Tag: cap space

2023 cap space landscape: The outlook for each NBA team

The trade deadline passed and we now have a clearer picture of how teams will operate in the 2023 offseason. Last July after the free agency dust settled, we got a rough idea of which teams were projected to have significant cap space. For the most …

The trade deadline passed and we now have a clearer picture of how teams will operate in the 2023 offseason. Last July after the free agency dust settled, we got a rough idea of which teams were projected to have significant cap space. For the most part, the teams remain the same, but the quality of free agents has decreased with many high-profile players signing veteran extensions since. It’s possible the lack of talent could push more teams to roll over their cap space into the season like the Pacers and Spurs did this year. It’s also possible we get more extensions before June 30, which could push more of these teams to operate as over-the-cap teams instead.

Here are the teams that project to have cap space, operate over the cap, and which of the latter are projected to be in the luxury tax.

NFL sets 2023 salary cap at record-high $224.8M, which is great for the Saints

The NFL has set its 2023 salary cap at a record-high $224.8 million, which is great news for the New Orleans Saints — who are over the cap by more than $57 million:

Good news, everyone: the NFL told teams Monday that it has set the 2023 salary cap per team at $224.8 million, which is great for the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans currently has a staggering $281.9 million in cap commitments for the 2023 season, which means they must clear more than $57.1 million to reach cap compliance before the start of the new league year on March 14. No team is over the cap by a wider margin than the Saints.

That’s easier said than done, but we’ve seen New Orleans work around the cap well before, and they’ll get there again. It’s going to be another busy offseason for their salary cap specialist Khai Harley and general manager Mickey Loomis as they navigate contract situations with many players and we should anticipate restructures, releases, and a couple of creative extensions to reach the finish line.

Some obvious moves that jump out at you from their accounting sheet: restructures with cornerstone players like Marshon Lattimore (saving over $10 million), Ryan Ramczyk ($9.6 million), and Erik McCoy ($8 million) will be easy enough and cut into that negative cap figure. Parting ways with Jameis Winston and Wil Lutz brings $8.1 million in savings. Releasing Michael Thomas and Andrus Peat with post-June 1 designations frees up another $12.9 million later in the summer, but that’s well after free agency’s busiest signing period and the 2023 draft, so it isn’t quite as helpful.

Still, those moves leave the Saints in the red by about $21.4 million before the March deadline. They clearly have more work to do than we’ve mused on here. So watch this space in the weeks ahead as roster moves and salary cap maneuvers trickle in.

[listicle id=121433]

Chargers HC Brandon Staley on potential contract extension for Justin Herbert: ‘We all know how we feel about Justin’

Brandon Staley seemed optimistic about a potential extension for Justin Herbert.

The Los Angeles Chargers live and die by the contributions they get from quarterback Justin Herbert, and entering the last year of his rookie contract, the team would be wise to figure out his next deal sooner rather than later.

Head coach Brandon Staley addressed the team’s need to sign Herbert to an extension in his comments to reporters at the Chargers’ end-of-season press conference. He seemed optimistic about the quarterback’s future with the team.

“I think that’s going to be a big topic in the offseason,” Staley explained. “I think we all know how we feel about Justin. I know those conversations will take place in the right space and time. We have really good relationships with his team. I’m confident that Justin Herbert is going to be a Charger for a long time.”

After another season without a playoff win, Los Angeles will need to do everything in its power to surround Herbert with a play-caller that will maximize his strengths and bring him an explosive pass-catcher with speed.

If they can’t, and a long-term deal isn’t made in the near future, Herbert could choose to seek greener pastures when his contract expires.

Saints roll over some unspent salary cap space to work with in 2023

The Saints rolled over some of their unspent salary cap space from 2022 to work with in 2023. They’ll need every cent of it:

Here’s some much-needed salary cap relief ahead of what’s shaping up to be a busy New Orleans Saints offseason. Per ESPN’s Field Yates, the Saints have declared $1,111,520 in unspent salary cap space from 2022 to roll over into 2023, where it can be used to help sign free agents and process offseason roster moves. That’s not much (it ranks fifth-lowest from around the league), but every cent counts when you’re over the cap by as wide a margin as New Orleans.

This money will be subject to NFL auditing and adjusting, so the final number may be different from what the Saints themselves are expecting. We’ll find out soon once the league finalizes those numbers and announces the 2023 salary cap spending limit. Right now, the Saints are sitting over the projected cap by more than $37 million, so while this rollover is just a drop in the bucket it should still go towards helping them reach cap compliance in March and remain competitive in free agency.

[listicle id=120766]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyhwtgq69krjzq player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Updated 2023 Saints salary cap outlook after Michael Thomas contract restructure

The Saints still have a lot of work to do after restructuring their contract with Michael Thomas. Here’s their updated 2023 salary cap outlook and top 10 cap hits for 2023:

The New Orleans Saints shaved more than $14 million off their books in a contract restructure with Michael Thomas, setting up the former All-Pro wide receiver for a split in March. Thomas is likely going to be released with a post-June 1 designation, which would create the greatest savings against the 2023 salary cap, but that’s something to worry about on another day.

In the meantime, we have a better idea now of the Saints’ salary cap outlook for the coming offseason. Thomas lowered his 2023 cap hit from $28.2 million to just over $13.1 million, which brings their current cap commitments down from $283 million to about $267 million, give or take a couple million dollars. That’s still well over the projected salary cap for 2023; multiple reports have said it will settle at around $220 million, with an influx of new broadcasting rights deals padding the NFL’s coffers.

