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Running backs who, despite currently being under contract for 2024, are candidates to be cut before next season begins. Understanding the risks and opportunities of the 7 running backs below is important.

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Dalvin Cook, Minnesota

Rumors have circulated about a potential trade or cut of Dalvin Cook throughout this offseason, but nothing has materialized to date. There is some speculation that Minnesota may be waiting until after June 1, which would allow Minnesota to spread Cook’s cap hit across this year and next year. If Minnesota cuts Cook after June 1, the team will take a dead-money hit of 5.1 million dollars in 2023 while saving 9 million in cap space. If Cook plays the 2023 season on this contract, he will have a cap figure of 15.6 million dollars in 2024, and the team could save 12.5 million dollars by cutting him. The team re-signed Alexander Mattison this offseason to a two-year, 7-million-dollar cap hit, with 6.35 million of guaranteed money, a sign the team is preparing for the post-Cook era.

Nick Chubb, Cleveland

Nick Chubb had the best season of his career in 2022, rushing for 1525 yards and scoring 12 rushing touchdowns. Chubb has two years left on his contract, and in 2024, Chubb will have a cap number of 16.2 million dollars. At that time, the team could save 12.2 million by cutting him and only take a 4 million dollar dead-cap hit. Chubb will be 28 years old in August and will have his best control over a depth chart in his career, with Kareem Hunt leaving the team in free agency. Chubb could be a candidate for an extension if he plays well in 2023 but could be a cut candidate if he does not. The team's 2022 fifth-round pick Jerome Ford is the backup running back behind Chubb, but the team would likely add competition for Ford if they cut Chubb in 2024.

Aaron Jones, Green Bay

Aaron Jones signed a four-year, 48-million-dollar contract in 2021, but the deal contained only 13.2 million in guarantees. It looked like it was a cuttable contract after year two, but the team restructured the deal, which backloaded a large portion of his cap hits. Jones has a 17.2-million-dollar hit in 2024 but has a dead cap hit of 12.4 million dollars if he is cut, and the team would only save 4.8 million dollars. The Packers could face a similar 2024 offseason as the Cowboys faced with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Dallas chose to take a big cap hit and cut Elliott, then place the franchise tag on Pollard. A.J. Dillon will be a free agent in 2024, while Jones is due a big cap hit, so Green Bay's handling of the situation will be interesting to watch.