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It’s been clear for a while now that the Los Angeles Rams would be lacking cap space this offseason, given their top-heavy roster with stars such as Jared Goff, Aaron Donald and Brandin Cooks eating up a good portion of the salary cap.
The team has been making moves this week to free up some money, beginning with the declined option for Nickell Robey-Coleman. It continued with the shocking release of Todd Gurley on Thursday, as well as the release of Clay Matthews.
Much was made about Gurley’s contract being a deterrent in any possible trade, which turned out to be the case. The Rams couldn’t find a trade partner and were forced to release the star running back.
So how does this move – as well as the decision to release Matthews – impact the Rams’ salary cap? It does create some cap space, but also brings on a large chunk of dead money in the next two seasons. For Gurley alone, he’ll leave behind $20.15 million in dead money.
According to Field Yates of ESPN, the Rams released Gurley with a post-June 1 designation. That spreads out the dead cap charge of $20.15 million over the next two years, which makes it an easier pill to swallow in 2020. With this move, the Rams save $5.5 million in cap space this year. Had he been an outright cut, they would’ve lost $2.9 million in cap space.
A portion of that roster bonus tomorrow ($2.5 million) is subject to offsets, meaning if Gurley signs elsewhere, the #Rams can get some of the money back. As it stands now, L.A. will have paid $34.5M on the extension he signed in July 2018.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 19, 2020
The timing of Gurley’s release was calculated, too. By cutting him before Friday, they avoid having to pay him another $10.5 million that would’ve become fully guaranteed at 4 p.m. on Thursday.
And according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, $2.5 million includes offset language, which means the Rams get a portion of his contract back if/when he signs with another team this offseason. It’s similar to Blake Bortles’ situation last year, with the Jaguars paying part of his salary, allowing the Rams to only pay him $1 million.
A portion of that roster bonus tomorrow ($2.5 million) is subject to offsets, meaning if Gurley signs elsewhere, the #Rams can get some of the money back. As it stands now, L.A. will have paid $34.5M on the extension he signed in July 2018.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 19, 2020
As for Matthews, his release is much simpler. The Rams save $5 million in cap space by releasing him before 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, since they didn’t have to pay him an additional $2 million in the form of a bonus.
And if Matthews signs elsewhere for $2 million or more – which he certainly should – the Rams will gain another $2 million in cap space.
FWIW, I'm told Clay Matthews actually saves $5 million, and another $2 million if he signs elsewhere for $2 million or more.
— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) March 19, 2020
According to Over the Cap, the Rams have $9.57 million in cap space. That includes Andrew Whitworth’s extension, but not the signings of Austin Blythe, Leonard Floyd or A’Shawn Robinson.
It’s not yet clear how those contracts will impact the Rams’ salary cap because the structure of those deals hasn’t been released, but Floyd’s deal is for $10 million and Robinson’s averages $8.5 million per year.
Ignoring those contracts and adding in the extra space from Gurley and Matthews, the Rams have about $20.07 million in cap space, once Gurley’s money gets added in on June 2.