All details from overthecap.com. including a series on potential cuts.
Current salary cap here:
https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/new-england-patriots
Free agent list here:
https://overthecap.com/free-agency/new-england-patriots/
Pats Pulpit had a great article with the types of players I’m looking for, too:
https://www.patspulpit.com/2018/2/18/17023822/2018-nfl-free-agency-underutilized-backup-new-england-patriots-burkhead-bademosi-flowers-lewis-hogan
The team currently has $13.7M in cap space.
Cuts
Alan Branch: $3.5M saved
Dwayne Allen: I love your blocking, but not at that price. $5M saved.
Marty Bennett: I will always love you Marty (not in that way….), but not at that price. $6.2M saved.
David Harris: $2.1M saved
Shea McClellin: $2.4M saved
Mike Gillslee: I just don’t think his performance justifies the money. $2.2M saved
That’s $21.4M saved, but they’re being replaced by 6 guys at $0.5M each. $18.4M in total savings, which raises the cap space to $32.1M.
Restructuring
Brady is owed $15M each in 2018/2019 and has cap charges of $22M each year due to $7M in prior bonuses (which can’t be removed). I think we need to work on the long-term assumption that the Patriots will be paying big money to *a* quarterback every year. In 2001, 2002, and 2003 that was Drew Bledsoe. By the time Bledsoe’s contract was finally off the books, that’s when Brady was due one himself. Following a similar precedent, we can do the same here – extend his contract longer than his expiration date, and have Brady absorb the team’s QB hit while the new starting QB drafted in 2018 or 2019 is starting on a cheap contract.
Let’s try this: extend through 2021 (4 year deal in total, 2 additional years from current deal), with $36M in signing bonus, and base salaries of $1M (guaranteed) / $1M (guaranteed) / $15M ($2M guaranteed) / $18M (not guaranteed). Brady is
guaranteed to receive $40M for 2 years of performance ($20M per year) which is quite a lot. Cap hits are $17M / $17M / $24M / $27M if he plays out the contract; if cut after year 2, the last two years are $11M / $9M. If he’s still playing well after 2019, can always revisit contract at that point.
That saves $5M on the 2018 cap.
Other opportunities for restructuring / extension to reduce cap hits are Gronk, McCourty, Gilmore, Cannon, Hightower. The Patriots are already scheduled to have cap hits of over $5M for 7 players in 2019 and Malcom Brown would be 8 if they exercise his option, and Solder will be 9 (see free agency below). I’m not comfortable pushing 2018 cap hits into 2019 for any additional players at this point. Cooks is a potential extension opportunity if the team thinks he fits long-term and he is willing not to break the bank, but personally I’m skeptical here.
That gets us to $37.1M in cap space.
Re-signings
Nate Solder: 4 years, 48M as follows: $8M signing bonus, 3rd year option with $6M bonus, base salaries of $6M, $9M, $9M, $10M. Salary cap hits of $8M/$11M/$14M/$15M. It’s $12M per year but effectively $23M for 2 years ($11.5M), and leaves a $4M dead cap hit when option not picked up after 2019 (when he presumably retires). Left tackles cost a lot. Effective reduction of $7.5M of cap space for 2018.
The Cat: 3 years, $13.5M as follows: $4.5M signing bonus, base salaries of $1M, $3.5M, $4.5M for cap hits of $2.5M, $5M, $6.5M. Averages $4.5M per year for Dion Lewis. I’m probably optimistic here, as the rumors are that he thinks he can get $6M per. I’m thinking teams are still skeptical of older running backs with major injury histories with Patriots magic on him (how much success have RBs have after they left the Pats?). But yeah, I’m probably delusional. Lewis would likely not see year 3 of this contract, offering him $9M over 2 years. Effective reduction of $2M of cap space for 2018.
Matthew Slater: 2 years, $4.5M as follows: $1M signing bonus, $1.5M base, $2M base for cap hits of $2M and $2.5M. Fair deal for all, can’t see him anywhere else, takes him to the end of his career. Effective reduction of $1.5M in cap space for 2018.
Nate Ebner: 1 year, $1.5M. I can’t see him getting a big offer elsewhere coming off his injury where he may not even be ready to start the season. Effective reduction of $1M in cap space for 2018.
Marquis Flowers: 1 year, $1.5M. Flowers sounded like a guy who wanted to be here on Twitter recently, and we know he has been excited for the defensive opportunity. Could be a Lions target though. Effective reduction of $1M in cap space for 2018.
Danny Playoffs Amendola: $1 year, $1.5M. He’s done this every year so far, see no reason for it to stop now. Effective reduction of $1M in cap space for 2018.
Johnson Bademosi: $1 year, $1M. His special teams play was good this year, and he played well as an emergency CB this year, until Q3 of the Super Bowl. As an emergency option, he’ll be ok. Effective reduction of $0.5M in cap space for 2018.
James Harrison: $1 year, $1M. Sounds like both sides are interested, what’s the harm? Best case scenario he gets beaten out in camp because others are doing well. Effective cap reduction of $0.5M in cap space for 2018.
Brandon King and Brandon Bolden – resigned for 1 year, vet minimum deals. No effective impact on 2018 cap space.
Implications are the following players walk:
Malcolm Butler – obvious
Rex Burkhead – likely priced himself out and is a little redundant
LeAdrian Waddle – likely can get a starter’s contract
Cam Fleming – likely can get high end backup money that the Patriots may not want to pay with Cole Croston and Antonio Garcia waiting in the wings (Croston being on the roster the whole year, Garcia talked up by Scar during Super Bowl week)
These moves cost $15M against the salary cap, leaving the Patriots with $22.1M in cap space.
The next post goes outside the organization and wraps things up.