Free NFL Analytics Platform — A Directory of Our Hubs
StickToTheModel is a free NFL analytics platform organized around a few core hubs. Each hub is the home for a specific category of NFL coverage — pick the one that matches what you're looking for. No signup required.
Our Hubs
Mock Draft Simulator — The simulator hub. 7-round NFL mock drafts with trades, AI opponents, and instant grades.
NFL GM Simulator — The GM mode hub. Manage salary cap, cuts, trades, franchise tags, and the draft for any team.
2026 Draft Prospect Hub — Big board, scouting reports, combine measurables, and team visit tracker.
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Our platform offers data-driven NFL analysis with tools for draft preparation, fantasy football, and player research. All core features are free with daily updates during the NFL season.
The platform serves fantasy football players, NFL Draft enthusiasts, dynasty league managers, sports bettors, content creators, and casual fans exploring NFL statistics.
Cap Casualty: NFL Definition
A player released primarily because their salary cap hit is too large relative to their production or the team's available cap space, rather than because of poor performance alone.
Full Explanation
A cap casualty is a player who is released not necessarily because they are a bad player, but because their contract has become untenable relative to the team's salary cap situation. This typically happens when a player's cap hit escalates in the later years of a backloaded contract, or when a team needs to clear significant cap space to sign other players or stay under the salary cap ceiling.
Cap casualties often represent good value for other teams. Because these players are released due to financial reasons rather than declining ability, they are frequently productive veterans who can be signed at a market-rate contract that is lower than their previous deal. The free agent market after the initial wave of cuts each March is often filled with cap casualties who quickly find new homes.
Teams can use various strategies to avoid cap casualties, including restructuring contracts, converting salary to bonus, or negotiating pay cuts. However, when a player's dead money is low relative to their cap hit, releasing them becomes the most efficient path to cap relief. The decision ultimately comes down to whether the cap savings from releasing the player outweigh the on-field production they would provide.
Category: Cap Strategies. Part of the StickToTheModel NFL Encyclopedia.