2012 NFL Salary Cap Projections

[VrabelJr]

The RAMS!?!?! On whom?

I second that LOL for the Steelers.

Drafting top 10 for 3-4 years will do that to you. Bradford, Robert Quinn, Chris Long, Jason Smith.

 

[makoute]

Drafting top 10 for 3-4 years will do that to you. Bradford, Robert Quinn, Chris Long, Jason Smith.

Especially in years past.

 

[resdubwhite]

I heard this years cap was appx. 127 million, so if true the pats are WAY under and could do some real FA shopping this year.

You know you are only torturing yourself.

I can only imagine the Ire in here when top FA after top FA is ignored or not signed by the pats.


God I love the off season.

 

[SeymourTrophies]

You know you are only torturing yourself.

I can only imagine the Ire in here when top FA after top FA is ignored or not signed by the pats.


God I love the off season.

The definition of insanity is...I forget

 

[Rob0729]

You know you are only torturing yourself.

I can only imagine the Ire in here when top FA after top FA is ignored or not signed by the pats.


God I love the off season.

I don't expect the Pats to be players in the top free agents, but that doesn't mean they won't be active in free agency. They rarely chase the big names, but they have frequently gone after second tier talent over the years.

 

[patsfaninpa]

I don't expect the Pats to be players in the top free agents, but that doesn't mean they won't be active in free agency. They rarely chase the big names, but they have frequently gone after second tier talent over the years.

I want to keep our guys first; Welker, BJGE, Connolly, Slater, Love, Anderson and maybe D. Branch. Then, we can see how much is left after money set aside for the rookies. Sounds like Brandon Lloyd might come at a reasonable price. Door is open if that's the case. The one position I'd be proactive about is FS. The safety position killed us this year with Chung missing half the season. Looked much better once he came back. And, will be even better if we get a quality, veteran FS.

 

[Urgent]

The definition of insanity is...I forget

Presumably this refers to the fact that the Patriots never spend big in free agency. They never set the bar on salaries.

Which isn't really the case. The Patriots spend to the cap.
Some off-seasons the Patriots don't spend much, and some they do.

The Patriots had one of the first $100mm contracts (Drew Bledsoe).
They made Brady the highest paid player when they re-signed him.
They made Vinatieri the highest paid kicker.
Law was the highest-paid corner, I believe.

They gone out and made a big splash several times - Colvin, Thomas. Moss had several down years, but that was a big deal.

Saying that the Patriots always pursue a specific approach is seldom accurate. They never draft linebackers in the first round, other than Mayo. Or guards, other than Mankins.
They play a 3-4, except when they play 4-3.
And so forth.

They may spend on their own free agents - Welker, Ninkovich, Law Firm - but there should be plenty for an upgrade where they choose.

 

[Urgent]

I think one of the most interesting things with the original article quoted is that, for the first time in years, there are multiple teams over the cap.

Over the past several years, there have been very few teams over the cap.
Having five-eight teams over the cap, and another group close to the cap, means that there will be a round of cap-related releases.

This is likely a factor of the new CBA reigning back cap growth and the period of uncertainty where some teams projected the future cap differently.

 

[NEP4Life]

a round of cap-related releases.

In theory, this would put the Patriots in an even better position vis-a-vis signing free agents. More free agents, resulting in more supply, resulting in relatively lower salaries, resulting in better value.

:rocker:

 

[ctpatsfan77]

They made Vinatieri the highest paid kicker.

And, let's not forget, Gostkowski the highest-paid kicker signed by anyone other than Al Davis (at that point, sadly, Janikowski and Lechler were among the top-10 most talented Raiders ).

 

[loofasisgeek]

Cap numbers are almost worthless without the details on how many players are signed (and, really, who they are). Big difference if a team is $100M against the cap and has 20 guys signed against that number vs $100 M and 45 guys against that number.

 

[mgteich]

I agree that we are in fine cap shape.

However, we do have some significant players entering free agency: Welker, Branch, Connolly, Koppen, Greeen-Ellis, Carter, Anderson, Ellis and Warren.

As of now, we have Edelman, Slater and Underwood as our wide receivers for Game 1. (I don't think that we can count on a franchisee starting the first half of the season.

Giving Welker the tag will take $9.5M out of play for the offseason.

Can't recall something that isn't known. The cap is expected to be fairly flat for the next two years (may be small increases to $123-126+) but then rise dramatically once the new TV deals kick in. Last time the jump was in the teens the first year and upper single digits thereafter. So maybe $140M by 2014 and $155M-ish by 2016. Thing is contracts will rise in anticipation across the board so it's not like a windfall at least past the first year.

