Drew Brees will be intriguing to watch this offseason. Not for any other reason beyond the salary cap space he'll devour as he heads into 2016 training camp. No player in the league will feature a larger salary-cap balloon than Brees' $30 million. If the NFL spending ceiling increases to $150 million, Brees will still stand to occupy 20 percent of New Orleans' cap.

Not that it will stand. Brees is more likely to negotiate some kind of new deal to open up relief for a Saints franchise that will continue to feel salary pressure into 2016. Even forced to pay $30 million, it's hard to believe New Orleans would be inclined to cut a player who has defined the franchise and city, even if cutting him comes at an immediate cap savings of $20 million. It can be argued that Brees is playing at a level worth … well … at least worth most of that money.

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As for other NFL players, the decisions will be a little easier – or harder – depending on where you stand on fading stars. There is a list of recognizable names who are no longer playing near the level of their salary-cap slot, which will lead to some drama this offseason.

Among the names that are expected to draw eyes of team capologists this offseason …

10 tough salary decisions for 2016

Rather than jump through all the explanatory financial hoops, here are the brass tacks: If the Lions cut or trade Johnson, they open up $11.092 million in cap space for 2016, while eating $12.916 in dead money (which is an amount owed no matter what). If Detroit keeps him, he counts a monumental $24.008 million against the 2016 cap. He's not being used (or if you want to argue, playing) anywhere near his cap charge for next season. Some kind of move is called for, be it a trade, cut or renegotiation.

The Broncos are on the hook for only $2.5 million for Manning and none of his $19 million base salary next season, so cutting him opens a large chunk of salary cap. But this decision boils down to whether Denver believes Manning can be the starting quarterback at a high level for all of next season. He doesn't look like an elite quarterback anymore. Not even close. If he's considerably less than that, paying him this kind of money makes no sense. And neither does a renegotiation to keep him at a lower number.

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Mario Williams More

The Bills could cut Williams and open up $12.9 million in cap space, while eating another $7 million in dead money in 2016. Williams is making monster defensive end money without the production to match. It can be attributed to coaching and scheme, but either way he's not worth nearly $20 million in 2016 unless there's some kind of revelation for both the players and coaches. Forget that he has only four sacks this season, 2015 pass-rush productivity that ranks with fading stars like Jared Allen and Chris Clemons. Again, Buffalo keeps him only if it knows there is a specific, fixable problem. And if there was at this point, why hasn't it been remedied already?

Jay Cutler More

The Bears have seemingly been waiting forever to get out from under this contract, but the decision isn't as simple as cutting Cutler. His guaranteed salary for 2016: $10 million. If the Bears cut him quickly after the season, they'd still be on the hook for that $10 million plus another $3 million in salary restructure bonuses. They'd be cutting Cutler to eat $13 million on the cap and open up only $4 million in space. But a trade? Front-office scuttlebutt is that the Bears will, once again, be open to trade offers for him this offseason. In a trade, the Bears would end up responsible for only the $3 million in restructure bonuses. That means an instant $14 million in cap space and no longer having to worry about the remaining $72.7 million due to Cutler from 2017 to 2020 (most of which is unguaranteed outside of per-game roster bonuses anyway). Basically, Chicago either finds a buyer for Cutler on the trade market and clears a big hunk of cap space or holds onto him for another year while figuring out the quarterback spot.

D'Brickashaw Ferguson More

Ferguson was once great but is now fading. His cap hit in 2016 will be more immense than any other offensive lineman in the NFL. He is grading out as one of the worst tackles in the league in 2015. According to Pro Football Focus, Ferguson has allowed 48 total pressures (either a sack, QB hit or QB hurry) in 535 pass-blocking snaps. By comparison, the Dallas Cowboys' Tyron Smith (who will eat $100k less in cap space than Ferguson in 2016), has allowed only 14 pressures in 463 pass snaps. At a savings of nearly $10 million in cap space, Ferguson is ripe for a release … or at the very least, a serious pay cut. If the Jets do neither, it's out of blind loyalty for a player whose peak years are far behind him.

