![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_19986632.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1)
The salary cap increased to $224.8 million for the 2023 season.
For some teams, the slight increase in cap space provides a little breathing room to retain players on expiring deals or acquire talent that could help them succeed in the upcoming season.
Other teams see hardly any relief, and one of the primary reasons is because of dead money against the salary cap. While NFL teams may trade or release players, there isn’t exactly a free lunch as teams may still owe money on the contract — hence the “dead money,” even though the player is with a new team.
Here is a look at the teams that owe the most to least dead money ahead of free agency. All salary cap figures are via Over The Cap.
1. Philadelphia Eagles — $46,488,912
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2019/10/usatsi_11199068.jpg)
Most dead money: DT Fletcher Cox ($15,359,292)
2. Las Vegas Raiders — $29,402,499
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_16844619.jpg)
Most dead money: LB Cory Littleton ($9,986,000)
3. Carolina Panthers — $28,593,708
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2022/03/Christian-McCaffrey.jpg)
Most dead money: RB Christian McCaffrey $18,352,250
4. Chicago Bears — $22,468,812
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2022/10/dc65789186e14b7bb8b6cd6b016e8961.jpg)
Most dead money: DE Robert Quinn ($13,233,520)
5. San Francisco 49ers — $17,085,988
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2020/01/usatsi_13598973.jpg)
Most dead money: DE Dee Ford ($8,589,999)
6. Green Bay Packers — $16,952,198
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_19712196.jpg)
Most dead money: S Adrian Amos ($7,950,000)
7. Washington Commanders — $14,188,157
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_18885734.jpg)
Most dead money: CB William Jackson ($9,000,000)
8. Atlanta Falcons — $14,086,001
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2020/11/USATSI_15247376.jpg)
Most dead money: LB Deion Jones ($12,140,784)
9. Tennessee Titans — $10,377,620
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2022/03/USATSI_17682828.jpg)
Most dead money: WR Julio Jones ($8,400,000)
10. Arizona Cardinals — $9,229,638
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_15145752.jpg)
Most dead money: DE Jordan Phillips ($5,904,334)
11. Dallas Cowboys — $8,642,623
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2020/04/3-3.jpg)
Most dead money: RT La’el Collins ($8,384,029)
12. New York Giants — $8,039,609
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2021/10/USATSI_16833242.jpg)
Most dead money: WR Sterling Shepard ($4,245,000)
13. Pittsburgh Steelers — $8,028,814
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/1228753970.jpg)
Most dead money: DT Stephon Tuitt ($4,755,000)
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — $7,942,466
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_19823323.jpg)
Most dead money: DE Akiem Hicks ($4,903,295)
15. Cleveland Browns — $7,816,064
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_17000974.jpg)
Most dead money: $7,500,000
16. Detroit Lions — $6,281,219
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2022/08/1c40cd1d36154786a6cef18adcd003c0.jpg)
Most dead money: $5,976,667
17. Seattle Seahawks — $5,870,942
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_17072767.jpg)
Most dead money: DE Carlos Dunlap ($4,200,000)
18. Baltimore Ravens — $5,556,041
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2019/10/usatsi_13472773.jpg)
Most dead money: TE Nick Boyle ($3,315,000)
19. New Orleans Saints — $5,038,479
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2020/06/usatsi_13328374-1.jpg)
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_17480455.jpg)
Most dead money: S Malcolm Jenkins ($3,950,000)
20. Los Angeles Rams — $4,423,395
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2022/02/USATSI_17364313.jpg)
Most dead money: LT Andrew Whitworth ($2,000,000)
21. Minnesota Vikings — $3,818,911
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2022/11/1441260537.jpg)
Most dead money: CB Patrick Peterson, OT Jesse Davis ($750,000 apiece)
22. Indianapolis Colts — $3,242,320
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2019/01/usatsi_11892429.jpg)
Most dead money: RB Nyheim Hines ($3,000,000)
23. Miami Dolphins — $3,012,603
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_17479632.jpg)
Most dead money: OT Eric Fisher ($1,991,112)
24. New York Jets — $2,884,269
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_18880148.jpg)
Most dead money: DE Jacob Martin ($2,310,000)
25. Buffalo Bills — $1,663,000
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/1418333729.jpg)
Most dead money: TE O.J. Howard ($625,000)
26. Denver Broncos — $1,585,866
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_18532105.jpg)
Most dead money: DT Mike Purcell ($774,168)
27. Jacksonville Jaguars — $1,411,497
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_18938899.jpg)
Most dead money: WR Laviska Shenault ($789,285)
28. New England Patriots — $1,379,605
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_18768281.jpg)
Most dead money: CB Justin Bethel ($333,334)
29. Houston Texans — $901,995
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_17406430.jpg)
Most dead money: DT Ross Blacklock ($834,991)
30. Cincinnati Bengals — $540,902
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_18922365.jpg)
Most dead money: DT Tyler Shelvin ($368,280)
31. Los Angeles Chargers — $186,262
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_19482412.jpg)
Most dead money: RB Larry Rountree ($87,880)
32. Kansas City Chiefs — $98,428
![](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/2023/02/USATSI_19988024.jpg)
Most dead money: CB Nazeeh Johnson ($57,756)