Saints Cap Moves: $27,092,090 cap space ….. 8 restructures, 3 extensions, 3 pay cut, 1 release [All current cap moves are in OP]

[StudioSaint]

Brate was literally on our practice squad for a matter of days. I would not call that a mistake.

Payton had him on the team. He had a chance to evaluate him and then let him leave. I'm not saying it was a mistake, but it is an example of a player that Payton let leave that went on to have a good career somewhere else.

I don't really see it as a mistake when that happens, because there's no way of knowing how the player would have done if the coach kept him. It's possible that a player doesn't play as well had the team kept him as he did after going to another team.

 

[RadsRock]

Welp... I'm just going to have to root for the Moore-Carr combo to be successful. Carr is the Saints QB, so there's nothing else to do (as a fan).

Let's go DC, show em you can do it.

 

[Saint KayBee]

It isn't cut-throat...
You have to produce in the NFL & 6 sacks for $30 million is being highly overpaid for the last 2 years.

Doesn’t address part of the point I made, which I’ve seen made frequently here, that point being that it is good to be loyal to players who have endeared themselves to the city, culture, and community of New Orleans. It’s different here and those guys do deserve to finish the contracts they’ve earned here. I don’t wanna see Kamara as a Packer or Cam as a Titan or Demario as a Steeler.

 

[Nolan]

It’s not a suggestion, It’s his market value for a number #2 CB. (2 yr/ 19m) I do hope the Saints re-sign him.

That's not his market value. He'll get signed to be a CB1 and he'll get CB1 money.

 

[St. Geezy]

It’s not a suggestion, It’s his market value for a number #2 CB. (2 yr/ 19m) I do hope the Saints re-sign him.

You’re in for a surprise…4 year, $60 million type contract incoming, roughly.

Don’t think NO should bid.

 

[texasjefe]

Carr’s cap is what it is though. It’s inevitable that it’s a large number. But Jason not mentioning the Feb/Mar 2026 cap savings, and the projected 2026 cap space that the Saints will have after 2025 signings, makes it seem like the Saints are perpetually wrecked by Carr’s high 2026 cap hit/dead money. But that isn’t the case since they’ll have a way out with some cap relief from the cut.

Your point is true, though the positive impact of it won't be felt until 2027, which is why it is not a headline.

If they designate Carr as a June 1 cut a year from now, they will still have to carry his huge cap number to May 31, 2026 which is beyond free agency when the use of that money could apply best. The plan may be to leave 2026 with a good amount of cap money to turn over to 2027. Another benefit is that after June 1, 2026, they could do deals with players they want to sign 2nd contracts with.

Unless I'm missing something, you are bringing attention to a good strategy option for helping more... in 2027.

Maybe Carr does well next year or does not do well. I just don't think Kellen Moore cares because Carr is not Matt Stafford and he is not going to be Moore's QB long-term. I would think that Moore took the job with assurances that if they keep Carr, it's for a year, and they will not hold Moore accountable if he craters.

 

[DerrickB]

The Jets wanted Rodgers all along, but I think Carr had a market, in my opinion.

 

[St. Geezy]

Your point is true, though the positive impact of it won't be felt until 2027, which is why it is not a headline.

If they designate Carr as a June 1 cut a year from now, they will still have to carry his huge cap number to May 31, 2026 which is beyond free agency when the use of that money could apply best. The plan may be to leave 2026 with a good amount of cap money to turn over to 2027. Another benefit is that after June 1, 2026, they could do deals with players they want to sign 2nd contracts with.

Unless I'm missing something, you are bringing attention to a good strategy option for helping more... in 2027.

Maybe Carr does well next year or does not do well. I just don't think Kellen Moore cares because Carr is not Matt Stafford and he is not going to be Moore's QB long-term. I would think that Moore took the job with assurances that if they keep Carr, it's for a year, and they will not hold Moore accountable if he craters.

Gotta love how everyone just automatically projects their own thoughts on Carr into the mind of Kellen Moore. It’s like completely illogical for some people to fathom that the idea that the guy is being genuine about his feelings for the guy.

 

[No2DC]

It is such a weird tone shift from media day with being noncommittal. It didn't help that Loomis broke the news about sticking with Carr, either. Should of been Moore.

I will not buy the Loomis conspiracy of Carr being forced onto Moore. The only thing that I'll entertain is that Loomis took some time convincing Moore to keep Carr for a year. So, regardless... This is Moore's decision to sort of spend a year with a QB that doesn't make sense long term.