So at the end of the day, the Saints still have a lot of work to do after this contract restructure with Thomas. Over The Cap’s estimates have New Orleans in the red by more than $38.7 million. Here are some of the top salary cap hits they’ll need to address in the weeks and months ahead:

6 trade targets for the Saints ahead of the NFL deadline

6 trade targets for the Saints ahead of the NFL deadline: A single move won’t right the ship, but it might plug a hole and help keep them afloat

We’re in a tight spot. A 2-5 start to the season is hardly what the New Orleans Saints anticipated, and now the NFL trade deadline is fast approaching. They’ve got decisions to make ahead of that Nov. 2 cutoff date, and they could end up cutting a deal with another team. We’ve seen the Saints make trades at the deadline before, acquiring players like linebacker Kwon Alexander (in 2020) and cornerback Eli Apple (in 2018) while moving others such as Adrian Peterson (in 2017), having made a run at wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (at the 2019 deadline, later signing him as a free agent in 2020). 

The point is the Saints were always active at the trade deadline under Sean Payton. Will that be the case with Dennis Allen calling the shots? Personally, I don’t think the Saints should be making many moves right now. Certainly not in the name of sending out future draft picks after they already depleted their resources. They aren’t one or two players away from fixing their biggest problems and kicking off a win streak. But if the right opportunity is there to improve the team at a reasonable expense, go for it.

If you’re curious, here are the draft picks available to New Orleans:

  • 2023: Rounds 2, 3, 4, 5, 5 (via Philadelphia Eagles), 7
  • 2024: Rounds 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6 (via Philadelphia Eagles)
  • 2025: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

The Houston Texans own New Orleans’ 2023 sixth round pick (for cornerback Bradley Roby) and their 2024 seventh rounder (for running back Mark Ingram II), while the Eagles control the Saints’ 2023 first round choice and 2024 second rounder (after their 2022 trade to get an extra first-round pick), with Philly also getting a 2025 fifth rounder (as part of the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade). There’s some moving parts involved, but the Saints do have enough draft capital to make another move or two (and enough salary cap space, too). Again, it isn’t what I would do, but the Saints can take action at the trade deadline if they’re determined enough.

It just won’t be a big move. Remember, the goal isn’t to fully right the ship with one bold move. You just want to plug holes where you can and stop the leaking. With that in mind, here are six players the Saints should call about:

Updated Saints salary cap space figure ahead of NFL trade deadline

NFL trade deadline: New Orleans Saints salary cap space update after latest moves

Hey, would you look at that: the New Orleans Saints don’t rank last in the NFL with available salary cap space. ESPN’s Field Yates reports that the team is under the cap by a little more than $3.6 million right now, clocking in at No. 20 around the league. It’s firmly within the NFL’s middle class a week out from the Nov. 2 trade deadline, which is a big improvement on where the Saints have stood before.

Now, it’s not to say that the Saints are going to make a big move ahead of that deadline. Their 2-5 record isn’t going to be improved by trading for just one or two players (unless for some reason Josh Allen and Aaron Donald are available). They do have enough draft capital to cut a deal, even without next year’s first round pick, but I wouldn’t bet on it. They could reinforce a weak position group by trading for a running back or a defensive tackle, maybe, but neither of those are blockbuster moves.

And it doesn’t feel like a fire sale is coming, either. The timing doesn’t work out in their favor. The Saints moved so much money around this offseason through restructures that they would only recoup minimal savings by trading everyone possible, resulting in weaker returns. It’s better to wait until the offseason to better evaluate everything and seek stronger compensation.

But if the Saints lose to the Las Vegas Raiders this week and fall into a 2-6 record, they should consider everything — up to and including what they might get in unloading franchise superstars like Alvin Kamara and frustrated talent like Michael Thomas. At some point, the hole gets too deep to climb out of, and all you can do is dig.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyahgz6p2j3xp7 player_id=none image=https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[listicle id=117493]

LeBron James extends with the Lakers: What now?

LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal will raise his career earnings to $532 million, which would give him the highest career earnings in NBA history by …

LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal will raise his career earnings to $532 million, which would give him the highest career earnings in NBA history by far. It will also include a 15 percent trade bonus and a player option for the 2024-25 season.

Here we look at the deal and what it means for James and the Lakers going forward.

Where the Saints rank in positional spending across the NFL

Where have the Saints invested most on their 2022 roster? Here’s where they rank in positional spending across the NFL, via @DillySanders:

There has been a lot of arguing about how the New Orleans Saints approached the offseason. Should they have blown it up? Did they do the right thing in doubling down and trading next year’s first round pick?

Whatever side you fall on, the season is nearly here and the final say on the roster is about to be made. Money is also a huge talking point with New Orleans. According to Over the Cap, here is where the Saints rank in positional spending across the league for 2022, with $11.28 million left to spend.

Trading N’Keal Harry saves Patriots about $1 million in cap space

The Patriots don’t gain a ton of cap space by trading N’Keal Harry to the Bears

The New England Patriots struck a deal with the Chicago Bears on Tuesday, sending the Bears wide receiver N’Keal Harry for a seventh-round pick in 2024. It’s obviously not much in return for the Patriots, who drafted Harry in the first round in 2019, but he didn’t have a great chance to make the 53-man roster anyway.

The salary cap savings for trading Harry isn’t great, either. According to Mike Reiss of ESPN, the Patriots will gain about $1 million in cap space from this deal. Harry was set to count $3.2 million against the cap this year, so it’s not as if he was a high-cost player to begin with.

Once the trade becomes official, the Patriots will have about $3 million in cap space. They’ve been up against the cap for most of the offseason, so any extra money will give them some added roster flexibility.