Different teams are in different situation w.r.t. cap space, dead money, and contracts. Hopefully for the Browns, Dorsey has learned from his time in K.C. where he used up all the cap space and tied up players with long term contracts. Berry got a six year, $78 million deal with a cap hit of $7.25 million 2019 salary guarantee that would have kicked in Friday. Chiefs will realize $9.55 million in cap savings this year on June 2. Berry will count $6.95 million toward this year's cap, $8 million in 2020. That's dead money.
As a result of releasing Justin Houston, the Chiefs save the $14 million against the cap and $15.5M in cash in 2019. Houston will account for $7.5 million in dead money.
Dee Ford would have been a free agent but was franchised, which resulted in a trade that netted a second rounder next year. Ford finished his first contract, but he would have counted $15 million against the cap if the Chiefs had not found a partner in the 49ers.
So, KC shed long-term contracts in three of the four highest paid Chiefs, including the franchise money. Allen Bailey - also a highly paid player - came off the books as a free agent this year. Their cap space went from $20 million to $32 million with $9 more after June 1. They replace Berry with Mathieu.
Depending on the contracts Houston and Berry sign, the Chiefs may also net a couple of third or fourth rounders in compensatory picks next year along with the second rounder in the trade for Ford and their other picks. With a first and two second rounders this year, they have the draft capital to move up.
Cleveland won big-time in free agency, turning around the franchise, using their cap space ($80-100 million?), which is now at $40 million. They have $18 mill in dead money.
Meanwhile, New England waits, targeting only a few free agents,, twelve draft picks due to four compensatory picks, and $12 mill in cap space. Plenty of draft capital. N.E. traded for Michael Bennett, signed Phillip Dorsett and Jason McCourty, are among the three favs for Golden Tate and are interviewing DE Alvin Bailey and TE Matt LaCosse.
Oakland was also a big winner in free agency.
I imagine all are happy.