The Patriots have a big spending tab the next couple years when it comes to trying to retain some key defenders with market-value deals (Dont'a Hightower, Chandler Jones, Jamie Collins, Malcolm Butler), and only so much money to do it with under the salary cap (and that's before even trying to get free agents this offseason).
As a result, the Patriots could be looking to shed some salary in next couple weeks as teams get ready for the start of the new league year in March. Here are eight players currently on the roster who could end up as cap casualties (some definite, some possible surprises).