Tag: cap space

Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis restructure contracts to save Saints cap space

New Orleans Saints DE Cameron Jordan and LB Demario Davis agreed to restructure their contracts, saving $13M in salary cap space.

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NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill first reported news of more Saints salary cap maneuvering, with defensive end Cameron Jordan and linebacker Demario Davis agreeing to contract restructurings that yielded $13 million in savings for 2021. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport specified that the moves saved $13,443,750 this season.

Remember: restructures are not pay cuts. Both players got nice signing bonuses out of this that they can cash immediately. It is a team-friendly move in the sense that it helps get New Orleans beneath the salary cap, but it’s also favorable to the player because they get more money now and more security with the team later.

That’s why it’s a little, slightly, sort of surprising to see the Saints tie themselves to a pair of defenders over 30. Especially in Jordan’s case, given he just had his lowest sacks total since 2016. If either Jordan or Davis start to recede, it’ll be tough for the Saints to get out of those contracts in the years ahead.

But these are the deals you have to make when you’re $60 million over the projected salary cap. Not every move is going to benefit the team alone. The Saints will have to make some concessions and bet that aging players will remain effective late into their careers. Considering both Jordan and Davis have earned All-Pro votes in recent years and are staple players on the defense, this doesn’t really look like a tough decision to make. You just have to be aware of the risks.

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Wil Lutz and Saints restructure contract, tying Pro Bowl kicker to NO a little tighter

The New Orleans Saints restructured their contract with Pro Bowl kicker Wil Lutz, saving 2021 salary cap space after his down year in 2020.

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NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report a contract restructure between the New Orleans Saints and Pro Bowl kicker Wil Lutz, creating $1.74 million in salary cap space while tying Lutz to New Orleans a little more tighter in future years.

The Saints achieved this by converting most of Lutz’s base salary and a roster bonus into a signing bonus; he’ll now receive just $990,000 in base salary, the veteran’s minimum, but it’s offset by a nice signing bonus worth about $2.61 million. That signing bonus will be prorated over the three years remaining on his contract on top of a previous signing bonus from when he first signed the extension.

So our end result is $1.74 million in savings for the Saints this year, which helps them, and higher guarantees in Lutz’s contract. That means it will be tougher for the Saints to release him if his performance continues to trail off after a down year in 2020. He’ll carry salary cap hits of $5.57 million in 2022 and $5.62 million in 2023. If he bounces back, though, maybe the Saints explore another contract extension to lower those cap hits. It’s something to watch out for next summer.

Lutz completed a career-worst 82.1% of field goal tries in 2020, though some of his issues appear linked to a Dec. 6 injury against the Atlanta Falcons when his plant leg slipped and he fell on a kick. He was never listed on the injury report with an issue, but he only connected on 5 of his next 9 attempts, including the playoffs. Before that incident, Lutz had scored on 20 of 22 tries. Here’s hoping he rebounds after curing what’s ailed him.

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Updated Saints salary cap space outlook after recent roster moves

The New Orleans Saints adjusted their 2021 salary cap outlook. More restructured contracts and pay cuts are on the way before free agency.

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The day is still young but the New Orleans Saints are hard at work in reaching salary cap compliance ahead of free agency. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported a contract extension with safety J.T. Gray and a restructure from defensive tackle David Onyemata on Wednesday, which followed the re-signing of defensive end Noah Spence earlier this week. So where do the Saints stand against the salary cap now?

It’s still not good, but it’s not as bad as where they started. Right now, I have the Saints with more than $66.72 million to chip away before they’ll be under the salary cap. Here’s how I arrived at that number.

Previous moves — a pay cut from Drew Brees and the release of guard Nick Easton — combined to create $29.8 million in savings. Additionally, the Saints rolled over $4.1 million in unspent cap space from 2020. The NFL and the players union agreed to set the 2021 salary cap no lower than $180 million, which combines with that rollover to create a goal of $184.1 million for New Orleans.