We're in really good shape comparatively speaking. Finished the season in the top two in standings and bottom third in cap committment with just one big ticket FA signing or franchise tag and some manageable veteran resignings to complete before FA opens and the draft class eats up it's 5% or so. They won't go nuts, but they can make some noise if the right players are available. $20M or so in cap room to play with and they can always do some restructures and extensions to create additional space. And there will be some cap saving cuts...

 

[ATippett56]

I agree that we are in fine cap shape.

However, we do have some significant players entering free agency: Welker, Branch, Connolly, Koppen, Greeen-Ellis, Carter, Anderson, Ellis and Warren.

As of now, we have Edelman, Slater and Underwood as our wide receivers for Game 1. (I don't think that we can count on a franchisee starting the first half of the season.

Giving Welker the tag will take $9.5M out of play for the offseason.

Welker - franchise tag at worst
Connolly - re-sign
Slater - unrestricted free agent
Green-Ellis - home town discount at best
Branch - veteran minimum at best
Koppen - veteran minimum at best
Anderson - meh (replace with 2012 first round draft pick)
Carter - torn left quadriceps, possible retirement (33 years old in May)
Ellis - retirement, not worth $4 million
Warren - speed dial
Underwood - training camp fodder

 

[micronin127]

I spent hours yesterday correlating a bunch of sites and trying to account for the Patriots reported cap number.

1. Miguel's site was last updated 8/13/2011, hope he is OK.
2. NY Jets cap site didn't have all of our players accounted for and had several players listed below the league minimum salary based on their years of experience (mostly toward the bottom of the roster)
3. Googled just about every player on the roster looking for contract details.

As near as I can figure we have 52 players signed so far. I did list all the players recently signed to futures contracts.

A couple of players (Lousaka Polite and Donald Thomas) I listed at $525,000 instead of their salaries since I think they both qualify for the veteran's exemption.

I'm within a few hundred thousand of the Maimi Sentinel figure.

Also, Profootballtalk just had a story indicating the Patriots can automatically carry forward their unused cap space from this season which they listed as $6.66 million. It is likely that several Patriots earned incentives which will be paid and count towards the 2011 cap reducing the amount we can carry forward.

Give it a look and let me know if you spot anything inaccurate or missing. Not sure I got all the 2012 dead money.

New England Patriots 2012 Salary Cap

 

[ATippett56]

I'm within a few hundred thousand of the Maimi Sentinel figure.

Also, Profootballtalk just had a story indicating the Patriots can automatically carry forward their unused cap space from this season which they listed as $6.66 million. It is likely that several Patriots earned incentives which will be paid and count towards the 2011 cap reducing the amount we can carry forward.

Give it a look and let me know if you spot anything inaccurate or missing. Not sure I got all the 2012 dead money.

New England Patriots 2012 Salary Cap

Nice job!

 

[jmt57]

I spent hours yesterday correlating a bunch of sites and trying to account for the Patriots reported cap number.

1. Miguel's site was last updated 8/13/2011, hope he is OK.
2. NY Jets cap site didn't have all of our players accounted for and had several players listed below the league minimum salary based on their years of experience (mostly toward the bottom of the roster)
3. Googled just about every player on the roster looking for contract details.

As near as I can figure we have 52 players signed so far. I did list all the players recently signed to futures contracts.

A couple of players (Lousaka Polite and Donald Thomas) I listed at $525,000 instead of their salaries since I think they both qualify for the veteran's exemption.

I'm within a few hundred thousand of the Maimi Sentinel figure.

Also, Profootballtalk just had a story indicating the Patriots can automatically carry forward their unused cap space from this season which they listed as $6.66 million. It is likely that several Patriots earned incentives which will be paid and count towards the 2011 cap reducing the amount we can carry forward.

Give it a look and let me know if you spot anything inaccurate or missing. Not sure I got all the 2012 dead money.

New England Patriots 2012 Salary Cap

Very nice job with that information. Actually, excellent job with that info.

The only thing I would consider asking for - if you are up to it, since it would be time consuming - the net effect of cutting a player.

For example, Player X may have a cap figure of $5 million. If he is cut that current cap number is removed, but you also have to figure in the previously pro-rated bonus being accelerated; you don't really save $5 million by cutting him.

In other words, what is the net effect of the cap savings for cutting the player, minus the cap cost for cutting that player? That would probably be more useful when looking at some of these players than what their cap number is. A prime example would be #85, who has a cap number of $4.8, but if I recall correctly would only free up $1.75. Mike Wright on the other hand is at $2.9, but would (again, I'm going off memory) actually free up more - $2.2.

