The New Orleans Saints and every other NFL team learned Tuesday that the league projects the 2020 salary cap to be set as high as $201.2 million, with conservative estimates coming in around $196.8 million. That would mean a big increase over the 2019 salary cap, which was established at $188.2 million.
The analysts at Over The Cap project the Saints to be on the hook for a little over $180.4 million in salary cap commitments when the NFL’s new fiscal year begins, which accounts for dead money payments to quarterbacks Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater, who are each scheduled to test unrestricted free agency next March. Depending on where the NFL and NFLPA agree to set next year’s salary cap, the Saints would go into the offseason with between $16.4 and $20.8 million to spend.
That’s slight work for Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and his financial team, which includes salary cap wunderkind Khai Hartley. They’ve proven able to manipulate contracts and structure salary cap commitments with ease, and shouldn’t face significant hurdles from it next season.
The real challenge is going to be retaining so many valuable free agents. Beyond the quarterbacks situation (Brees, Bridgewater, and Taysom Hill are each going to see their current deals expire), New Orleans must navigate contract situations with key contributors like safety Vonn Bell, cornerback Eli Apple, defensive tackle David Onyemata, linebacker A.J. Klein, and left guard Andrus Peat, to name just a few. The clock will also start ticking on new contracts for big-time playmakers including running Alvin Kamara and safety Marcus Williams, with fifth-year options in play for cornerback Marshon Lattimore and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk. This could be a year where the Saints keep most of their investments in-house and remain quiet on bidding in the open market.
The NFL informed club officials today it is projecting a salary cap of $196.8 million to $201.2M. That’s up from $188.2M this season. Revenue growth continues entering final year of labor deal.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 10, 2019
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