Gray’s contract reportedly includes $2 million in guarantees, which should be a single hit against this year’s salary cap. But the details on his contract structure are unclear just yet, so that could be slightly different; for example, if it’s a $2 million signing bonus, then he carries cap hits of just $1 million in both 2021 and 2022. Stay tuned for clarity on that.

The other numbers are more clear. Onyemata’s restructure creates $4.34 million in cap space. Spence qualifies for the veteran’s minimum salary benefit, making a cap hit of just $850,000 that pushes a less-valuable contract beneath the top-51 threshold. Tack on the $1.29 million in dead money from past deals New Orleans has on the books, per Over The Cap, and you end up with $250.82 million in cap commitments.

Subtract that $250,822,650 in commitments (to be exact) from the $184,100,000 Saints-specific salary cap and you end up with $66,722,650 in negative cap space. Not bad, not terrible. Certainly more manageable than the $101 million we started with. But it’s obvious the Saints have more work ahead of them.

That means more simple restructures like the one Onyemata agreed to. Candidates to watch out for are players whose contracts feature high base salaries that can be converted to signing bonuses, like defensive end Cameron Jordan ($11.9 million) and wide receiver Michael Thomas ($12.6 million).

Others like cornerback Janoris Jenkins ($10 million) and guard Andrus Peat ($9 million) are viable, too, but the problem with restructures is that it’s tougher to get out of those contracts later. Older corners like Jenkins could fall off, and Peat’s injury history is daunting. Linebacker Kwon Alexander has a $12.55 million base salary but can’t be released while recovering from his Achilles injury.

Another option: signing extensions that include signing bonuses anyway. This can keep core players like left tackle Terron Armstead ($10.15 million base salary) and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk ($11.06 million) as well as cornerback Marshon Lattimore ($10.24 million) around for the future while providing cap relief now. You just have to be sure those are building-blocks you can rely on playing like All-Pros for two or three years, if not longer.

And there will be cap cuts, though New Orleans probably wants to try trading players when they can to recoup a draft pick in the process. Nose tackle Malcolm Brown has already popped up in trade talks (which would save almost $4.9 million). Other middle-class players like punter Thomas Morstead ($2.5 million if released) and cornerback Patrick Robinson ($2.6 million if cut) could be moved, too.

The next few weeks will be hectic as the Saints hurry to get under the salary cap before legal tampering begins with free agents on March 15. Check this space often to keep up to date.

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David Onyemata agrees to restructured contract, creating cap space

The New Orleans Saints saved 2021 salary cap space through a contract restructure with David Onyemata, maybe setting up another extension.

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There goes another domino: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the New Orleans Saints have agreed to a contract restructure with defensive tackle David Onyemata, which creates $4.34 million in salary cap space for 2021. It’s not a lot, but it’s another important step towards cap compliance ahead of free agency later in March.

It’s important to note that this is not a pay cut — Onyemata is getting his money now while raising his future cap hits, giving him some more job security. The Athletic’s Katherine Terrell did a great job explaining the mechanics of this move. Onyemata converted $4.34 million of his $7 million salary into a signing bonus, taking it off of the books for 2021 and pushing it into the future.

That raises his cap hits by $2.17 million in 2022 (now up to $12.17 million) and 2023 (which automatically voids, but will leave $4.67 million in dead money). The Saints can get ahead of that dead money hit in 2023 with another contract extension, which feels likely to happen next offseason to lower his 2022 cap hit if Onyemata continues to play at a high level. He can earn another nice payday by stepping up should the Saints lose free agent Sheldon Rankins and cut or trade Malcom Brown over the next few weeks.

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K.J. Wright has eye-catching exchange with Seahawks fan on Twitter

Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright had an interesting exchange with a fan on Twitter, one that could raise more than a few eyebrows.

Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright continues to make heads turn this offseason as everyone anticipates free agency next month. After publicly stating he would not take a hometown discount to stay in Seattle and that he believes Russell Wilson will not be leaving the team this offseason, he had a rather interesting exchange with a fan on Twitter.

