Could Derek Carr be a post-June 1 cut? (4 Viewers)

[Rouxble]

It’s possible if we either (a) get several players to take pay cuts, along with restructuring or cutting almost every player we can to create space, or (b) absorb some of his salary with a restructuring bonus.

It would involve creating dead money in other contracts just to be able to push him out the door, I really don’t see that being the strategy.

 

[Broad St. Saint]

I think they have to restructure a bunch of players just to get under the cap by March 12.

If Sportrac is accurate, and I understand correctly:

• the Saints are currently $78.3M over the cap for the 2025 league year
• the Saints have $3.1M in unused cap for 2024 that can roll over
• SI says the 2025 cap is projected to increase over 2024 somewhere between $9.6M and $19.6M
• the Saints didn't exercise their 5th year option on Payton Turner according to published reports. personally, I can't tell whether Sportrac is counting his 2025 money if the Saints /had/ exercised that option (in red on their site and in the screenshot) in their figures for the Saints being currently $78.3M over the cap in 2025. but I may be misunderstanding something here.

So at best, the Saints will be $55.6M over the cap. (78.3 - (19.6 + 3.1) = 55.6)

In this rosiest scenario, if the Sportrac and SI numbers are right, I can't see how the Saints can move $55.6M off the 2025 books without restructuring some players in their 30s. At the bottom of this post are players who count more than $10M against the 2025 cap under their current contracts (again according to Sportrac).

These numbers change after the draft and when newly drafted (or UDFA) players sign contracts, since they also count against the cap.

If I've made a mistake above, I welcome corrections.

 

[texasjefe]

Here's a good read on one opinion:

Looking at the Saints Salary Cap Situation | Over the Cap

Looking at the Saints Salary Cap Situation | Over the Cap

overthecap.com

Was reading that on Saturday and that's by far the best Saints cap writeup I've read recently.

I think it says the Saints could finagle a June 1 cut, but it would cost $35M in dead money on the '26 cap. (We just took a $31M dead cap on Latt for this coming year, but we got some nice draft picks.)

Keep Carr for next year. The expectations may be lower.

 

[saintfan1972]

Carr will get restructured to save and look at a 2026 cut. I believe you can only do 2 post June 1 cuts. I look for Ram to redo his contract to a base pay and then be a June 1 cut. Then you can do 1 more.

 

[baarbogast]

How do retirements factor into the cap?

 

[SweetT]

PSA - When someone points out you're wrong in an open thread, the incorrect response is to start a new thread claiming you're still right.

 

[RLS1992]

Whatever the team needs to do to put Rattler as QB1, and save money over the next few seasons is what we need to do. Rattler has at least shown he’s got talent and passion, is he great? Not from what we’ve seen so far. But I’d argue that he can definitely develop into a solid starter. The time to trim dead weight and start rebuilding is now.

 

[cwesleyc]

Yes, let’s cut one of the better players on our roster. The worst you can say about Carr is he has been somewhat injury prone in his time with us. I don’t think Haener or Rattler are starters or even good developmental prospects.

 

[Stalwart385]

How do retirements factor into the cap?

It's just treated like a cut.

 

[MG3n2K5]

A lot of people (including myself) think/thought a post June 1st cut saves the money off the cap immediately when processed. False
The team would have to carry the full cap charge ($50.1 million in Carr's case) until June 1st, the team would still have to cap compliant early March (already $63-65 million over). Getting under the cap without including Carr in March is unlikely.

The dream scenario is that a team Carr covets (more ready to compete) will be willing to pay his base salary $25-30 mil if he is available. If that happens Carr can agree to a significant pay cut (lets say $4 million guaranteed as a sweetener). Saints can then designate him as a June 1st cut saving $26 million this year and not having to push that money back into future years.

Without something unlikely like that happening expect a restructure to get under the cap.

 

[MG3n2K5]

Carr will get restructured to save and look at a 2026 cut. I believe you can only do 2 post June 1 cuts. I look for Ram to redo his contract to a base pay and then be a June 1 cut. Then you can do 1 more.

Once you redo Ram's contract you don't really have to designate him, most of the saving will be taken care of at that point. Can wait for his June 1st retirement & still be able to designate 2 others.

 

[Pkessling]

Yes, let’s cut one of the better players on our roster. The worst you can say about Carr is he has been somewhat injury prone in his time with us. I don’t think Haener or Rattler are starters or even good developmental prospects.

How many playoff appearances has Carr had in his career? Average QB at best.

 

[Pkessling]

Once you redo Ram's contract you don't really have to designate him, most of the saving will be taken care of at that point. Can wait for his June 1st retirement & still be able to designate 2 others.

Is Ram going to play again? Seems doubtful

 

[No2DC]

How many playoff appearances has Carr had in his career? Average QB at best.

Just like our team.

 

[saintfan1972]

Once you redo Ram's contract you don't really have to designate him, most of the saving will be taken care of at that point. Can wait for his June 1st retirement & still be able to designate 2 others.

I think Ram would count as 1 of the 2.