Saints could get to $14.61 million under the cap without restructuring Derek Carr, after Saints salary cap potentially increases by $5M

DSnfla said
Yes but of those restructures DD and Mathieu will be in that #. Guys that should not have their contracts touched due to being on the decline. DD and Mathieu should be left to play out their contacts without being force to keep them due to cap considerations.

That 10 mil from the additional restructures and releases will be enough to pay for the draft class but not to resign even our own FAs like Adebo, JJ , Harris , MVS not to mention any other FAs. Then there's the QB position. Are we going to waste 5-10 mill on a cheap vet QB, or start Rattler and pretty much have a throw away season? If so is that a good way to start CKM's career with the Saints?
I think we restructure DC this yr , sign our own FAs and maybe a couple upgrades, not restructure the aging players. Compete for the NFCS. Then revisit the DC situation next yr. CKM gets a yr to evaluate Rattler and look for a long term QB answer. Also the cap is going to be going up at least 22 mil next yr making it easier to absorb DC's contract even if it's a 6/1 cut

Yes it’s not ideal to restructure Demario and Tyrann due to their ages. But if it came down to it, those two would have to be done to immediately clear 10M and get it out of the way. Even at their ages, both are still the team’s best starters at their positions right now.

Between the four expensive aging players Cam, Taysom, Demario, and Tyrann, the last two have the lower double digit cap hits. Demario and Tyrann have been more productive annd available and have played at a level that somewhat matches their cap hits. While Cam and Taysom absolutely have to be approached for paycuts. If necessary, restructuring the 2 productive older players of the 4 won’t impact the 2026 cap as much due to Carr’s contract coming off the books at some point, in either post 6/1 2025 or in 2026.

The same 2026 cap benefits of waiting to release Carr in 2026 due to another cap increase also applies to the increased 2026 cap space potentially absorbing Carr’s 2025 release’s dead money. Some of the potential 2025 post 6/1 cap savings can also roll over for that too. It can be beneficial to wait or beneficial to do it now depending on the head coach’s vision. If the HC wants to move on now and begin implementing developing younger QBs now, there’s simple ways to begin that process and have available cap space in March. The offensive coaching staff appears to be constructed to produce an above average offense at min in 2025, whether it’s with an older vet or younger QB.