Teams with $45-to-$50 million in salary cap room don't really need to make moves to gain cap flexibility.
That's the situation the Cleveland Browns are in as free agency and the new league year draw closer.
The Browns carried $20 million of salary cap room from 2015 forward to 2016. That gives them the second-highest salary cap total in the league, and anywhere from $47-to-$48 million in cap room.
The Browns don't need to make moves, but they still may. A new coach wants his players and usually wants a team to get younger. So it goes. The Browns already have jettisoned defensive lineman Randy Starks and tight end Jim Dray.
What other Browns might be at risk of being released when the new NFL league year starts on Wednesday? Here's a guess, from most likely to go to least likely. Keep in mind, though, that not all of these moves will be made. The Browns do have to go to the offseason program with a full roster.
Johnny Manziel. This move has been a given since Hue Jackson was hired. Nothing has happened yet believe it would not, though the notion has been floated that the Browns could wait to see if the NFL suspends Manziel, which then would mean the Browns could regain some bonus money. Is it really worth it? Manziel has done little to earn his way back since he disappeared to Las Vegas on the last weekend of the 2015 season. When he goes, the Browns will eat his $4.33 million in salary cap costs. Chances he'll be released: 96 percent.
Dwayne Bowe. The poster child for the dysfunction of the previous regime. Bowe was given $9 million in guaranteed money, then rarely saw the field. Bowe could stay under Jackson and see if he can revive his career, but releasing him would provide $3.4 million in salary cap savings. Chances he'll be released: 75 percent.
Barkevious Mingo. The sixth overall pick from the 2012 draft simply has not lived up to expectations for the slot in which he was drafted. While defensive coordinator Ray Horton says he has some different things in mind for Mingo -- a player Horton called "a tall, lean, fast young man" -- releasing him would provide $2.6 million in salary cap savings. Chances he'll be released: 60 percent.
Donte Whitner. The likelihood that the next three players will be let go dives significantly at this point. Whitner is 30, and though he still can play, the Browns took tight end coverage responsibilities from him last season and gave them to Karlos Dansby. Cutting Whitner means the Browns would have to carry $4.5 million under the cap, but would provide a $3.95 million savings. Chances he'll be released: 20 percent.
Tramon Williams. He's 32 and struggled when Joe Haden was hurt last season. Any move with Williams would probably not come until after the draft and free agency, when the Browns see what they have on the roster other than Williams. Letting Williams go would give the Browns $3.1 million in cap room. Chances he'll be released: 15 percent.
Paul Kruger. Horton likes him and wants him, saying the team needs to give Kruger help to make him more productive. Two years ago, Kruger had 11 sacks. Last season, the team asked him to drop more into coverage. Odds that Kruger goes are very slim, though it would gain the Browns $5.3 million in cap room. Chances he'll be released: 7 percent.
Karlos Dansby: Not many 34-year-olds play the way Dansby did. His two interceptions for touchdowns last season gave him six touchdowns in his career along with 19 interceptions. The concern is when a player gets to be too old, but Dansby still has great value. Chances he'll be released: 3 percent.
Wondering where Justin Gilbert, the second half of the great draft bust of 2014, is on this list? He could go, but releasing Gilbert would actually cost the Browns $4.08 million more under the cap than it would cost to keep him.
How the Browns handle Gilbert and his struggles will be among the more interesting decisions they make. It's not like the team has to worry about cap space.
