salary cap hell!

Thats incorrect that there’s roster moves the Saints cannot make. If the Saints needed to cut Taysom, like they will with Michael Thomas, they could post-June 1 release him. They don’t have to because Taysom’s still a very productive player benefiting the team.

When the Saints wanted to land a short term franchise QB, they cleared the space to land Carr on a significant contract.

When they needed to replace Jenkins and Williams at the Safety positions, they made the room to sign two above average-great starters in Mathieu and Maye at significant salaries.

Ramczyk’s cap situation just recently developed as a major issue. And the Saints appear to intend on replacing Ramczyk with either the #14 or #45 picks. The dead cap eventually fades off of the books once he retires. Dead cap and high cap hits comes with extending players who performed at an all-pro level or very high level at the time of their contract extensions. They’re either extended or the team goes through musical chairs at the positions with lesser players.

The Saints can sign a starting OL or pass rusher in FA if necessary. They’ve proven that they’re able to make cap room for any of their intended roster moves at any time.
You are limited to two post-June 1 transactions per year. That limits them.

Carr's cap number was $7.2 million in 2024 and now we have to deal with it because his 2025 cap number is $35.7 million. Mathieu and Maye were both less than $3.5 million on the first year cap and are ballooning now. Maye, who we don't need anymore, will cost $8.4 million in dead money to cut because of 3 void years because most of his contract was more guaranteed prorated bonuses than salary. If Ram were to retire tomorrow, we'd have $32 million in dead money.

Like I said, we are limited by the back loaded and constantly restructured contracts. The salaries balloon at the end and we can't cut them because if we did the void year bonuses would accelerate and cost more than another restructure.