5 biggest salary cap concerns heading into NFL pre-season 

#3 - Jared Goff: $31.1 million cap hit (Detroit Lions)

Los Angeles Rams gave up on Jared Goff

Jared Goff isn’t the solution to the Detroit Lions’ long-term issues at quarterback. You would think that the franchise themselves are aware of that, but are looking ahead to a 2023 NFL draft class, which is thought to be elite at the position.

Until then, Goff will play under center in Motor City, yet his $31.1 million cap-hit is staggeringly painful.

Finding a team to take that contract on in the future will be difficult for Detroit, especially if he has another poor year in 2022.

The Lions have already restructured the deal once, but it is set to run until the end of the 2024 NFL season.

However, in the offseason before the 2023 NFL season, Goff could be cut for a fairly reasonable price. The Lions would only have $10 million in dead cap, and drafting their new QB would be infinitely cheaper than the $31.1 million lost to Goff in 2022.

The real problem comes if the Lions have a successful year in 2022 without Goff playing a starring role.

#4 - Kenny Golladay: $21.1 million cap hit (New York Giants)

New York Giants hope Golladay comes good in 2022

The New York Giants gave Kenny Golladay an expensive four-year contract in good faith. He was supposed to arrive and be a veteran presence in their receiving corps, as well as being the lead playmaker on the offense.

His first year in 2021 didn’t go to plan. He started just 14 games and received 521 yards without scoring a single touchdown.

2022 will need to be a bounce-back year for the receiver; otherwise, the Giants will be looking at the contract given to him.

His cap-hit in 2022 is $21.1 million, and there isn’t a cheap out until the end of the 2023 season for the Giants.

This is a situation where the New York franchise needs to pray Golladay rediscovers his form. Otherwise, the 2023 offseason is going to be painful trying to trade him.

#5 - Carson Wentz: $28.3 million cap hit (Washington Commanders)

Carson Wentz will be with his third NFL team after signing with Washington

The Washington Commanders will tell you that they are all in on Carson Wentz being their franchise quarterback. The reality is they took what was available.

There is a reason why Wentz is no longer with the Philadelphia Eagles or the Indianapolis Colts. He isn’t seen as someone capable of making a team win.

The Commanders have a problem now because they’re too good to really be involved in the race for the elite quarterbacks available in the 2023 NFL Draft, but it’s difficult to see Wentz dragging them into the playoffs.

Fortunately, for the Commanders, they have an out in 2023, which would see them able to cut Wentz without any dead cap space. However, his $28 million cap-hit in 2022 isn’t ideal.

It limits what the team is able to do with regard to adding further free-agents ahead of the pre-season, but the franchise knew that risk when they made the deal with the Colts.

However, a problem may arise if the Washington Commanders have a strong season in 2022, can’t find a viable replacement for Wentz and need to keep him on the team for a further two years with his huge contract.