl linebacker Eric Kendricks as well. The Vikings would only have a $1.5 million dead cap hit if they released or traded Hicks. Minnesota would free up $5 million in cap space if they parted ways with Hicks. Since they are $24+ million over the salary cap they may have to part ways with a few veterans like Hicks to gain cap space for this offseason.
Christian Kirksey, Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have been a mess on both sides of the ball over the past two seasons. One of the few bright spots on this roster has been veteran linebacker Christian Kirksey. He has arguably been the best player on Houston’s defensive unit over the past two seasons. Kirksey signed a one-year $3 million deal with Houston during the 2021 offseason to be their starting middle linebacker. He played well enough to earn himself a two-year $10 million extension the following offseason. Before his time with the Texans Kirksey played seven seasons for the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers.
Kirksey racked up 124 combined tackles (82 solo tackles), three sacks, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery this past season. His tackle total was his highest since he had 130+ with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. PFF gave Kirkesy a 56.1 grade for his play during the 2022-23 season.
Kirksey only has one year left on his deal but new head coach DeMeco Ryans may want to make a major investment in the linebacker position to make an upgrade over Kirksey. Ryans himself is a former linebacker. He also had outstanding production from his linebackers Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, and Azeez Al-Shaair during his times as the defensive coordinator in San Francisco. Ryans could spend big on a Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker or draft one in the early rounds this year to pair with 2022 third-round pick Christian Harris.
Houston would only have to take on only a $1 million dead cap hit if they released or traded Kirksey. They would free up $5.25 million in cap space by parting ways with him this offseason.
Oren Burks, San Francisco 49ers
Last offseason the San Francisco 49ers signed former Green Bay Packers linebacker Oren Burks to a two-year $5 million contract. He was signed primarily to play special teams and be a depth piece for the 49ers’ deep linebacker group. Before signing in San Francisco, Burks spent four seasons with the Green Bay Packers who drafted him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
PFF gave Burks a 79.2 grade for his play last season. However, he only started three games last season. Burks finished the year with 38 combined tackles (15 solo tackles) and half a sack.
San Francisco only has a little more than $8 million in available cap space to resign free agents like Mike McGlinchey, Emmanuel Moseley, and Tashuan Gipson. They could cut ties with Burks to free up more cap space to retain and improve their roster. Releasing Burks would only leave San Francisco a $1.1 million in dead cap hit. It would free up about $1.7 million in cap space if the 49ers parted ways with Burks.
Damien Wilson, Carolina Panthers
Veteran linebacker Damien Wilson has bounced around the league over the past few seasons. Since being drafted in 2015, Wilson has played for the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Carolina Panthers. Last offseason Carolina signed Wilson to a two-year $6.9 million deal.
Wilson only started five games for the Panthers this past season after starting the entire season for the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars the past three seasons. He finished the year with 38 combined tackles (23 solo tackles), two sacks, and a forced fumble. Wilson was given a 57.1 grade from PFF this past season.
The Panthers would take on about a $1.1 million dead cap hit if Wilson was released. Carolina would gain $3.6 million in cap space if they parted ways with Wilson.
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