The fan praised Wright and stated that in the event he leaves the Emerald City, he would root for him as a player as long as he joined any team except the San Francisco 49ers, the Seahawks’ arch-rival. The veteran linebacker replied with the following:

This may have been a joke, or it may have implied that Wright has an interest in joining the red and gold next season.

According to Overthecap.com, San Francisco currently possesses over $13 million in cap space, so they could reasonably sign Wright if he is interested, especially if they free up some more somehow.

However, as Wright has made abundantly clear, the team he joins in free agency will largely depend on how much money he will receive from them, so it’s up in the air at this point.

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K.J. Wright seeks multi-year contract with Seahawks this offseason

Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright stated on SiriusXM NFL Radio that he is seeking a multi-year contract with the team this offseason.

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Linebacker K.J. Wright made waves recently when he appeared on The Jim Rome Show and said that he will not take a discount to re-sign with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency.  Wright stated that he and other players must be compensated for their positive contributions.

Wright then took to the airwaves on SiriusXM NFL Radio and said that he is seeking “a multi-year” contract, but that negotiations have been “nonexistent” thus far.

Seattle will have to create cap space to keep some of its key players, including Wright. The veteran linebacker was correct when he said that he has contributed significantly to the Seahawks defense over the years.

Although he is now 31 years old, Wright holds an adamant belief that his play did not decline last season.

The Seahawks will have a lot of decisions to make this offseason. We will see how this particular situation plays out in March.

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Jarran Reed on Seahawks future: ‘I want to be here long-term for sure’

Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed told NBC Sports Northwest’s Joe Fann that he wishes to remain in Seattle for the future.

With the NFL’s salary cap minimum for the 2021 season revealed, teams have begun the process of releasing certain players with unfavorable contracts. Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed joined NBC Sports Northwest’s Joe Fann on the “Talkin’ Seahawks” podcast to discuss his future.

Reed, who is signed through this upcoming season, stated that he wishes to remain in blue and green for years to come, but that he can only control the situation to that extent.

“Who knows? I want to be here long-term for sure,” Reed said. “I just control what I can control, and everything will work itself out. I’ve been a Seahawk my whole career, and that’s how I want it to stay.”

Reed has been a valuable contributor to the Seahawks since they drafted him in 2016 and played a part in the team’s defensive turnaround last season while racking up 38 combined tackles, five tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and 14 quarterback hits. However, he has a base salary of $8,075,000 and a cap hit of $13,500,000 for next season, while Seattle currently possesses only $4,391,354 in cap space for 2021 per Overthecap.com. If Reed wishes to stay in Seattle, he may be willing to restructure his contract, albeit to an unknown extent.

The Seahawks may release players they view as more expendable than Reed to create cap room before deciding what to do with him, so we may see a few roster cuts soon. In the meantime, Reed will hope that he will not be a victim of the organization’s decisions.

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Detroit Lions will rollover $12.8 M in cap space into the 2021 season

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Detroit Lions will rollover $12.8 M in cap space, boosting their totals for the 2021 season.

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Detroit Lions will rollover $12.8 M in cap space, boosting their totals for the 2021 season.

As of today, the Lions have 49 players signed to their active roster — they’re allowed up to 90 players in the offseason — accounting for roughly $183.4 million in total cap expenditures, per OverTheCap.com‘s estimate.

What’s the league’s established salary cap for 2021?

Well, unfortunately, we don’t know at this time.

The league’s salary cap is determined based on profit/loss from the previous season and with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the league’s profitability, the salary cap is expected to see a significant drop.

This past July, the NFL and NFLPA reached an agreement on an addendum to the collective bargaining agreement. Within that document, it was agreed upon that in order to soften the impact from the 2020 losses in revenue, the NFL would spread the losses out over a four year period (2021-2024).

Additionally, they set a floor for the 2021 salary cap at $175 million — over $23 M lower than last season.

