Saints still have $37 Million in 2026 Cap Space next year (12 Viewers)

[BoNcHiE]

Even with all the contract restructures, we are set not to be in the red next year for the first time in a long time (Over the Cap). While it'll likely go down a bit if we make some more moves, we have $37 million in cap space in 2026 (before the yearly cap increase).

Yes, we'll have to fill out some roster spots that will require spending money, but for the first time in a long time we will have real flexibility.

All the press doom and gloom about "salary cap hell" is basically already over. We've made it through.

 

[Magic_Leather_Jacket]

Even with all the contract restructures, we are set not to be in the red next year for the first time in a long time (Over the Cap). While it'll likely go down a bit if we make some more moves, we have $37 million in cap space in 2026 (before the yearly cap increase).

And there won't be a single player on the roster who will cost us over $10 million in dead money to cut (Carr costs $9.5M) if we want to cut them. Yes, we'll have to fill out some roster spots that will require spending money, but for the first time in a long time we will have real flexibility.

All the press doom and gloom about "salary cap hell" is basically already over. We've made it through.

It’s almost like they’ve got full time employees working on this all year!

 

[B4YOU]

I think your Carr numbers are off. Cutting Carr in 2026 cost us 59.6M in dead cap.

 

[Elvis]

There are also only 45 players under contract for 2026.

EDIT: It’s actually 34 when taking into account expiring contracts with void years. The cap charges still count, but we currently have $37m to replace 17 players.

 

[texasjefe]

Even with all the contract restructures, we are set not to be in the red next year for the first time in a long time (Over the Cap). While it'll likely go down a bit if we make some more moves, we have $37 million in cap space in 2026 (before the yearly cap increase).

And there won't be a single player on the roster who will cost us over $10 million in dead money to cut (Carr costs $9.5M) if we want to cut them. Yes, we'll have to fill out some roster spots that will require spending money, but for the first time in a long time we will have real flexibility.

All the press doom and gloom about "salary cap hell" is basically already over. We've made it through.

They will have to carry Carr's deadcap through June 1, 2026, during FA season. Even if you take away all the void years of aging vets, they still have some fat contracts to pay for declining players.

So, the headline to me is not that the cap is healthy in 2026, I'm not ready to say it is - it's that thankfully they will be forced to turn over the roster and bring in alot of new guys to build with.

By 2026 season, they will have have had two new draft classes, and that's the key to EVERYTHING working forward.

 

[Booker]

I think your Carr numbers are off. Cutting Carr in 2026 cost us 59.6M in dead cap.

Which would be offset by the $50M in salary we wouldn't have to pay him.

 

[triumph]

If we can escape this year without further contract work on Taysom and Cam then I'll consider this somewhat of a victory. I'd have preferred Demarrio not have further restructuring done, but ... ok. There is no chance that everyone takes all of their medicine at one time when there are solutions pushing some of the burden forward.

Some money had to become available to allow the new HC to have some control over his roster. Otherwise no one takes the job.

The only true fix to our problems is to draft well. That will make everything look much better.

 

[St. Geezy]

Even with all the contract restructures, we are set not to be in the red next year for the first time in a long time (Over the Cap). While it'll likely go down a bit if we make some more moves, we have $37 million in cap space in 2026 (before the yearly cap increase).

And there won't be a single player on the roster who will cost us over $10 million in dead money to cut (Carr costs $9.5M) if we want to cut them. Yes, we'll have to fill out some roster spots that will require spending money, but for the first time in a long time we will have real flexibility.

All the press doom and gloom about "salary cap hell" is basically already over. We've made it through.

You mean to tell me that we didn’t have to basically forfeit this off-season in order to still land in a comfortable financial spot in 2026?! Crazy!

 

[St. Geezy]

There are also only 45 players under contract for 2026.

And most of the players we’d sign to fill out the roster won’t impact the top 51.

Next?

 

[Merl]

Which would be offset by the $50M in salary we wouldn't have to pay him.

If Carr is released next year there is an overall savings of about 9.5M

 

[greatshow25]

Ross Jackson covered it on his show this morning. He thinks when it all is said and done is that he thinks they will be somewhere close to even. Give or take on either side of the cap.

 

[texasjefe]

If Carr is released next year there is an overall savings of about 9.5M

On June 1, after primary FA signing season.

If someone wants to calculate the cap and roster on March 15, 2026, then we'll get a more accurate look at it. I just think it's too soon to forecast 2026 cap, but @greatshow25 I'll go listen to what Ross has to say.

 

[Mr. Coach Klein]

They will have to carry Carr's deadcap through June 1, 2026, during FA season. Even if you take away all the void years of aging vets, they still have some fat contracts to pay for declining players.

So, the headline to me is not that the cap is healthy in 2026, I'm not ready to say it is - it's that thankfully they will be forced to turn over the roster and bring in alot of new guys to build with.

By 2026 season, they will have have had two new draft classes, and that's the key to EVERYTHING working forward.

That won't matter because they have enough space to sign anyone they want. If we cut Carr post 6/1 next year that # jumps up 50MM.

 

[ravenblade23x]

For sure the Saints will have more cap flexibility next year.

My guess is that if they do release Carr it will be a post June 1 cut. His dead cap hit for 2026 will only be $19m and we can carry the rest of the dead money into 27 when we have even more cap space.

Hill, Jordan, Mathieu, Davis, Shepard and Saunders currently have no contract in 2026 buy various levels of dead money with Jordan being the highest at $14m. We could likely move on from all of these players thought I could see some staying on with smaller contracts.

The Saints will be in the position to once again build the team from the draft, which is an area they very much need to improve on and have some cap space to make moves in FA next year as well.

 

[Mr. Coach Klein]

Helps clear the cap when there are no superstars to resign