The last thing we want to do is actually build a contender around a 35 or 36 year old QB that will decline at a moment notice or fall apart from fatigue in the final hour on a playoff run. The window to succeed with Carr has passed.

So, it's just weird. Being two years away from a younger QB vs. being 1 year away is certainly a decision.

It does seem like if Gayle didn't step in with DA firing. I would imagine that he probably would of gotten one more year.

It may not be a conspiracy but it doesn't sound reassuring.

 

[No2DC]

Carr is essentially on a 1 year deal. Saints will have $9,537,000 cap savings when he’s probably released at the start of the 2026 offseason. Kellen Moore likely drafts his own young franchise QB in the 1st round by year 2. In the meantime, he’ll compete in his first HC year with a proven vet QB while not being significantly trapped to Carr’s cap hits beyond 2025.

Its not a bad outcome to keep a proven 4k yard-65% vet passer for a year. Kellen’s staff should win a minimum 9-10 games in the NFCS in year 1 as long as Carr is healthy.

I agree with the part, the second statement is pure speculation for a first-time HC, and health is always unknown.

 

[texasjefe]

Gotta love how everyone just automatically projects their own thoughts on Carr into the mind of Kellen Moore. It’s like completely illogical for some people to fathom that the idea that the guy is being genuine about his feelings for the guy.

I don't know anymore than you do, it's just that Carr's money is the elephant in the room, which means there may be fire from the smoke I smell. Carr's career ceiling is pretty established. Maybe as you and others say, Moore wants Carr, and the roster decision is all football, and not business. I just disagree. They're in cap trouble and they are finally taking steps to dig out of it.

Let me ask you this. How good of a season (wins, stats, chemistry) would Derek Carr have to have for the Saints to consider, not letting him walk and extending him to 2027 or further?

Let's say the Saints do not draft a QB next month in their top 2 picks. Let's say Derek gets the Saints to the wild card but loses? What might you do then, Mr. GM?

 

[Saintaholik]

We went through 2 coordinators with Williams. Even with injuries, the coordinators didn't care for him. The biggest waste of money in the Allen Era.

I wouldn’t necessarily say the biggest waste of money.
He wasn’t being paid that much.

Biggest waste would be someone like Junior Gallette, or Nick Fairley, or most likely Jarius Byrd

Those sucked, but yeah Jamal did nothing here

 

[St. Geezy]

I don't know anymore than you do, it's just that Carr's money is the elephant in the room, which means there may be fire from the smoke I smell. Carr's career ceiling is pretty established. Maybe as you and others say, Moore wants Carr, and the roster decision is all football, and not business. I just disagree. They're in cap trouble and they are finally taking steps to dig out of it.

Let me ask you this. How good of a season (wins, stats, chemistry) would Derek Carr have to have for the Saints to consider, not letting him walk and extending him to 2027 or further?

Let's say the Saints do not draft a QB next month in their top 2 picks. Let's say Derek gets the Saints to the wild card but loses? What might you do then, Mr. GM?

I tend to take people at their word when they speak, and Moore has heaped nothing but praise towards the guy, and we are moving forward with him.

To me, that's some borderline narcissistic stuff to think "Oh, there's no way I am wrong on this so yeah, this grown man and NFL head coach that has poured over film in detail I can not even begin to fathom or comprehend has to be thinking exactly like I am and is lying, so see, I'm right."

I don't know the answer to those questions and not really interested in going down that road of hypotheticals. All I know is what is in front of me, what our new head coach has said and done on the matter, and will let the season play out.

 

[MikeyF]

Doesn’t address part of the point I made, which I’ve seen made frequently here, that point being that it is good to be loyal to players who have endeared themselves to the city, culture, and community of New Orleans. It’s different here and those guys do deserve to finish the contracts they’ve earned here. I don’t wanna see Kamara as a Packer or Cam as a Titan or Demario as a Steeler.

You can't win football games without having the best & most talented players that you can put on the field.
Unfortunately father time has caught up with these guys.
You can either be loyal to these players & lose games because you have the 2nd worst defense in the NFL or you can go with younger players.

I'm older than you so I saw the best player the Saints ever had on Defense go & win a Super Bowl with the hated San Francisco 49ers.
It is just what you have to do if you want to win games consistently.

You can be loyal to these guys by giving them jobs after they retire from playing their last year or two with other teams...