When the contracts are signed, extended, restructured etc, the player receives their cash in bonus monies, therefore the money is spent. The dead monies associated is money the owner already paid out. So when moving a player like Burrow, the team takes a dead cap hit in order to move him. So I dont see where a "cheap" owner is moving a player who he's already paid out
Alas, I just look at the history of things and the Stafford trade is like finding Kurt Warner or drafting a QB in the 6th round who cheats his way to 7 SB ring. So far from the norm