What is dead cap?

Dead cap refers to the amount of money a team is still obligated to pay a player after they have been released or traded. This amount is typically the guaranteed portion of the player's contract that has not yet been paid out. Dead cap can have a significant impact on a team's salary cap space, as it reduces the amount of money available to sign new players or re-sign existing ones. Teams can incur dead cap charges when a player is released or traded before their contract expires, and these charges can linger on the team's salary cap for several years. It is important for teams to consider dead cap implications when making roster moves to avoid tying up valuable cap space in players who are no longer on the team.