Saints Cap Moves: $33,780,933 cap space ….. 8 restructures, 3 extensions, 3 pay cut, 1 release [All current cap moves are in OP below line]

Mathieu is a pay cut in cap hit and base pay.

Going from a 6.25M base to a 3.5M base and 11.31M cap hit to likely 6.25M cap hit are pay cuts on the team cap.

Even though he’ll probably reach the $6.25 million 80% snaps threshold very easily, it’s set up as incentives on the cap instead of immediate guaranteed money cap hit.

Cam’s new deal is probably set up the same way. Same salary amount but not immediately guaranteed on the cap like it was in the previous contract and have to be earned back in snaps incentives.
Since he played 86% last year the incentive for 81-90% is likely to be earned so that is a charge now. If he doesn’t get there then the team gets a cap credit next year.