PFF Names Cardinals Top Cut Candidate

Arizona Cardinals OT D.J. Humphries is a major candidate to be released this offseason.

ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals don't have a slew of tough decisions to make ahead of free agency, though there are a handful of players that have certainly stirred conversations as the offseason advances. 

Starting left tackle D.J. Humphries sits at the top of the list of potential cap-saving moves the Cardinals could make soon. While the 30-year-old starter has been great in the locker room, his play has slowly declined and the Cardinals have proven themselves to do what's best for the team under general manager Monti Ossenfort. 

Pro Football Focus listed Humphries as Arizona's top cut candidate this offseason. 

Salary Cap Details: $6,916,666 dead money, $15,960,000 cap savings

Brad Spielberger: "The Cardinals drafted Paris Johnson Jr. with the No. 6 overall pick in 2023 and now find themselves with the No. 4 and No. 27 selections in this year’s draft, providing them with multiple shots at landing another starting tackle in a draft class with a lot of talent at the position. Humphries tore his ACL at the end of 2023 and earned a career-low 62.5 overall grade before that point."

The Cardinals could look to move Johnson back to the left side after initially spending his rookie campaign on the right. There's also a handful of prime offensive tackle prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft that could slot into Humphries' spot. 

Humphries was already a candidate to be cut prior to his season-ending knee injury late in the year, and now Arizona's timeline to find a new left tackle only speeds up as a result. 

Only Budda Baker ($14.6 million in cap savings if cut pre-June 1) has a higher cap savings than Humphries if released. After Humphries' $9 million saved, James Conner is next highest at $5.9 million.