Saints Cap Moves: 1 restructure, 1 release; cap space currently at -$39,539,537

Elvis said

I don't like being trapped in ANY deals. I like normal signing bonuses and salary schedules that allow for maximum roster flexibility. I prefer mostly re-signing our own good players that we drafted to sensible deals over paying some other teams free agents that they let go. We know more about their fit on the field, in the community and locker room and are safer signings. I think we should maximize the draft by trading back to acquire more picks to build the foundation of the team and reward those that are successful.

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I also don’t like being trapped, but most teams are stuck on a few contracts for one reason or another. The Eagles are an interesting case—they are under the cap to start the year, but they also have $163m in option bonuses due to be paid this year after accounting for Slay’s eventual release. Most of those contracts with option bonuses have a lot of dead money, so cutting those players is tough.

If those option bonuses were salary or roster bonuses instead, the Eagles would be $100m+ over the cap right now and they would be restructuring all of those contracts. Instead, the Eagles pre-restructure their deals with option bonuses. To their credit, only one player with an option bonus is on the wrong side of 30, Lane Johnson.

Agree on trading back in the draft, after accounting for all of our possible restructuring capacity we have the second lowest space. More young talent will help us to get closer to normal.