List of veteran players expected to be in FA due to cap reasons. I was suprised Raiders had so many in the top possibilities.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/...e-roster-bubble

tuesday's flurry of cuts by the new york jets was a reminder that the chopping block looms for veterans with bloated contracts. let's take a look at the afc salary cap casualty candidates for the next few months.

candidates for release

1. carson palmer, oakland raiders quarterback: the jets get much-deserved attention for their bloated contracts, but former owner al davis left general manager reggie mckenzie in a salary-cap hell of his own. the most egregious example is the nearly $14 million in dead money left behind from free agent richard seymour's contract. scheduled to earn $13 million himself, palmer has no chance of returning as the starter unless he takes a pay cut. in full-blown rebuilding mode, the raiders might find that it makes more sense to give terrelle pryor a one-year trial run.

2. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback: Benched twice for Brady Quinn last season, Cassel has reached the point in which a change of scenery is needed for himself as well as Chiefs fans. Due $7.5 million, he has no chance of returning. It will be interesting to see if he reunites with Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels in New England, allowing the Patriots to shop backup Ryan Mallett.

3. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills quarterback: New head coach Doug Marrone could find a hiccup in his quarterback competition. Fitzpatrick is due a $3 million roster bonus in March on top of a $4.25 base salary. It will actually cost the Bills more to keep him than to cut him loose.

4. James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker: Although coaches still are counting on Harrison opposite LaMarr Woodley this season, the front office is expected to balk at his $6.57 million salary. Unless all three sides can find middle ground, the declining star will be in another uniform for his age-35 season.

5. Jared Gaither, San Diego Chargers tackle: Local and national observers expect Gaither to be history in San Diego after alienating coaches and teammates alike last season. Coined "Big Lazy," Gaither has earned a reputation with both the Chargers and the Ravens for malingering. The Bolts will take a $6 million cap hit to release Gaither.

6. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oakland Raiders wide receiver: The No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 draft has flashed at times, but he hasn't shown the consistency to merit $7.721 million this season. McKenzie can find the much-needed salary-cap relief of $5.341 million by releasing Heyward-Bey.

7. Tyson Jackson, Kansas City Chiefs defensive end: The No. 3 overall pick in the 2009 draft has failed as a pass rusher, and the Chiefs can field a poor run defense with or without Jackson's whopping $14.72 million salary.

8. D.J. Williams, Denver Broncos linebacker: The Broncos sported one of the NFL's stingiest defenses with Williams watching from the sidelines for the majority of the season. John Elway can save $6 million against the cap by releasing the 30-year-old coming off a pair of suspensions in 2012.

9. Rolando McClain, Oakland Raiders linebacker: The No. 8 overall pick in the 2010 draft would have been axed this past season if not for salary-cap implications. A massive draft bust, McClain won't see his $4.005 million salary after disappointing on the field, off the field, and in the locker room.

10. Willie Colon, Pittsburgh Steelers guard: Colon keyed a mid-season resurgence in the running game, but his $5.5 million salary is untenable after ending the season on injured reserve for the third consecutive year.

Candidates to restructure (more at link)

Mini good stuff thanks for sharing looking this over we are still in a world of S**t with Palmer, Seymour, DHB, Kelly, McClain, Lechler and others they eat up too much cap space.  I hope we have enough cap space for the draft and FA's RM's hands are still tied but not as bad as last season. I would like to see us resign Wheeler, Desmond Bryant and Myers they are three of the top of my head that preformed well..

I don't think Palmer was that bad last year, or that Pryor is that great yet. If we had a decent supporting cast I'd be 100% in support of keeping Palmer. But we don't, we have a terrible supporting cast that is also overpaid. The more I think about it, the more I'd prefer to just rip the bandaid off instead of slowly peeling it away. Try to trade who you can but eventually cut everyone who makes more than they are worth. Palmer, Seymour, Kelly, McClain, Lechler, DHB, Huff, Brisiel, and if Myers or Bryant want too much let them walk too. We at least get compensatory picks if someone signs them. Try to find hidden gems like Wheeler and Myers by signing cheap replacements on 1 year contracts. I don't care if we go 0-16, we wouldn't be the first team to do that. At least I know we would get a franchise QB. I'd take Lattimore this draft too and let him heal this year. Then we would likely have our future franchise RB too.

And I don't care if Clowney is better than Reggie White. Unless the QBs look terrible and sink their draft stock like Barkley did this year (if Pryor looks great we won't be in position to draft Clowney anyway) we have to take the franchise QB. They just matter more. Do that and I wouldn't even call for DA and Reggie to be fired after a winless season.

I don't think Palmer was that bad he did the best he could with what he had to work with. The only thing with Palmer is his salary that bugs me we where stupid enough to sign him for that price but it is what it is..