If we could have avoided restructuring Ram's contract with a cleaner cap, in theory we could have released him last year with a total cap charge of $14.1m in 2024 with no future charges on the books. He would have received his $6.5m in injury-guaranteed salary and could have signed a one-day contract at a later date to officially retire.
Because of the restructuring each year, the cap hits are instead the below:
2024: $12.3m
2025: $11.1m
2026: $12.0m
That's $35.4m in cap charges spread over three years for someone who hasn't played since 2023 instead of $14.1m in one year to rip the bandaid off. Ram’s contract was actually just about perfect in term and dollars paid, but the restructuring is what has us still paying for it long after he played his last down.