I agree about JJ probably getting an extension, even though he's an RFA at the end of 2018. It'll be interesting if they can do that with him when they couldn't get it done with Butler.
Trey Flowers is another whose contract expires at the end of 2018. Shaq Mason and Cooks, as well.
Eric Rowe, also 2018, is a "maybe".
Cardona and Ryan Allen, probably. Maybe Gostkowski, even though he turns 34 this coming January.
Hogan's contract expires at the end of 2018, but he turns 30 next October, so that might end up being a new 2-yr contract in the spring of 2019.
I'd guess they let Gillislee play out his contract in 2018, too, unless he blows the doors off between now and the end of the playoffs this season.
But even these extensions are subject to cap space constraints next spring/summer/fall - with 13 in-house UFAs to think about re-signing in the spring, PLUS Ted Karras (ERFA), PLUS the 10 guys on the PS, PLUS (maybe) DE Caleb Kidder and OG Chase Farris on IR.
Branch, Harris and McClellin could be released, and Dwayne Allen and Brady could be re-worked to free up some more space, but it's still likely to be somewhat tight ...
They'll have about $13M-$14M to start with, another $6M-$7M added from the three cuts, maybe another $2M from renegotiating Allen's deal, maybe another $10M from extending Brady through age 43 at his current rate (converting $13M of his current $14M 2018 salary to signing bonus).
That all maxxes out at around $33M, but probably a bit less.
Seems like a lot, but you start paying out $750k here and $1.5M (or more there) on extensions/re-signings, PLUS maybe $1.5M on draftees and there's suddenly not a lot left for signing outside FAs while keeping $5M-$6M for an emergency fund heading into Camp.
