What’s the cap situation moving forward?

[Froob]

Is there a @Miguel write up on this yet? Troy Brown said he expects Pats to spend but, I kinda doubt that’s an informed opinion.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Is there a @Miguel write up on this yet? Troy Brown said he expects Pats to spend but, I kinda doubt that’s an informed opinion.

Miguel will certainly have more accurate info , but based on a projected cap of 190m and ~170m in projected commitments I'm expecting a number of restructures/cuts. Gronk, DMC, Gilmore, Brady, Allen, High, Cannon and Clayborn should all be impacted one way or another.

Pats should have enough room to make some not-quite seismic but quality moves.

New England Patriots Salary Cap Calculator | Over The Cap

 

[Miguel]

Is there a @Miguel write up on this yet? Troy Brown said he expects Pats to spend but, I kinda doubt that’s an informed opinion.

Look for my 2019 salary cap preview to come out this week

 

[TennisBallHead]

Crappy

 

[patfanken]

Miguel will certainly have more accurate info , but based on a projected cap of 190m and ~170m in projected commitments I'm expecting a number of restructures/cuts. Gronk, DMC, Gilmore, Brady, Allen, High, Cannon and Clayborn should all be impacted one way or another.

Pats should have enough room to make some not-quite seismic but quality moves.

New England Patriots Salary Cap Calculator | Over The Cap

Looking at the over the cap numbers, I think Gronk, Allen, and Hightower are all looking at some kind of restructuring this off season. Claybourn is likely to just be gone, imo, so I doubt their will be any restructure needed.

I doubt Brady's situation will change. He has underperformed his cap number this season, but I don't think there will be a need, since he's OUTperformed his number the previous 17 years.

I don't understand why Gilmore is on your list. If anything he deserves a raise.

Cannon, when healthy is well worth his current salary, imo. That is going to be a very good OL, and we really should keep "the band together" The price on Trent Brown, has only been going up this season. If Wynn develops to their liking, you can revisit the Cannon situation after next season.

So based on the "over the cap numbers the Pats will have 20MM to spend, and maybe another $10 in cuts, retirements, and restructures that can easily be had. Unfortunately, $30MM in cap space doesn't go very far these days, especially when you have a few guys who will need to get paid (like Brown).

That being said, the Pats will be in position to sign at least one A-list FA next season, but will likely sign a 2 or 3 B-listers instead.

Don't forget that the Pats currently have 11 draft picks. It could be that BB is going to try and start the 4th iteration of this run on the fly, much like he did in 2010. THIS upcoming draft is going to be critical, especially in rebuilding the front 7.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Looking at the over the cap numbers, I think Gronk, Allen, and Hightower are all looking at some kind of restructuring this off season. Claybourn is likely to just be gone, imo, so I doubt their will be any restructure needed.

I doubt Brady's situation will change. He has underperformed his cap number this season, but I don't think there will be a need, since he's OUTperformed his number the previous 17 years.

I don't understand why Gilmore is on your list. If anything he deserves a raise.

Cannon, when healthy is well worth his current salary, imo. That is going to be a very good OL, and we really should keep "the band together" The price on Trent Brown, has only been going up this season. If Wynn develops to their liking, you can revisit the Cannon situation after next season.

So based on the "over the cap numbers the Pats will have 20MM to spend, and maybe another $10 in cuts, retirements, and restructures that can easily be had. Unfortunately, $30MM in cap space doesn't go very far these days, especially when you have a few guys who will need to get paid (like Brown).

That being said, the Pats will be in position to sign at least one A-list FA next season, but will likely sign a 2 or 3 B-listers instead.

Don't forget that the Pats currently have 11 draft picks. It could be that BB is going to try and start the 4th iteration of this run on the fly, much like he did in 2010. THIS upcoming draft is going to be critical, especially in rebuilding the front 7.

Gilmore would be a restructure. Guarantee some money

Tom would be an extension to 2020

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

So based on the "over the cap numbers the Pats will have 20MM to spend, and maybe another $10 in cuts, retirements, and restructures that can easily be had.

They will have a lot more than $10M.

Gronk & Allen alone would be $17.4M if cut. Clayborne moves it up to $21.4M and there's lots of restructures (Hightower down from $10+ or he'll be cut to add another $5.375 saved). They're the big hitters but we can save $25M without even blinking in terms of production on the field this year.

