2014 Pats Salary Cap Breakdown

[mgteich]

If you are suggesting that the patriots would guarantee Talib $20M, I disagree.

True - but he still had a LOT to show going into this season, and he agreed to that so he would have a chance to show what he could do to cash in for free agency - and I'd say he's done a good showing teams he's among the top CBs potentially available in FA.

What is the estimate of what Talib would be looking for in terms of guaranteed money on his next contract? Certainly well north of $11 million I'd think.

The whole point of the tag is that it's a double edged sword. Teams have to pay a premium for one of the top players at his position when teams are unwilling to make a long commitment in terms of dollars and years to a player. I'd say Talib falls into that category.

Talib can maximize his guaranteed dollars beyond the one year franchise amount by agreeing to a more reasonable long term contract if the Patriots are prepared to use the tag on him.

 

[JoeSixPat]

If you are suggesting that the patriots would guarantee Talib $20M, I disagree.

Depends on how many years. There's a lot of average CBs out there earning $5 million plus - getting Talib for near abouts that for 4 years might not be out of the question and could represent good value, albeit with a risk on multiple fronts

It all depends on what reads Talib's agent gets via his behind the scene free agency talks - i.e. what teams are interested and at what price

But to get a top CB for mediocre CB money, could be a gamble worth taking.

 

[supafly]

The whole point of the tag is that it's a double edged sword. Teams have to pay a premium for one of the top players at his position when teams are unwilling to make a long commitment in terms of dollars and years to a player. I'd say Talib falls into that category.

Talib can maximize his guaranteed dollars beyond the one year franchise amount by agreeing to a more reasonable long term contract if the Patriots are prepared to use the tag on him.

I would also agree with mgteich that it won't be too much north of 10 million dollars in terms of guaranteed money, but of course that is only personal opinion and you may end up being right. I could envision something in the 12-14 million range or something like that, but my personal opinion is that it won't be anything higher than that.

One of the aspects that we may have a bit of a different opinion on is the general feel of the market, which I think is going to remain down much like last year for CBs, even if it doesn't exactly stay the same.

I think you make some fine points, I just don't think we're going to see Belichick be using the franchise tag on anyone in the kind of flat(ter) era of salary cap; especially when it would cost him 11.3 million for only ONE year, just to be in the same position again next year. In general, we saw a major downswing in NFL teams using the franchise tag last year, and I think that trend is going to continue.

I don't believe that he wanted to use it on Welker either, but that he gambled a bit in the hopes that they'd have worked out a longer term deal for the next 2-3 yrs. Obviously, that didn't happen.

 

[Alternator]

I think a lot of guys here are deep into wishful thinking. Talib is good enough that at least one team will decide that they'll risk losing him for a game or two during the regular season is a fair price for not needing to pay out the nose. If he isn't inclined to take less to stay--and I don't see anything that indicates he would do so--then I think it'd take more like 4/28 with $10 guaranteed, minimum, and probably another million per year.

There just aren't going to be many other options for teams to pursue, and gambling on a healthy Talib has too big a potential payout.

 

[Miguel]

2014 Patriots Salary Cap Picture atriots Salary Cap is my updated salary cap overview for the 2014 Patriots.

2014 Patriots Free Agents ? Predicting who stays and who goes and at what price atriots Salary Cap contains my predictions on what Patriots stays or goes and at what price.

 

[DarrylS]

2014 Patriots Salary Cap Picture atriots Salary Cap is my updated salary cap overview for the 2014 Patriots.

2014 Patriots Free Agents ? Predicting who stays and who goes and at what price atriots Salary Cap contains my predictions on what Patriots stays or goes and at what price.

The latter is a very good assessment, cannot wait for the talk shows if this happens about how they let Edelman walk and how cheap the Patriots are.. or what a fossil BB has become.

 

[TomPatriot]

There's a lot of wishful thinking going on here. Here's a list of the top 50 contracts for CBs.

» Over the Cap- Top NFL Contracts: Cornerback

 

[mgteich]

Before You Spend All The Million On New Free Agents

WHERE WE ARE (edited to include savings for inexpensive players)

Per Miguel, we are $6.1M under.

Per Miguel, we are likely to have already designated $6.1M as follows:
$2.0M rookies
$1.7M Player 52, Player 53 and Practice Squad
$0.1M UDFA's
$2.0M in season replacement reserve and players pout on IR in camp
$2.0M cushion for incentives
$(1.7M) savings for signing UDFA's and inexpensive players to the 53

SIGNIFICANT UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (ones that will be re-singed or replaced)
Talib
Spikes
Edelman
Wendell
Blount
Hooman

Compensating cuts, extensions or restructures will need to happen in order to bring back ANY of these players.

We also will have the normal pickup of JAG free agents as backups and for camp (guys like Svitek).

