Saints Cap Moves: $28,318,521 cap space ….. 8 restructures, 3 extensions, 3 pay cut, 1 release [All current cap moves are in OP]

[SigFreudianSlip]

It seems like the 49ers run their books that way, creating significantly more space than needed each year.

In 2023, they spent $75m in restructuring bonuses (plus $9m in option bonuses) and rolled $38m in cap forward.

In 2024, they spent $67m in restructuring bonuses (plus $21m in option bonuses) and rolled $50m in cap forward.

In both years, they could have still had plenty of room to operate without any restructuring bonuses.

Also noteworthy that whether they restructure a player is a hint on whether that player will be re-signed the following year. There were no restructures for these players with significant base salaries in 2024:

Charvarius Ward (Colts)
Talanoa Hufanga (Broncos)
Dre Greenlaw (Broncos)
Aaron Banks (Packers)

They seem to try to capture more of the cap hit in the current year if they don't expect the player to be with them the following year.

Didn’t realize those two Niners were Broncos now. Good pickups for them if they’re healthy.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

Once those figures are on the team page, we’ll be over the 2026 cap with only 36 players under contract.

What does the 2026 cap look like if we manage to trade Carr after June 1 and absorb some of that hit this year?

 

[Merl]

We will spend about 12M on drafted rookie contracts with 8M being top 51. We could add a 6-8M OG. That leaves about 15M cap. Unspent cap rolls to next year. I can see us holding that so we walk into 2026 not being forced to restructure aging players. KMoore can then buy the players needed after a season.

Once the cut to 53 happens they have to account for all 53 rostered players they will also have cap hits for any players on IR or PUP. Then you have the practice squad to account for each week.

 

[SonOfNOLA]

Accurate, Kellens entire Career has involved him getting production out of young QBs.

Moore moving on from Carr probably indicates that he knows he can get equivalent production with a different QB. He likely wouldn’t be relying on Rattler in his first year as HC. Wilson, Rodgers, Ward, Sanders, or Dart would be lateral, at bare minimum, to Carr right now.

He could probably get a couple more wins with Wilson or Rodgers. Sanders, Ward (obviously takes a monumental trade), Dart (maybe not at #9) would be current-Carr impact as rookies imo.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

Moore moving on from Carr probably indicates that he knows he can get equivalent production with a different QB. He likely wouldn’t be relying on Rattler in his first year as HC. Wilson, Rodgers, Ward, Sanders, or Dart would be lateral, at bare minimum, to Carr right now.

He could probably get a couple more wins with Wilson or Rodgers. Sanders, Ward (obviously takes a monumental trade), Dart (maybe not at #9) would be current-Carr impact as rookies imo.

Well we have no definite confirmation that Moore is moving on from Carr, this is speculation...based on the moves being made.

NVM, i just opened the pod. He's talking about a 2026 departure, but that was always obvious. That's why i never understood people getting all hot and bothered at the restructure thinking it tied us to Carr for longer. It never did, that restructure was so we could add/keep players in 2025.

Edit: He gave 3 reasons.

1. To add more in FA
2. Interest in trade market
3. Preparing for a Carr divorce in 2026 OR a post- June 1 trade in 2025

He mentions 3 as the most likely but 1 and 2 are possibilities.

 

[Elvis]

Once those figures are on the team page, we’ll be over the 2026 cap with only 36 players under contract.

And there it is. With 10 voiding contracts, we have 36 players for 2026 and already $4 million over the cap.

 

[Rexman100]

Ross Jackson is currently speculating that the moves to gain more cap space point to moving Derek Carr this year.

the only thing that makes me think there may be something to Ross's speculation of Carr being traded, is the silence from DC4 this off season. its deafening. Just heard Mike Detillier, he said the same thing. THERE IS SOMETHING WITH THE SILENCE

 

[oysters]

I don’t think moving on from Carr automatically means we’ll suck. Kellen Moore would probably find his own QB, whether a FA vet (Wilson, Flacco, Rodgers) or a 1st round QB. I think Moore and his passing game staff are still capable of producing 7 to 9 wins at minimum with a different QB in year 1.

With what money though? If we release Carr then that's basically it. May Flacco on a close to vet minimum deal.

 

[St. Geezy]

And there it is. With 10 voiding contracts, we have 36 players for 2026 and already $4 million over the cap.

You need to look at whose contracts are voiding (mostly guys we’d want to move on from after this year anyway), and you also need to look at the restructure/void year capacity of who’s left, and how much space there is to pull from in 2027-2029. Lastly, several of those open slots will be filled by 10 to 15 cheap draft picks from this year and next and also probably 3 to 6 cheap UDFAs.

We’ll be fine, again.

 

[SAINTSFAN]

You need to look at whose contracts are voiding (mostly guys we’d want to move on from after this year anyway), and you also need to look at the restructure/void year capacity of who’s left, and how much space there is to pull from in 2027-2029. Lastly, several of those open slots will be filled by 10 to 15 cheap draft picks from this year and next and also probably 3 to 6 cheap UDFAs.

We’ll be fine, again.

We can always be fine each year (mainly because we are required to). It is just a matter of how deeply we put ourselves in the hole in the future by borrowing too much from future years' caps. If we borrow too much, we risk losing players that we may want to keep at some point and/or getting outbid in free agency for key players.

 

[Jd101]

Accurate, Kellens entire Career has involved him getting production out of young QBs.

What if we trade 93 for Joe Milton, trade back in the first round and get another day 2 pick. Then with our first pick in the first round we pick Jaxson Dart. We then let Rattler, Milton, and Dart battle it out to be our starting QB. Oh and Derek Carr becomes the highest paid water boy in team history

 

[SonOfNOLA]

With what money though? If we release Carr then that's basically it. May Flacco on a close to vet minimum deal.

Cap space would come down to $9 million if Carr is cut as a post June 1. But they can create an additional $11 million with 4 other moves to have the cap space at $20 million after Carr is released if they’re exploring that move.

They would have to restructure Shaheed, Moreau, and Gray, and rework Taysom’s cap hit as pay cut. Shaheed, Moreau, and Gray would be 5.16M savings. A reduced Taysom cap hit would be around $6-6.5 million cap savings.

A Wilson or Rodgers signing would have void years added on in a potential 1-2 years/$38 million per year deal to have a low 2025 cap hit. Or they can just sign a much cheaper vet QB below a 7M cap hit like Wentz or Flacco ahead of the eventual high QB pick in the draft.

 

[Merl]

And there it is. With 10 voiding contracts, we have 36 players for 2026 and already $4 million over the cap.

Not sure when that screen is from but right now OTC is showing $16M+ in space next year.

• 
  2026
• 2027
• 2028
• 2029
• 2030

Total Cap Liabilities: $279,294,340

• Top 51: $279,294,340
• Team Cap Space: $16,205,660

 

[St. Widge]

Ross Jackson is currently speculating that the moves to gain more cap space point to moving Derek Carr this year.

I didn't want to say it because I already made too many enemies for saying that Carr doesn't appear to want to be here, but the thought that they could use the space to trade Carr this year did cross my mind.