With OtC starting point of around $26M we'll easily be able to be $50M under.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Three moves that are more or less no brainer get the team to $50 million in cap space. Plenty for Flowers (if they choose to go that route) & re-signings as well as 1-2 impactful additions before the draft:

• Cut Rob Gronkowski - $10 million savings. (self explanatory if he doesn’t retire)

• Cut/Pay CutDwayne Allen - $7.4 million savings. If the team seeks another restructure, that works too. However, considering he is a zero in the receiving game the team could use a 6th OL in his role. Seattle’s run game has been great with that strategy.

• Cut/Pay Cut Devin McCourty - $9.5 million savings. This move is nothing personal. McCourty is still a pretty good safety. However, the rule changes have neutered the position as well the market. While I’m fine with Harmon/Chung/another behind elite cornerback play & an improved front seven, the team could sign another decent starting safety for $2-3 million a year. They could also re-sign/restructure soon to be 32 year old McCourty for much less.

Additional moves include Hightower, Clayborn & Slater. After moves/restructures that won’t impact the 2019 team on the field in a substantial way the cap situation should be pretty good.

 

[mgteich]

Yes, Devin McCourty is scheduled to receive $9.5M for his 2019 services. To believe that you could replace his level of play for $2-3M is just plain silly. The market is much higher. EVEN IF, you could get a safety for $2.5M (with no workout bonus), the savings would be only $7M.
======
I would point out that a cut in compensation is NOT a restructure; it is a reduction in pay.

But, YES, one could extend McCourty and reduce the 2019 cap hit. However, I doubt that the new money would be any different than the $9.5M. You seem to believe that the team has leverage because the market is $2-3M. If that's so, the team might cut him when he refuse to reduce his compensation to anywhere near that level. As an aside, if Devin goes, jason would likely also be gone.

.

• Cut/Restructure Devin McCourty - $9.5 million savings. This move is nothing personal. McCourty is still a pretty good safety. However, the rule changes have neutered the position as well the market. While I’m fine with Harmon/Chung/another behind elite cornerback play & an improved front seven, the team could sign another decent starting safety for $2-3 million a year. They could also re-sign/restructure soon to be 32 year old McCourty for much less..

 

[Aßßynormal]

Early look at Free Agency:

2018 NFL Free Agents and Free Agency Contracts

 

[Soliel]

I hate articles like this. I’m sure there will be more craziness this off season but I don’t see any huge exodus happening.

Maybe wrong.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Yes, Devin McCourty is scheduled to receive $9.5M for his 2019 services. To believe that you could replace his level of play for $2-3M is just plain silly. The market is much higher. EVEN IF, you could get a safety for $2.5M (with no workout bonus), the savings would be only $7M.
======
I would point out that a cut in compensation is NOT a restructure; it is a reduction in pay.

But, YES, one could extend McCourty and reduce the 2019 cap hit. However, I doubt that the new money would be any different than the $9.5M. You seem to believe that the team has leverage because the market is $2-3M. If that's so, the team might cut him when he refuse to reduce his compensation to anywhere near that level. As an aside, if Devin goes, jason would likely also be gone.

Fair enough. My mistake on use of wording regarding restructure. You are correct.

However, regarding the bold:

Tre Boston 1 year 1.5 million with incentives: 90% snaps for Arizona
Kenny Vaccaro 1 year 1.1 million with incentives: 70% snaps for Tennessee
Eric Reid 1 year 1.39 million: starter since signed for Carolina
Tyrann Mathieu 1 year 7 million: 95%+ snaps for Houston

Maybe the market rebounds. A good amount of starters were had for low rates this season. It also depends if you consider McCourty's play still elite which is up for debate. I doubt the team retains him at his current level of pay.

 

[Ring 6]

Three moves that are more or less no brainer get the team to $50 million in cap space. Plenty for Flowers (if they choose to go that route) & re-signings as well as 1-2 impactful additions before the draft:

• Cut Rob Gronkowski - $10 million savings. (self explanatory if he doesn’t retire)

• Cut/Pay CutDwayne Allen - $7.4 million savings. If the team seeks another restructure, that works too. However, considering he is a zero in the receiving game the team could use a 6th OL in his role. Seattle’s run game has been great with that strategy.