Brandon Carr More

Only two cornerbacks will have larger cap charges in 2016: the New York Jets' Darrelle Revis and Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman. Carr is most certainly not in that company. The best phrase for him might be "adequate starter." He's rated by Pro Football Focus as the 34th best coverage corner in the NFL this season, and 25th in run-stopping efficiency. But the underlying problem in cutting him for Dallas is that it would surrender a starting corner without opening up massive cap room in the process. Cutting Carr would generate $7.434 million in dead money, versus $6.383 in new cap space. A renegotiated salary (which was something Dallas would have liked to have already done) seems to be the most sensible route. If that can't be accomplished and the Cowboys are hard up for some cap space, this could be where they get it.

Pierre Garcon More

Garcon is on pace to finish his fourth straight season with five touchdown catches or less. He's averaging 10.4 yards per catch, which is possession receiver territory. He'll be fortunate to reach 750 yards receiving this season. Yet next year, his pay scale will place Garcon on the cusp of top-10 wideout territory, and ahead of players like Brandon Marshall and Jordy Nelson. Cutting Garcon would open $8 million in cap space next season. Combined with the $16-plus million that will be opened up by cutting Robert Griffin III, Washington could have the room to add some other significant pieces that provide more bang for the buck.

Jordan Cameron More

In terms of cap space consumed, Cameron will be the No. 2 rated tight end in 2016, ahead of guys like Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski. While nobody wants to cut a free agent who was signed only a season ago, Cameron has looked like a bad fit, particularly once the Dolphins placed a higher emphasis on running the football and pass protecting. He isn't producing anywhere near enough to make him worth next year's salary or even been enough of a mismatch to create big problems for defenses. Cutting him loose would create $7.5 million in cap space in 2016, and that could certainly be used in other places.

Arian Foster More

A healthy Arian Foster likely wouldn't make this list. But Foster's health has been tenuous at best, and his torn Achilles in October essentially turns all of 2016 into a question mark. The Texans would be loyal – but foolish – to leave Foster on the books considering that status. Even if he did return at 100 percent, Foster will turn 30 in the preseason and has a lot of hard mileage on his body. A $9.3 million cap slot is the stuff of elite running backs, and nobody knows if Foster can be that again. And if he can, for how long. Texans would be smarter to cut him and take the offset of $7 million in cap space.

Donald Butler More

Butler's level of play has fallen off dramatically since signing a sizable new deal in 2014 – to the point that he's been reduced to a backup role. Dumping him after this season would be all about avoiding the balloon portion of the new deal. Cutting him would create $6.69 million in dead money via accelerated signing bonus money. Considering his cap hole was $6.68 million with him on the roster, that's basically a wash from a cap savings standpoint. The real upside is avoiding paying him an average of $8.6-plus million a year through 2020. Right now, he's not earning anything near that.

10 other guys who are ripe to be released

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers ($16.765 cap charge in 2016)

Maybe he takes a paycut. It's more likely he is released. Either way, he's not making anything close to what he's due next year.



Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins ($16.155 million)

He's done in Washington. He's the East Coast Kaepernick, only with a release that is even more set in stone.



Mike Wallace, WR, Minnesota Vikings ($11.5 million)

Already drastically overpaid for his role on the team. Releasing him will be one of the least dramatic decisions of the entire offseason.



Percy Harvin, WR, Buffalo Bills ($10 million)

From the moment Harvin didn't travel with the Bills to London earlier this season, he was done in Buffalo. The team is set to void the final two years of his contract.



Nick Foles, QB, St. Louis Rams ($8.75 million)

Unless he's going to be the highest-paid backup in the NFL (or a new coaching staff unexpectedly gives him a fresh start), Foles won't be a Ram in 2016.



Jared Allen, DE, Carolina Panthers ($8.5 million)

He's a shadow of the pass rusher he used to be. He could still find a situational role elsewhere, but it won't be in Carolina for the current price.



Andre Johnson, WR, Indianapolis Colts ($7.5 million)

He's emptied his tank. He really isn't even a candidate for the bottom receiver on another depth chart because those guys have to contribute on special teams.



Greg Jennings, WR, Miami Dolphins ($5.5 million)

He's taking up space that is better used by developing young players. At best, he's an experienced No. 4 receiver, but not at this price.



Riley Cooper, WR, Philadelphia Eagles ($5.3 million)

An afterthought in the offense who may not finish with 400 yards receiving this year. But he's making No. 2 wideout money. If that doesn't change, it's all Chip Kelly.



Eddie Royal, WR, Chicago Bears ($4.5 million)

A healthy Kevin White relegates him to either the Nos. 3 or 4 receiver on next season's roster. A bit too far down the depth chart to make that salary next year.



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