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

[St. Geezy]

 

[Elvis]

Worth noting that we are now $17 million over the cap for 2026.

 

[St. Geezy]

Worth noting that we are now $17 million over the cap for 2026.

 

[lilvipa221]

Yeah. I think we likely have reason to believe we need max, on the fly cap flexibility for something...something known that can happen on a moment’s notice.

I think the extra space is being kept around in case the team does well this season and they can make an in season trade. The fail safe for not using it is to roll it over to next year. I do not believe and hope they do not just will nilly spend that money now without confirmation that the team is good.

 

[St. Geezy]

I think the extra space is being kept around in case the team does well this season and they can make an in season trade. The fail safe for not using it is to roll it over to next year. I do not believe and hope they do not just will nilly spend that money now without confirmation that the team is good.

The goal is and always will be to make your team as good as you can possibly make it for the immediate upcoming year. Hence why they went after guys like Kupp and Ward.

This idea that teams willingly look at their team and cap space and say “Nah, we won’t be that good this year anyway, so let’s fold” is just absurd.

 

[livefromDC]

Worth noting that we are now $17 million over the cap for 2026.

Is it though? If this year wasn't more proof that the stress over the cap number is misplaced, I don't know what is going to do it. The Saints didn't miss out on free agency and they now have the cap space that people complained was going to be a hindrance for this exact time period.

 

[livefromDC]

Dang it you beat me to it.

 

[Merl]

Worth noting that we are now $17 million over the cap for 2026.

Don’t be surprised when they get Cam to agree to a 1 year vet min deal for 2026 and he does a June 1 retirement. That will push 10.2M of his dead money next year to 2027.

 

[StudioSaint]

I think we are trading back and getting a player in the process. Thats the only thing that makes sense with that much $

Yeah. I think we likely have reason to believe we need max, on the fly cap flexibility for something...something known that can happen on a moment’s notice.

If the Saints traded Carr, they'd need the cap space to absorb the cap hit from the trade, so it's possible they created the cap space because they are actively trying to trade Carr.

In general, trading a player away takes up extra cap space like trading for a player does.

 

[Hubig]

None of the moves the Saints have done moves the needle for me. I don't think the roster is nearly as bad as some people think but you haven't done enough to escape the perpetual tires spinning in the mud of mid.

None of these moves take you from 7 to 10 wins. There could be a surprise rise of someone under a new coaching staff. Still gonna be .500 football if the injuries aren't bad.

 

[Merl]

If the Saints traded Carr, they'd need the cap space to absorb the cap hit from the trade, so it's possible they created the cap space because they are actively trying to trade Carr.

In general, trading a player away takes up extra cap space like trading for a player does.

That would be one of the dumbest things a team ever did. It would literally be throwing away $38M in cap space and Gayle’s money. Sitka level stupid.

 

[StudioSaint]

That would be one of the dumbest things a team ever did. It would literally be throwing away $38M in cap space and Gayle’s money. Sitka level stupid.

I agree and don't think they will do it, just saying that it's possible even though not probable.

 

[Saint KayBee]

None of the moves the Saints have done moves the needle for me. I don't think the roster is nearly as bad as some people think but you haven't done enough to escape the perpetual tires spinning in the mud of mid.

None of these moves take you from 7 to 10 wins. There could be a surprise rise of someone under a new coaching staff. Still gonna be .500 football if the injuries aren't bad.

Slight counterpoint--

Whether the team is currently bad or mediocre, the steps to get back to good are the same. They have to draft well (scouting), they have to develop well (training), they have to prepare well (coaching), and they have to have favorable health (physical fitness).

This is year one of a new coaching regime. There are no ties that bind to the Payton era on the coaching staff except OL Assistant Jahri Evans and Pass Rush Specialist Brian Young (who, technically, is a Haslett-era holdover). By all reasonable expectations, all four of the things I put in parentheses in the last paragraph will be approached differently by the new head coach & his assistants.

Unlike when Haslett and Payton were hired, Moore can't make massive changes here in year one of his coaching tenure. The good news is that they're set up to do so next season if that's what he prefers to do. Both his coaching and the fan reaction to it would have to be alarmingly, disastrously bad for him to not get to year two of his tenure.

I'm willing to play out the string, because nobody believed in the 2000 Saints and nobody believed in the 2006 Saints. My hope is that this team shocks the world again.

 

[MG3n2K5]

Is it though? If this year wasn't more proof that the stress over the cap number is misplaced, I don't know what is going to do it. The Saints didn't miss out on free agency and they now have the cap space that people complained was going to be a hindrance for this exact time period.

Correct, if you are satisfied with the talent/age on this roster then there is no problem with how the Saints are handling the cap. Some people want better even if the team has to take a step back to get there.