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2014 Pats Salary Cap Breakdown - Safeties
Safeties - As of now, the Patriots have seven safeties (Steve Gregory, Devin McCourty, Adrian Wilson, Tavon Wilson, Duron Harmon, Nate Ebner, and Kanorris Davis)signed for the 2014 season. Their respective cap numbers are 3,183,334, $2,115,000, $1,833,333, $1,150,335, $633,900, $594,150, and $495,000.
If the Pats decide that they need the cap space I see them releasing Steve Gregory early in the 2014 League Year.
When he signed his rookie deal Devin McCourty's 2014 salary was scheduled to be $870,000 but with a possible $3.2 million escalator for the 2014 season. Devin has already done enough to increase his 2014 salary by $50,000 to $920,000. One of the biggest cap-related questions for the Patriots is how much of the $3.2 million did McCourty earn. For the time being, my projected 2014 cap space numbers presume that he has done enough to earn all of it. Irregardless of the amount, it is time for the Patriots and Devin to reach an extension. Let's look at some comparables. Devin McCourty who will be 27 when the 2014 starts was on the All-Pro 2nd team. Earl Thomas was also drafted in 2010 and was first team All-Pro. Like McCourty Thomas is signed for the 2014 season. It could be that the Patriots and Seahawks are waiting to see who signs their safety first. Earl Thomas is a year and 9 months younger than McCourty. Eric Weddle, a fellow member of the All Pro 2nd team, signed his current 5 year $40 million deal in 2011. Kam Chancellor, yet another member of the All Pro 2nd team, signed a four-year, $28 million extension in April, 2013. Antrell Rolle signed a five year, $37 million deal with the Giants in 2010 when he was 27. It seems fair to venture that McCourty is in the $7 million per year average range. Right now, I have McCourty's 2014 cap number as $2,115,000. It seems safe to say that it will soon be closer to $5 million, be it an increase through the escalator or be it an increase through an extension.
Like Gregory, I see Adrian Wilson's spot on the Patriots dependent on how much space the Pats need to sign/extend their players like Talib, Wendell, and McCourty. The more cap space spent on that trio significantly increases the likelihood that the older and expensive veterans like Gregory, Tommy Kelly, and Adrian Wilson are all let go.
Tavon Wilson, whose percentage of defensive snaps played went from 43% in 2012 to 1% in 2013, is in danger of losing his roster spot to a rookie or first-year player earning a $420,000 salary. If Tavon is waived after June 1, the Pats would create over $350,000 in cap space.
As part of the new CBA there is a proven performance escalator for draft picks chosen in Round 3 through 7. Duron Harmon is eligible for it in 2016 . An eligible player will qualify for the Proven Performance Escalator in his fourth League Year if: (1) he participated in a minimum of 35% of his Club's offensive or defensive plays in any two of his previous three regular seasons; or (2) he participated in a "cumulative average" of at least 35% of his Club's offensive or defensive plays over his previous three regular seasons. Harmon played in 37% of the defensive snaps in 2013.
Safeties - As of now, the Patriots have seven safeties (Steve Gregory, Devin McCourty, Adrian Wilson, Tavon Wilson, Duron Harmon, Nate Ebner, and Kanorris Davis)signed for the 2014 season. Their respective cap numbers are 3,183,334, $2,115,000, $1,833,333, $1,150,335, $633,900, $594,150, and $495,000.
If the Pats decide that they need the cap space I see them releasing Steve Gregory early in the 2014 League Year.
When he signed his rookie deal Devin McCourty's 2014 salary was scheduled to be $870,000 but with a possible $3.2 million escalator for the 2014 season. Devin has already done enough to increase his 2014 salary by $50,000 to $920,000. One of the biggest cap-related questions for the Patriots is how much of the $3.2 million did McCourty earn. For the time being, my projected 2014 cap space numbers presume that he has done enough to earn all of it. Irregardless of the amount, it is time for the Patriots and Devin to reach an extension. Let's look at some comparables. Devin McCourty who will be 27 when the 2014 starts was on the All-Pro 2nd team. Earl Thomas was also drafted in 2010 and was first team All-Pro. Like McCourty Thomas is signed for the 2014 season. It could be that the Patriots and Seahawks are waiting to see who signs their safety first. Earl Thomas is a year and 9 months younger than McCourty. Eric Weddle, a fellow member of the All Pro 2nd team, signed his current 5 year $40 million deal in 2011. Kam Chancellor, yet another member of the All Pro 2nd team, signed a four-year, $28 million extension in April, 2013. Antrell Rolle signed a five year, $37 million deal with the Giants in 2010 when he was 27. It seems fair to venture that McCourty is in the $7 million per year average range. Right now, I have McCourty's 2014 cap number as $2,115,000. It seems safe to say that it will soon be closer to $5 million, be it an increase through the escalator or be it an increase through an extension.
Like Gregory, I see Adrian Wilson's spot on the Patriots dependent on how much space the Pats need to sign/extend their players like Talib, Wendell, and McCourty. The more cap space spent on that trio significantly increases the likelihood that the older and expensive veterans like Gregory, Tommy Kelly, and Adrian Wilson are all let go.
Tavon Wilson, whose percentage of defensive snaps played went from 43% in 2012 to 1% in 2013, is in danger of losing his roster spot to a rookie or first-year player earning a $420,000 salary. If Tavon is waived after June 1, the Pats would create over $350,000 in cap space.
As part of the new CBA there is a proven performance escalator for draft picks chosen in Round 3 through 7. Duron Harmon is eligible for it in 2016 . An eligible player will qualify for the Proven Performance Escalator in his fourth League Year if: (1) he participated in a minimum of 35% of his Club's offensive or defensive plays in any two of his previous three regular seasons; or (2) he participated in a "cumulative average" of at least 35% of his Club's offensive or defensive plays over his previous three regular seasons. Harmon played in 37% of the defensive snaps in 2013.
