Cleveland Browns: 5 Players on the Hot Seat in 2015

Sep 8, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns linebacker Paul Kruger (99) against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter at FirstEnergy Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

5. Paul Kruger

Many of you may be surprised by this choice. How could Paul Kruger coming off an 11 sack season, be on the hot seat? Well, let’s go back to the salary cap restrictions in today’s NFL. The term “cap casualty” has been a word that we’ve heard a whole lot over the past few years, because of the new Collective bargaining agreement.

This past offseason alone, players like Andre Johnson, Jake Long, and Vince Wilfork – all proven Pro Bowl players – were all released as cap casualties. Was the production really that poorly for any of those three players to deserve to be let go? Not really, because both Johnson and Wilfork found a home quickly in free agency, while Long is still rehabbing from injury.

Teams no longer want to continue to pay big money when they feel a younger player for a cheaper price can do just about the same job. Kruger signed a five-year deal back in 2013 worth $40 million, which reeks of a potential cap casualty type of contract. If he plays like he did in 2013 – 4.5 sack season – I see them moving on from him and his big contract considering the strain it would have on their salary cap.

Next: Phil Taylor