It won't be easy, but here's a path for New Orleans to create the cap space it desperately needs
By Joel Curry | CBS Sports
The Saints showed just how hard it is to beat a team three times in one season. After two easy wins during the regular season, the Saints were eliminated from the postseason by the Buccaneers on Sunday in a 30-20 divisional playoffs loss. The Saints will now turn attention to solving the NFL's most daunting salary cap situation for 2021. The NFC South champions have $284.1 million in 2021 cap commitments with 45 players under contract according to NFL Players Association data. $4.122 million of unused 2020 cap space has been carried over to the 2021 league year, which begins on March 17. Under offseason accounting rules, only the top 51 salaries (i.e.; cap numbers) matter.
The 2021 salary cap was conservatively projected to $210 million before the coronavirus pandemic. The NFL and NFLPA set a $175 million salary cap floor for 2021 with league revenues declining due to COVID-19. If revenues are better than expected, the 2021 salary cap could be higher but will likely remain below the current level of $198.2 million.
The Saints have been aggressive and creative in managing the salary cap in recent years by taking a credit card approach where current obligations become future ones. The bill is coming and it's due in March. ...
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