Let's break down the guy's you listed were these big loses? I don't think so overall when you go, production, age and cost.

Waynes- Making CB 1 money no thanks move on 
Richardson-Overrated to me had 4 sacks washed out against the run good, but was not really worth what he got paid. Since been  cut by Browns because of that cost.
Harris- I know this is your night and shiny armor. He was great a year and a half. Maybe we regret losing him time will tell. For 5 mil I would have brought him back but for 11 mill at 29 he wanted the year before no thanks. Woods will be at least comparable to last year for 1 or 2 mil.

Rudy- At 9 mil and refusing to take less laughable easy decision

Bailey- Not worth crying he was not good let's move on from him

Weatherly/Alexander- Are back for less than they left for. Can't complain about that. So back at our price wise moves left and returned for less

Reiff- Had a good year last year, but lets not pretend he been great for the whole time here. Old, replaced hopefully for cheaper. A case of let a guy go a year to early is better than a year to late. 
Odenighbo- Wanted him back Weatherly and him are close. Ife better as rusher Weatherly better as run stopper. This move had nothing to do with cap since they cost the same.

Boone- I liked him but let's face it he was RB 3 why pay 2 mil when you can go cheaper at a spot that get's no clock? I do think Boone will be a good 2 with Broncos

Griff- I want back but for cheap league minimal.. At the time it was smart to move on as we see how things have unfolded. We let him go at the right time. I would be open to a return for cheap.

Linval- Was making a good amount best days are past him'

Rhodes- At the time who wouldn't cut him the way he was performing and at his cost. He bounced back last year, but still not making the money we had to pay him.

Most these moves were the right moves even with cap. Thuney cost too much 80 mil for a OG no thanks. I actually think KC will regret paying him so much. Pats had money and let him go. I don't think he lives up to that contract IMO but we will see.

Bam, I love Wonnum just for this hit on Rodgers alone. LOL a epic picture.

My problem with the Kirk deal is this 45 mil on deck. He is worth what he getting now around the 25-30 mil. It's the 45 that bothers me.

Let's say we didn't have Kirk. but kept Rudy, Shamar, Rhodes, EV, and Linval at those prices they were getting?

Would we be better? I not a huge Kirk fan but he is better than those guys right now. Bos Man you see what I am trying to say?

I agree that for some it was a blessing for us..... but it is always better to have the choice..... to have the available cap space and then for our front office/HC to decide who to keep and not to keep..... as opposed to having our hand forced into a decision to part ways with guys THEY may have preferred to keep....

Stop thinking Boz. You, me and Joe Schmo don't know who Ricky and Zimmer wanted. 

What is cap hell? 

Harris didn't want to come back to us so we couldn't get him at 5. I know he is your boy, but he only would have stayed with a elite contract the year before.

You say it was because of the defense as a whole he played bad last year right? Well Harry and Kendricks still played well.

It tells me he is a product of his environment and not truly special. Because a true great plays well regardless like those 2. The team might suck, but you can still get yours.

We could have afford him at 5 but clearly he either didn't want to return or we lost interest. Same for Wilson we clearly had enough to resign him at 3. The cap didn't keep them from coming back this year. So even if the year before we went ahead and paid Harris. If he didn't live up to it then what? We still would have been like man why did we pay him that. The rest of the league felt he wasn't worth elite money also. So why would we over pay his market value just to keep him? Doing those things would lead to bad cap situations the same? 

Keeping half those guys would have been awful too. Isn't it results that matter? You would be happier paying over the hill bums and getting no results? For me I would feel no better and even though I think next year we over paying Cousins he is better than all the guys we let go off your list hands down IMO! So we would have a better chance with him then them just sayin.. All this being said while still wanting to move on from Kirk if he don't deliver this year, just so that is clear to everyone.

Also, keep in mind we did a lot of one year vet deals and the cupboard will once again be bare in 2022 when Cousins cap hit is 45ml. To say his cap number hasn'r effected anything is simply untrue. We've also had to rework a few existing contracts to create some space.