NFLteams began their organized team activities (OTAs) to close out May as players across the league put pads on for voluntary workouts. With theschedule releasein the rear view, there are few milestone days until the start of the regular season. One of the first key dates is June 1, when teams can move on from high-cost veterans who may not be part of the franchise moving forward. QuarterbackAaron Rodgersis the best example of this in 2025. TheNew York Jetshave a new coaching staff and general manager andinformed him they will release him as a post-June 1 cut. That means the four-time MVP quarterback can move on from New York after two seasons with theJets. Critically, they designated him as a post-June 1 release to ease the cost of getting out of his contract early. Here's why post-June 1 designations are important in the NFL: RAVENS:Coach John Harbaugh explains 'complex' decision to release Justin Tucker This is when an NFL team releases a player on June 2 or later. In doing so, the team can spread out the player's dead cap money over more time. Dead cap money is the monetary charge to the salary cap for a player who is no longer on the roster. It commonly comes from signing bonuses, which are guaranteed, owed to players who are released, traded or retired. NFL teams can prorate bonuses in contracts for up to five years. They're often paid upfront but the team spreads the salary cap charge evenly over the full duration of the contract to keep from overloading one single year of the salary cap. But if a team releases a player before the end of their contract, they owe the remaining bonus money against the salary cap and have to account for it in one single year. This is considered dead money. By waiting until after June 1, they can spread this out over two years and reduce the immediate charge on the salary cap for a player who is no longer on the team. This incentivizes teams to release high-price players later on in the offseason to create more salary cap flexibility. Using Rodgers as an example, the Jets were to able to spread out his dead money over the next two seasons. They'll owe him $14 million in 2025 and $35 million in 2026 rather than $49 million in 2025 alone. 'A DISTRACTION':Caleb Williams addresses book saying he wanted to avoid Bears Because the cap penalties are reduced for making moves after June 1, trades can also be impacted this time of the year. Players can re-work their contracts ahead of trades –Bryce Huffdid as much withhis trade from Philadelphia to San Francisco– but their original teams could carry a lower cap penalty for trading a top player early. For the sake of an example, say theChicago Bearswant to trade tight endCole Kmetafter taking tight endColston Lovelandin Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft.(To be clear, this is completely hypothetical and there are no reports of Chicago looking to deal Kmet.) If Chicago traded him before June 1 and did nothing to amend his contract, he would carry a $4.8 million dead money hit on the 2025 salary cap. If they waited until after June 1, he would carry a $1.8 million dead money hit on the 2025 salary cap. Rodgers has been confirmed as a post-June 1 cut this offseason. He may not be alone, though. Here are few players who could end up being cut after June 1 with contract information provided byOverTheCap. CBJalen Ramsey,Miami Dolphins:This one almost seems a foregone conclusion to Ramsey's tenure in south Florida. He signed a $72 million extension in September, but entering his age-31 season, he could end up elsewhere in 2025. Miami would save nearly $10 million in dead money by cutting him after June 1. CBJamel Dean,Tampa Bay Buccaneers:Dean's missed nine games in two seasons after signing a four-year contract extension. Tampa Bay drafted multiple cornerbacks as well and could turn the page on the five-year veteran. Cutting him after June 1 would save Tampa Bay $4.6 million in dead money. EdgeCameron Jordan,New Orleans Saints:Jordan is as reliable player as any on the Saints roster, even as he enters his age-36 season. But the Saints have a new coaching regime in place and may look to move on from the aging star. In waiting until after June 1 to cut him, New Orleans would reduce his dead money hit from $28.53 million to $9.77 million. Not bad for a team constantly over the cap. TETaysom Hill,New Orleans Saints:Another longtime Saints player could be on the move come next week. New Orleans could reduce Hill's dead money hit from $17.7 million to $7.98 million and free up $9.8 million in cap savings by cutting him after June 1. WRTyreek Hill,Miami Dolphins:This would be a surprising move given Hill's status as the top pass-catcher in Miami, but he could be a cap casualty this offseason ahead of his $51.89 cap number in 2026. Cutting him before June 1 would cost the Dolphins a combined $84.19 million in 2025 but waiting until after June 1 would reduce that penalty to $53.06 million. They could also trade him after June 1 and free up $2.2 million in cap space with no penalties. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What is post-June 1 cut in NFL? Affects on salary cap, roster moves