• Cut/Pay Cut Devin McCourty - $9.5 million savings. This move is nothing personal. McCourty is still a pretty good safety. However, the rule changes have neutered the position as well the market. While I’m fine with Harmon/Chung/another behind elite cornerback play & an improved front seven, the team could sign another decent starting safety for $2-3 million a year. They could also re-sign/restructure soon to be 32 year old McCourty for much less.

Additional moves include Hightower, Clayborn & Slater. After moves/restructures that won’t impact the 2019 team on the field in a substantial way the cap situation should be pretty good.

It’s easy to have cap room by dumping top players. But then you need to replace them and replacing gronk and McCourty will probably cost more than they cost.

 

[mgteich]

ROFL

I apologize.

If those players are what you want instead of McCourty, you are correct. You could get one for $2-3M.

Fair enough. My mistake on use of wording regarding restructure. You are correct.

However, regarding the bold:

Tre Boston 1 year 1.5 million with incentives: 90% snaps for Arizona
Kenny Vaccaro 1 year 1.1 million with incentives: 70% snaps for Tennessee
Eric Reid 1 year 1.39 million: starter since signed for Carolina
Tyrann Mathieu 1 year 7 million: 95%+ snaps for Houston

Maybe the market rebounds. A good amount of starters were had for low rates this season. It also depends if you consider McCourty's play still elite which is up for debate. I doubt the team retains him at his current level of pay.

 

[Soliel]

Hopefully we can get a receiver that knows what he’s doing and not on drugs

 

[JayNM]

Next year is going to be crazy. I can feel it

Not only we have an old core that is mostly underperforming their salaries, we basically have a bunch of position that will be almost emptied (WR for example) and a bunch of starters having expiring contracts (probably both our Starting OTs are gone...)

I think we going to work with around 40M in cap in the end. Could be more, could be less, in any case we are going to have some big changes for 2019 and future...

Now that I've finally finished my Economics Major (THANK YOU GEZUS) I will be following the events with plenty of interest

 

[Hyped]

I only care that we spend up to the cap and completely trust BB and the brain trust to allocate our dollars for maximum talent.

We are still gonna have holes, but always be a good short and long term team as long as Brady takes snaps behind center, IMO.

 

[mgteich]

SOME INITIAL THOUGHTS
1) We start with about $20M.
2) Gilmore is the easy restructure at about $3.6M of savings.
3) The #2 TE will not be paid $6.4M (expect a salary reduction or an extension)
Let's say Allen reduces his salary to $3M for a savings of $3.4M.
4) The #1 TE will not be paid $9.0M (expect a retirement or an extension), Let's set $5M as the new cap number for a #1 TE (could be Gronk) for a savings of $4M.

SO WE "START" WITH ABOUT $31M

RE-SIGNING OUR OWN FOR ABOUT $31M
These are 2019 cap hits, not AAV's. Obviously, fa replacements are fine.
$10M Flowers
$ 5M Brown
$4.4M J Jones
$3.6M J McCourty
$3M Gostkowski
$2M Allan
$3M Dorsett
===============
THERE ARE OTHER SOURCES OF CAP HELP
The above is without any cap adjustments to McCourty (likely an extension), Brady (likely an extension), or Hightower (restructure of existing compensation). Clayborne might be an early cut, but Belichick could wait unit a replacement is signed.
===============
I DON'T SEE THE BIG FREE AGENT SPLASH ALTHOUGH IT COULD HAPPEN
This presumes that Flowers, Brown and either Jones or McCourty is signed.

Obviously, we will need to add Front 6 defensive help and a WR or 2 or 3. I see the Front 6 help as the primary focus of the draft, with 4 of the first 6 picks.

 

[FortressX]

Gilmore redid his contract in October to get them through the year.

Don't they have to wait a year before doing it again ?

 

[Jimke]

I only care that we spend up to the cap and completely trust BB and the brain trust to allocate our dollars for maximum talent.

We are still gonna have holes, but always be a good short and long term team as long as Brady takes snaps behind center, IMO.

The Patriots are going to have a bunch of holes because they have 20 free agents
and not enough cap space to re-sign many of them. They have 6 draft picks in the first
three rounds which could help fill several holes provided Belichick actually uses the picks.