Falcons Dead Money Tops $41M After Kaleb McGary Retirement

How does the veteran offensive tackle's exit impact Atlanta's salary cap in 2026?

Apr. 10, 2026 at 10:06am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented football field with overlapping shapes and planes in shades of red, blue, and green, conceptually representing the financial challenges facing the Atlanta Falcons' roster.The Falcons' salary cap challenges following Kaleb McGary's retirement expose the complexities of modern NFL roster management.Atlanta Today

The Atlanta Falcons are facing over $41 million in dead salary cap money for the 2026 season after veteran right tackle Kaleb McGary announced his retirement on Wednesday. While the team will save around $14 million by parting ways with McGary, they've also had to absorb significant dead cap hits from other recent player moves, including $22.5 million for quarterback Kirk Cousins and $11 million for wide receiver Darnell Mooney.

Why it matters

The Falcons' high dead cap total will significantly limit their financial flexibility heading into the 2026 season, as over $41 million of their salary cap will be tied up in players no longer on the roster. This could impact their ability to sign free agents or extend key players, making it more challenging to build a competitive team around their remaining core.

The details

After McGary's retirement, the Falcons quickly signed former Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor to a one-year, $5 million contract with another $1 million in incentives. This move will help offset the loss of McGary, who had been a key part of Atlanta's offensive line for the past seven seasons. However, the team will still have to absorb a $3 million dead cap hit from McGary's contract.

  • On April 10, 2026, Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary announced his retirement.
  • Shortly after McGary's retirement, the Falcons signed Jawaan Taylor to a one-year contract.

The players

Kaleb McGary

A seven-year veteran offensive tackle who announced his retirement from the Atlanta Falcons on April 10, 2026.

Jawaan Taylor

A former offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs who signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons to replace the retired Kaleb McGary.

Kirk Cousins

The Falcons' quarterback who has a $22.5 million dead cap hit for the 2026 season.

Darnell Mooney

The Falcons' wide receiver who has an $11 million dead cap hit for the 2026 season.

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What’s next

The Falcons will need to carefully manage their salary cap situation in 2026 as they look to build a competitive roster around their remaining core players, while also addressing the significant dead cap hits they are facing from past player moves.

The takeaway

The Falcons' high dead cap total of over $41 million for the 2026 season will significantly limit their financial flexibility, making it more challenging to build a competitive team. This underscores the importance of prudent roster management and contract negotiations to avoid such substantial dead cap burdens in the future.