When the Las Vegas Raiders made the decision to cut quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo earlier this offseason, they did so with a post-June 1 designation, which meant they had to wait months before that move would pay dividends financially.
Well, as we turn the calendar to June, that time is finally here and the Raiders will get an infusion of cap space to work with after Jimmy G is off the books. Las Vegas will recoup a whopping $24 million this year, to be exact.
According to Spotrac, the move to cut Garoppolo with the post-June 1 allowed the Raiders to spread his dead-cap hit out. The Raiders will be on the hook for $4.26 million in 2024 and $12.8 million in 2025.
Also helping the Raiders was the fact that Jimmy G's suspension for performance-enhancing drugs last season voided an $11.25 million guarantee.
Garoppolo’s tenure in Vegas was short-lived, and an out-of-nowhere suspension for PEDs became a late Christmas gift for the Raiders this past Spring, as an $11.25M salary guarantee was voided. Now, Las Vegas will take on dead cap hits of $4.26M for 2024, and $12.8M in 2025, representing a a savings of more than $24M this coming weekend. Garoppolo has since signed a 1 year, $3.1M contract with the LA Rams.
Per Over the Cap, when you take into account the money saved from Garoppolo and the recent raise the Raiders gave star edge rusher Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas now has $34 million in effective cap space (the cap space a team will have after signing at least 51 players and its projected rookie class to its roster), the sixth-most in the league.
This gives the Raiders a stockpile of cap space to work with in order to make a few significant moves if they so choose. Cornerback no doubt tops the list of positions Las Vegas may add to. It's also possible the Raiders hand out an extension or two, although those aren't likely to impact this year's cap space.
As for Garoppolo, he went on to sign with the Los Angeles Rams this offseason to serve as the backup to Matthew Stafford, inking a one-year, $3.1 million deal. The Rams are the Raiders' opponent in Week 7 in Los Angeles.
