Rams spending $50.8 million on players not on the team

[Elmgrovegnome]

Les Snead and Sean McVay have done a remarkable job of managing the Los Angeles Rams’ roster over the years, especially after remodeling the team in 2023 after a dreadful 2022 campaign. They’re made their share of mistakes (see: Robinson, Allen) but at the same time, they’ve also built a foundation of young players who can sustain long-term success.

Despite their cap-savvy moves, the Rams still have a fair amount of dead money on the books for 2025. Dead money is cap space allocated to players no longer on the team, either because they were cut, traded or retired.

According to Over The Cap, the Rams have $50.82 million in dead money this year. Here’s how it breaks down by player.

• Cooper Kupp: $22.26M (cut)
• Joe Noteboom: $10M (void year)
• Aaron Donald: $9.67M (retired)
• Jonah Jackson: $8.5M (traded)

The Rams’ $50.82 million in dead money is the eighth-most in the NFL and they’re one of just 10 teams with more than $40 million. Two of the Rams’ biggest rivals, the 49ers and Seahawks, are among the three teams with the most dead money in the league.

The 49ers have an NFL-high $92.65 million this year, with the Eagles second ($71.99M) and the Seahawks third ($67.45M). The Bears have the least dead money in the NFL with only $4.05 million paid out this year.

Rams spending $50.8M on players no longer on the team: Where does that rank in the NFL?

The Rams have $50.8 million in dead money this year, which is among the highest amounts in the NFL

sports.yahoo.com

 

[sloramfan]

wow

 

[Ramstien]

I did not realize that they still owed Jackson that much. Him and Noteboom are what is called addition by subtraction.

 

[dieterbrock]

When they originally cut Kupp they had him as a June 1 cut, which would have pushed about 10 mill in to '26 but they ended up taking all the hit in '25 to avoid paying Kupp a roster bonus of like 7 mill
Pretty sure their '26 cap is clear of any dead cap now

 

[RamsSince1969]

Les Snead and Sean McVay have done a remarkable job of managing the Los Angeles Rams’ roster over the years, especially after remodeling the team in 2023 after a dreadful 2022 campaign. They’re made their share of mistakes (see: Robinson, Allen) but at the same time, they’ve also built a foundation of young players who can sustain long-term success.

Despite their cap-savvy moves, the Rams still have a fair amount of dead money on the books for 2025. Dead money is cap space allocated to players no longer on the team, either because they were cut, traded or retired.

According to Over The Cap, the Rams have $50.82 million in dead money this year. Here’s how it breaks down by player.

• Cooper Kupp: $22.26M (cut)
• Joe Noteboom: $10M (void year)
• Aaron Donald: $9.67M (retired)
• Jonah Jackson: $8.5M (traded)

The Rams’ $50.82 million in dead money is the eighth-most in the NFL and they’re one of just 10 teams with more than $40 million. Two of the Rams’ biggest rivals, the 49ers and Seahawks, are among the three teams with the most dead money in the league.

The 49ers have an NFL-high $92.65 million this year, with the Eagles second ($71.99M) and the Seahawks third ($67.45M). The Bears have the least dead money in the NFL with only $4.05 million paid out this year.

Rams spending $50.8M on players no longer on the team: Where does that rank in the NFL?

The Rams have $50.8 million in dead money this year, which is among the highest amounts in the NFL

sports.yahoo.com

Those penny pinching cheapskate Bears! They never fail to amaze me when it comes to being frugal.

 

[snackdaddy]

When they originally cut Kupp they had him as a June 1 cut, which would have pushed about 10 mill in to '26 but they ended up taking all the hit in '25 to avoid paying Kupp a roster bonus of like 7 mill
Pretty sure their '26 cap is clear of any dead cap now

Yeah, according to both Spotrac and OTC Rams dead money next year will be zero. If Stafford doesn't return it will be a 41 mil dead cap next year,

That whole cap thing is confusing. The 49ers have over 92 million in dead cap but are second highest in cap space at almost 50 million. Does the dead money count to total cap or not?

 

[PARAM]

Dead money? When you've got bargains like they have with Kobie T, Young, Verse, Fiske, Puka, Kinchens, Avila, etc., that dead money.doesn't mean squat.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Super Bowl trophies are expensive.

Who would have guessed?

 

[Soul Surfer]

Those penny pinching cheapskate Bears! They never fail to amaze me when it comes to being frugal.

They're frugal as hell.
And they have the empty trophy case to prove it.

 

[dieterbrock]

That whole cap thing is confusing. The 49ers have over 92 million in dead cap but are second highest in cap space at almost 50 million. Does the dead money count to total cap or not?

Its a tricky answer, it counts if it has to be paid out. Stafford for example, in 2026 there is 42 mill of dead cap, but that refers to the dead cap remaining. So if he was released, all of it would be due. If he plays, that 42 mill cap hit is spread out over the 4 remaining years (3 of them void years). In '27 when his contract voids, all of the remaining dead money comes due

 

[OldSchool]

First thought is "so what"

Second thought is that's lower than it has been in the past I think.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

This isn't because we went all in to win the Superbowl.
This is because we gave HUGE extensions to Stafford Kupp and Donald AFTER we won the Superbowl.
Only Stafford has lived up to the extension.
Donald and Kupp are still costing us big money after they aren't on the team.

 

[fanotodd]

This isn't because we went all in to win the Superbowl.
This is because we gave HUGE extensions to Stafford Kupp and Donald AFTER we won the Superbowl.
Only Stafford has lived up to the extension.
Donald and Kupp are still costing us big money after they aren't on the team.

You’re absolutely right, but they paved the way for a title. Mission accomplished.
It doesn’t bother me one bit.

 

[RamFan503]

I suppose it matters to some extent. But it seems to me that it REALLY matters if you combine it with bad drafting and a bunch bad FA moves. We’ve had a few bad FA moves but very good drafts.

It’s really hard to argue that our dead cap hit is hurting us this year. It feels more like cost of doing business. Nothing is ever perfect.

All in all - a very good time to be a Rams fan.

 

[CGI_Ram]

What’s the projection for 2026?