IMHO, those who look for the signing of major impact free agents are in for disappointment, as is almost always the case. The most likely is a top corner to replace Talib.

 

[Miguel]

Re: Before You Spend All The Million On New Free Agents

WHERE WE ARE

Per Miguel, we are $6.1M under.

Per Miguel, we are likely to have already designated $7.8M as follows:
$2.0M rookies
$1.7M Player 52, Player 53 and Practice Squad
$0.1M UDFA's
$2.0M in season replacement reserve
$2.0M cushion for incentives
$0.0M allowance for players put on IR before season starts (this is a bit light for me).

The 2 million in season replacement reserve also accounts for players put on IR before the regular season begins. Your list does not mention the Robichaud roster phenomenon.

Please note that as Jocelyn Robichaud once pointed out in an email: “The current cap status is calculated with the top 51 earners. On the other hand, not all of these players will make the team. Thus, as the team shrinks its roster to 53 players, it will create cap room unless it keeps all of its top earners. For example, let us say that Jake Bequette ($570,000 in salary) does not make the team and is replaced by Taylor Reed ($420,000 in salary). This would free $150,000 in cap room for the Patriots. If Justin Green makes the team instead of Tavon Wilson, that would create $353,444 in cap space. If Sam McGuffie makes the 53-man roster instead of Stevan Ridley, that would create $357,750 in cap space. With just 3 those roster decisions the Patriots could create over $850,000 in cap space when the rosters are cut down to 53 players.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

2014 Patriots Salary Cap Picture atriots Salary Cap is my updated salary cap overview for the 2014 Patriots.

2014 Patriots Free Agents ? Predicting who stays and who goes and at what price atriots Salary Cap contains my predictions on what Patriots stays or goes and at what price.

Miguel -- thanks for this, very good information and great analysis. One comment though -- in the prediction link, you list Marcus Cannon as "going", but his contract isn't up until after the 2014 season so he'll be here unless the team doesn't want him back.

 

[patsfaninpa]

I think we're going to cut Sopoaga and Connolly. Pay Mankins salary as a bonus. So, we can spread it out. Have to save about 3.5m on Vince too. He can't come in at that salary. That would save 12.1m and give us enough space to keep Edelman and Talib. They are my two priorities.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Before You Spend All The Million On New Free Agents

I don't think that $2M is enough for a replacement reserve and to account for those on IR. However, the phenomenon you mention is a real one. Inexpensive players making the team does help the cap situation. So, if I were to accept your $2M number and have posit a credit of $1.7M for the Robichaud phenomenon, we are even with the board, We would need a compensating transaction to cover an re-signings or free agent signings.

I have adjusted my origingal post to reflect a "balance" of zero.

The 2 million in season replacement reserve also accounts for players put on IR before the regular season begins. Your list does not mention the Robichaud roster phenomenon.

Please note that as Jocelyn Robichaud once pointed out in an email: “The current cap status is calculated with the top 51 earners. On the other hand, not all of these players will make the team. Thus, as the team shrinks its roster to 53 players, it will create cap room unless it keeps all of its top earners. For example, let us say that Jake Bequette ($570,000 in salary) does not make the team and is replaced by Taylor Reed ($420,000 in salary). This would free $150,000 in cap room for the Patriots. If Justin Green makes the team instead of Tavon Wilson, that would create $353,444 in cap space. If Sam McGuffie makes the 53-man roster instead of Stevan Ridley, that would create $357,750 in cap space. With just 3 those roster decisions the Patriots could create over $850,000 in cap space when the rosters are cut down to 53 players.

 

[PATSNUTme]

I heard that if the Patriots tag Talib it would be $8.5 million. I don't know if this is correct or not.

If it is, then I think that's what they should do if they cannot reach a deal with him for a lower cap #. This will also give them another year to see if he can make it through the season & playoffs without injuries.

 

[resdubwhite]

I heard that if the Patriots tag Talib it would be $8.5 million. I don't know if this is correct or not.

If it is, then I think that's what they should do if they cannot reach a deal with him for a lower cap #. This will also give them another year to see if he can make it through the season & playoffs without injuries.

I think that he would be very unhappy with that outcome. the reason he made the 1 year 5 million deal to play here was to show the league what he can do. May even have been a gentleman's agreement not to tag after it.

 

[RI Patriots fan]

I heard that if the Patriots tag Talib it would be $8.5 million. I don't know if this is correct or not.

If it is, then I think that's what they should do if they cannot reach a deal with him for a lower cap #. This will also give them another year to see if he can make it through the season & playoffs without injuries.

Since last years CB tag was just under $11 million, I doubt it will be south of that this coming year.

 

[Miguel]

Miguel -- thanks for this, very good information and great analysis. One comment though -- in the prediction link, you list Marcus Cannon as "going", but his contract isn't up until after the 2014 season so he'll be here unless the team doesn't want him back.

Corrected.Thanks for the heads up.