Once again, I realize that this is a very time-intensive endeavor so I'm not expecting you to do that; just suggesting that if you do have all that info available that it would be very helpful in all of our roster and cap analysis.

 

[skinnydog]

If the list linked in the original post is correct, the Pats are in a great position to land a top free agent if they chose. Again, based on this, and if the cap is about 122 million and it takes 5-7 million to sign rookies, a lot of teams will have to work hard just to get under the cap, let alone be a player in free agency.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Welker - franchise tag at worst
Connolly - re-sign
Slater - unrestricted free agent
Green-Ellis - home town discount at best
Branch - veteran minimum at best
Koppen - veteran minimum at best
Anderson - meh (replace with 2012 first round draft pick)
Carter - torn left quadriceps, possible retirement (33 years old in May)
Ellis - retirement, not worth $4 million
Warren - speed dial
Underwood - training camp fodder

I'd try to sign them at the following amounts.Sounds like we have about 23m. Add 4m with Wright retiring and cutting Chad Johnson. Rollover 6.6m brings up to 33.6m
Subtract 5m for rookies. We have 28.6. The five moves I listed below cost 22.4. Not really enough for all of those moves plus Mario Williams. I think Hoyer is dealt. We'll see. His money not factored in anyway. We now only have 6.2m

Current Pats
Welker 3/24 8m per. R.Moss got 3/27 off of his epic season. Seems fair to me
Love - EFRA 2nd Round Tender 1.9m
Connolly 2.5m 2 years 5m

Other Players
B.Lloyd 5.5m aav with nice signing bonus
D. Goldson 5.5m aav with nice signing bonus

Down to 6.2m moves
Mark Anderson 4m aav with nice signing bonus
Matt Slater 1.5m


Those moves alone would eat up all but .7m I'd really like to get a 2gap veteran de who can play. Not sure we have enough. Is that too much for Lloyd and Goldson?

 

[mgteich]

You have forgotten to account for incentives that were earned. Obviously, we can only estimate.

I'd try to sign them at the following amounts.Sounds like we have about 23m. Add 4m with Wright retiring and cutting Chad Johnson. Rollover 6.6m brings up to 33.6m
Subtract 5m for rookies. We have 28.6. The five moves I listed below cost 22.4. Not really enough for all of those moves plus Mario Williams. I think Hoyer is dealt. We'll see. His money not factored in anyway. We now only have 6.2m

Current Pats
Welker 3/24 8m per. R.Moss got 3/27 off of his epic season. Seems fair to me
Love - EFRA 2nd Round Tender 1.9m
Connolly 2.5m 2 years 5m

Other Players
B.Lloyd 5.5m aav with nice signing bonus
D. Goldson 5.5m aav with nice signing bonus

Down to 6.2m moves
Mark Anderson 4m aav with nice signing bonus
Matt Slater 1.5m


Those moves alone would eat up all but .7m I'd really like to get a 2gap veteran de who can play. Not sure we have enough. Is that too much for Lloyd and Goldson?

 

[mgteich]

I think that you have your priorities straight. We need to re-sign Welkler, Connolly, Anderson and Slater and sign a WR and a FS. Lloyd and Goldson are solid choice.

I would note that re-signing Branch, White and Warren is also probably in the cards.

Even then, the defense will have lost Carter and Ellis and picked up Goldson. Whether there is improvement may very well depend on Dowling and the 2012 draft.

The offense would have lost Ochocinco and Green-Ellis, and picked up Lloyd. The open question is whether our running game will lose something compared to 2010 and 2011.

I'd try to sign them at the following amounts.Sounds like we have about 23m. Add 4m with Wright retiring and cutting Chad Johnson. Rollover 6.6m brings up to 33.6m
Subtract 5m for rookies. We have 28.6. The five moves I listed below cost 22.4. Not really enough for all of those moves plus Mario Williams. I think Hoyer is dealt. We'll see. His money not factored in anyway. We now only have 6.2m

Current Pats
Welker 3/24 8m per. R.Moss got 3/27 off of his epic season. Seems fair to me
Love - EFRA 2nd Round Tender 1.9m
Connolly 2.5m 2 years 5m

Other Players
B.Lloyd 5.5m aav with nice signing bonus
D. Goldson 5.5m aav with nice signing bonus

Down to 6.2m moves
Mark Anderson 4m aav with nice signing bonus
Matt Slater 1.5m


Those moves alone would eat up all but .7m I'd really like to get a 2gap veteran de who can play. Not sure we have enough. Is that too much for Lloyd and Goldson?