If the cap is at $175 M, are the Lions already over?

No, this is where the rollover money will be used.

If the salary cap is set at $175 M, the Lions can now add an additional $12.8 M in cap space above the established amount, allowing them to spend up to  $187.8 M.

That means they would have $4.4 M in available space.

That may seem like a shocking number, but per OverTheCap.com, the Lions are right at the league average, having the 17th most cap space entering the 2021 offseason.

Is $175 M a firm number?

No. If the 2020 losses weren’t as great as anticipated, then the 2021 cap could see an increase. The league is also looking at ways to generate additional revenue — like adding a 17th regular-season game — to also help offset the losses.

Some reports have suggested the established amount will be closer to $180 million and could reach as high as $195 M if negotiations between the NFL and NFLPA are reopened.

If either of those things happens, the Lions would see a boost of an additional $5-20 M in available spending room.

Are there other ways the Lions can increase cap space?

Absolutely, and with a new general manager in place, it’s almost a certainty that roster cuts will be made.

Brad Holmes is going to take a thorough look at the Lions roster may find several contracts he deems unacceptable. Cutting players comes at a cost, as cap hits can hurt a team’s ability to maneuver — but then again, so does carrying bad contracts.

What’s the bottom line?

The Lions currently sit around the mid-point in available funds, but that number is surely going to increase as cuts are made — which could propel them into the top-10 of teams with available cap space.

Among the NFC North teams, the Lions are actually in the most comfortable spot. The Vikings, Bears, and Packers are all over the allotted cap amount (even factoring in their rollover money) and will be likely forced to make cuts of their own.

Here’s a look at every team’s rollover allotment for 2021:

Mark Ingram released from Baltimore, will be free agent

Baltimore Ravens release former star Alabama running back Mark Ingram with one year remaining on his contract, they will save roughly $5 mil

Former Alabama running back Mark Ingram has been released by the Baltimore Ravens with one year remaining on his deal, which wil save the franchise roughly $5 million next season.

The team will likely move forward with the young J.K. Dobbins, whom they drafted from Ohio State in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.

The 2009 Heisman trophy recipient was selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft, and played the first eight years of his career with the New Orleans Saints.

As a free agent in 2019, Ingram signed with the Ravens and knew his role. He was to be a veteran leader and share his expereince and wisdom with the young team.

Though, he was a leader, he was still being paid to be a running back.

In his first season with the team, Ingram totaled 1,265 yards from scrimmage and reached the endzone 15 times.

His numbers tailed off in 2020, as he was often listed as a healthy scratch for some games. The young generation of Ravens running backs were getting their chances.

The 31-year old running back was an energizing force with the team that instantly became absorbed by the Baltimore faithful.

Prior to his release, Ingram thanked the Ravens.

There’s no telling what the future holds for the former Alabama star running back, but when a decision is made Roll Tide Wire will publish any and all information that becomes available.

Pete Carroll hopes Brandon Shell can be in Seattle long term

Coach Pete Carroll expressed his hope that offensive tackle Brandon Shell can stay with the Seattle Seahawks for the long-term future.

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll expressed his admiration for offensive tackle Brandon Shell this season in his Wednesday press conference.

Shell, an impending free agent, has been a standout on the Seahawks offensive line this year and Carroll stated that he hopes the fifth-year veteran can stay in the Emerald City for the long-term future.

“He’s been really steady,” Carroll said. “Strong in the run game, in the pass game, assignment sound, accountable. He’s real quiet. He’s really quiet, doesn’t say a word. He’s in on everything, cares about everything. I love that acquisition. I think he’s so steady and he’s going to really – I hope he can be around for a long time with us.”

The Seahawks are projected to have $15,968,752 in cap space for the 2021 season per Overthecap.com and have numerous impending free agents, including Chris Carson, KJ Wright, Jacob Hollister, and Shell. The Seahawks certainly cannot keep all of them, so they will have some big decisions to make this offseason.

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