NOF: Saints in position to get under the cap with ease and create another $30+ million in cap space to add new players (1 Viewer)

[St. Geezy]

It shows how much space every team can save by restructuring. On the left is where teams currently are, the mark in the middle of each line is how much space can be created without even negotiating with players, and the last is how much can be created if they added void years to every contract to spread the hits even further.

Every team in the league can open up more available cap space than we can by using the same strategy we do, but they don't. They start from a better position, maybe restructure a contract or two for actual key players, and then position themselves to be in the same spot next year.

If there was a chart called cut/trade capacity to show how much space could be opened up by clearing out bad contracts, we would look tremendously worse.

So basically what this chart illustrates is what we already know…most teams operate utilizing primarily current space, we operate using a disproportionate amount of future space.

 

[St. Geezy]

Practically all NFL veteran contracts have restructuring clauses in them, it isn't unique to the Saints. It's irrelevant that our strategy is different, the chart shows how much space each team could create if they decided to copy us and go on a restructuring spree like we do.

Which they won’t, because they want to maintain the illusion of a healthy cap.

 

[Saint Spud]

So if it only works under circumstances of consistently drafting well and that isn't happening, is it a good strategy? Or is it a better strategy to manage things a little tighter to create some roster flexibility?

But that’s every team. That’s the point.

Every true contender either drafted their QB and has them on a rookie or team-friendly (flexible) deal or, like Detroit, trading for an undervalued QB and built with strong drafts. Look at the true contenders in the league:

SF
Baltimore
Buffalo
Miami (pre-injuries)
KC (though fading bc of poor drafts)
Philly
Dallas

Houston and GB may not be “contenders” but they’re so young bc of solid drafting and with young QBs that they’re getting close.

See the trend? Nothing to do with how they manage the cap.

 

[Saint Spud]

Practically all NFL veteran contracts have restructuring clauses in them, it isn't unique to the Saints. It's irrelevant that our strategy is different, the chart shows how much space each team could create if they decided to copy us and go on a restructuring spree like we do.

Right. If.

That’s the difference. They don’t. Their owners don’t cut the big checks.

That’s what the chart is ignoring. And it’s a huge part of all this.

 

[Rouxble]

Easy for us to say in hindsight, but you and I both know we were all excited about this roster going into 2023.

We underestimated our coaching ineptness and also didn’t think Carr would start off as slow as he did or that we would be dealing with a certifiable, no redemption arc possible first round bust at arguably the second most important position on offense.

Answering your question though, I don’t think our roster is as bad as it’s being made out to be. It just doesn’t have the level of coaching we need.

If SP was here, we’d be sitting on at least 11 wins and we wouldn’t even be having this critical discussion.

I wasn't too high on our roster because publications outside of NO weren't as high on our roster as the ones from inside. Underhill had a last minute gasp for help about the offensive line before the season opener, but before then everyone was telling us we would take the same roster that couldn't block and couldn't rush the passer in 2022 and suddenly fix all those problems in 2023 because we signed a mid-level starting QB.

 

[Optimistic Ozzy]

You are really going to have to change your user name at some point.

DA not returning after next year is more than Optimistic.

 

[St. Widge]

Which they won’t, because they want to maintain the illusion of a healthy cap.

And because their owners don't want to write all those big checks.

 

[Rouxble]

Right. If.

That’s the difference. They don’t. Their owners don’t cut the big checks.

That’s what the chart is ignoring. And it’s a huge part of all this.

It's not ignoring anything, it's showing that 31 teams are going in a different direction than the Saints and have more potential cap space as a result.

For each team, it shows cap space, available space with restructures, and available space with max restructures.

There is zero bias to the chart, it is a breakdown of the numbers as they are. I don't know how it could be looked at any other way.

As for big checks, other teams are cutting them, they are just paying base salaries instead of restructuring bonuses (which are themselves paid out in installments).

 

[St. Widge]

It's not ignoring anything, it's showing that 31 teams are going in a different direction than the Saints and have more potential cap space as a result.

For each team, it shows cap space, available space with restructures, and available space with max restructures.

There is zero bias to the chart, it is a breakdown of the numbers as they are. I don't know how it could be looked at any other way.

As for big checks, other teams are cutting them, they are just paying base salaries instead of restructuring bonuses (which are themselves paid out in installments).

What use is having more potential cap space if those teams are never going to use it?

 

[Rouxble]

Which they won’t, because they want to maintain the illusion of a healthy cap.

LOL, ok. We have the healthiest cap, I've just been reading the chart wrong. Only teams with unhealthy caps appear to be making it to the postseason.

What they really want to maintain is flexibility to move on from players when needed, a flexibility we lack. That is the principle difference between our strategy and the one used by everyone else. We need to restructure contracts to get under the cap, no one else has to do that. What it turns into are base salaries and roster bonuses that weren't guaranteed becoming essentially guaranteed because we have no choice but to convert them to restructuring bonuses.

If we were giving out fully guaranteed contracts to players, it would not be well received here, but when our cap strategy turns run of the mill contracts into fully guaranteed contracts, it's somehow part of the master plan.

 

[Rouxble]

What use is having more potential cap space if those teams are never going to use it?

They are using it, by maintaining space they have more options than we do when it comes to roster management. Creating and spending every cap dollar you can gets rid of those options.

Options have value, I don't know why it's such a controversial view.

 

[Rouxble]

So basically what this chart illustrates is what we already know…most teams operate utilizing primarily current space, we operate using a disproportionate amount of future space.

Using future space creates fewer options in future years, options that we don't appear to value.

 

[BigDSaintsFan]

When Drew and Payton were here, 'Win Now', 'Kick The Can Down The Road' with the salary cap was ok. It's not anymore. We've got so much money tied up in aging veterans. We can't trade them or cut them.

 

[St. Geezy]

LOL, ok. We have the healthiest cap, I've just been reading the chart wrong. Only teams with unhealthy caps appear to be making it to the postseason.

What they really want to maintain is flexibility to move on from players when needed, a flexibility we lack. That is the principle difference between our strategy and the one used by everyone else. We need to restructure contracts to get under the cap, no one else has to do that. What it turns into are base salaries and roster bonuses that weren't guaranteed becoming essentially guaranteed because we have no choice but to convert them to restructuring bonuses.

If we were giving out fully guaranteed contracts to players, it would not be well received here, but when our cap strategy turns run of the mill contracts into fully guaranteed contracts, it's somehow part of the master plan.

Never said there’s was healthy or ours was, or Vice versa.

My point is, at the end of the day, it all boils down to who you draft, who you sign, and how well you are coached.

We have failed in those three areas.

 

[Elvis]

Because at the arse end of it you're ultimately sticking yourself with a high priced player through their inevitable decline....and keeping them on the cap for years when they're off the roster.

It cripples our flexibility

Right? I don't see why people can't see how this works. Nobody that is criticizing kicking the can is doing so because they think we can't get under the cap and add a few guys. We're saying it because it locks us into guys that we might want to move off of to make the team better. For example, a declining DE for a better one at the same cap number. To do that now means you have to eat the dead money (if even possible) AND also pay the new guy. Which is probably why we're not going to get better at DE this off season.