Potential Restructures (gonna need a few for rookies, vet. signings and incentives)

[JMC00]

restructuring Judon would free up- $7.3m
restructuring Henry would free up- $4.4m
restructuring Smith would free up- $5.9m
restructuring Andrews would free up $3.2m
restructuring McCourty would free up $900k


That would free up about $23m

 

[Sicilian]

Can you restructure McCourty given he just re-signed (or perhaps technically already re-structured his contract) this offseason?

 

[BTTA]

They don't need nearly that much though, right? Maybe half that?
You don't want to restructure guys that might not be around, so I'd think the most obvious candidates would be Andrews, Henry, and Judon.

 

[Wozzy]

They should open up some space and sign some veterans to round out their roster along with signing the rookies. There’s still some good vet players out there and now they no longer count against the compensatory process.

 

[mgteich]

You don't want to restructure guys that might not be around,

As long as the player is playing this year, this is not a consideration. All you are doing is moving 2022 salary to a bonus so that some of the cap hit is moved to the future.

The decision is whether to play a player with 2022 cap money, or with 2022, 2023 and 2024 money (presuming a 3 year contract). Total cap money is the same. Total money to the player is the same.

 

[mgteich]

restructuring Judon would free up- $7.3m
restructuring Henry would free up- $4.4m
restructuring Smith would free up- $5.9m
restructuring Andrews would free up $3.2m
restructuring McCourty would free up $900k


That would free up about $23m

I think that these numbers are a bit high ($2M, but not difference to your point)

In any case, I would ignore McCourty and add Bourne ($1.6M), Mills ($2.3M) and Parker ($2.3M).

There are more, but your point is correct. $23M (and more) is available.

 

[DaBruinz]

restructuring Judon would free up- $7.3m
restructuring Henry would free up- $4.4m
restructuring Smith would free up- $5.9m
restructuring Andrews would free up $3.2m
restructuring McCourty would free up $900k


That would free up about $23m

Can you restructure McCourty given he just re-signed (or perhaps technically already re-structured his contract) this offseason?

They can't restructure McCourty since he just signed that contract.

Your numbers aren't correct. What you listed only comes to 21.7M. Not $23.
Judon is only about 6.67M
Henry is about 4M
Smtih is 9M
Andrews - 3M.

 

[Sciz]

Technically these numbers are possible, but it requires restructuring the gameday roster bonuses in addition to salary. That's an option that would provide a little extra immediate cap relief, but it's super unlikely because it also guarantees that money rather than making it conditional on being active that week.

 

[DaBruinz]

Technically these numbers are possible, but it requires restructuring the gameday roster bonuses in addition to salary. That's an option that would provide a little extra immediate cap relief, but it's super unlikely because it also guarantees that money rather than making it conditional on being active that week.

On the numbers I did, I included the $1M in game day roster bonuses that each of the mentioned players has.. Since they are technically included now as LTBE bonuses. Any game not played would result in a credit on the 2023 Salary Cap.

 

[hornetfb85]

Little off topic, but I'm starting to wonder if Jonathan Jones is going to be a surprise cut. Marcus Jones can play both. Shaun Wade has shown in the past (OSU) that slot is his best position. Myles Bryant has played alot there. Just thinking out loud.

 

[BTTA]

Little off topic, but I'm starting to wonder if Jonathan Jones is going to be a surprise cut. Marcus Jones can play both. Shaun Wade has shown in the past (OSU) that slot is his best position. Myles Bryant has played alot there. Just thinking out loud.

I see your thinking, but he's got so much institutional knowledge about how to play that position in the Pats' defense, and he's the only corner on the roster that would generally be considered "better than average." Hard to let that go.

 

[TheRainMaker]

None of these guys have any incentive to give back money the Pats were willing to pay them unless they are danger of being released and make less on the open market.

 

[mgteich]

Technically these numbers are possible, but it requires restructuring the gameday roster bonuses in addition to salary. That's an option that would provide a little extra immediate cap relief, but it's super unlikely because it also guarantees that money rather than making it conditional on being active that week.

no need to change compensation

 

[Toofy]

None of these guys have any incentive to give back money the Pats were willing to pay them unless they are danger of being released and make less on the open market.

Can't the Patriots restructure without even their consent. I thought contracts were written that way so that they still get their guaranteed money ..

 

[pazrul72]

None of these guys have any incentive to give back money the Pats were willing to pay them unless they are danger of being released and make less on the open market.

They won’t care, the money they get stays the same it’s just whether they get it right now (changing it to a bonus) or they get it 2 years from now (leave it as salary the way it is now). So in most players cases it’s actually better to restructure because they get more guaranteed money today. It’s nothing but a cap game for the team pay more today but it counts less this year, then it counts more next year and the year after. So you can only do so much or you run into the Rams problem where they have spent 100 million of 2024 space on 3 players that may or may not be on the roster.

 

[Brotherblues]

I think they're holding off on financial acrobatics to maximize the chances in '23 and '24. Really don't see kicking much of this year's cap down the road. No more than absolutely necessary.

 

[DaBruinz]

Can't the Patriots restructure without even their consent. I thought contracts were written that way so that they still get their guaranteed money ..

No. The Patriots are the ONLY team that still require player consent to move salary to signing bonus.

 

[Triumph]

None of these guys have any incentive to give back money the Pats were willing to pay them unless they are danger of being released and make less on the open market.

Arent they actually guaranteeing that they get the restructure money because now its signing bonus?

 

[Wozzy]

I think they're holding off on financial acrobatics to maximize the chances in '23 and '24. Really don't see kicking much of this year's cap down the road. No more than absolutely necessary.

I agree here, there's no need until they know what they have in the young kids who now have an opportunity.

Health provided they'll have a much better team by the end of this season, even if they win the same amount of games as last year. They'll know who their building block players are and who they can move on from.

They'll have a solid team, all their draft picks, along with (among) the most cap space in the league next offseason.

 

[hornetfb85]

I see your thinking, but he's got so much institutional knowledge about how to play that position in the Pats' defense, and he's the only corner on the roster that would generally be considered "better than average." Hard to let that go.

Agree. Maybe they see him as a McCourty replacement at FS. That’s just an off the wall guess