Saints Cap Moves: $33,780,933 cap space ….. 8 restructures, 3 extensions, 3 pay cut, 1 release [All current cap moves are in OP below line] (54 Viewers)

[OzzieSaint]

Isn't he just as injured as Lattimore, though?

The last couple of years have been rough for him.
He only played 7 games last season, and 7 the year before.

He did have 2 INT last year in those 7 games. It was a PCL injury so who knows how he is healing.

 

[texasjefe]

I left a voicemail for Mickey imploring him to sign another high-priced free agent. I am worried for those of you here who may not be coping well with cap money just sitting there, not being spent.

 

[St. Widge]

The problem is that we have to field a team in 2026. Currently we are 17 players short of the 51 players that count towards the cap and with minimum salaries being right around $1 million each, that is going to take a minimum of $17 million to fill. And we’re already over the cap. It was different this year when we were going in with more than 60 players under contract, 2026 is far more difficult. Which is why I wanted to do more this year.

I would think they will fill those 17 spots with draft picks and UDFA types. And you know they can create that $17 million easily even if you/we don't like the way they do it. All it takes is some void years and/or some restructures. Or, as you have already mentioned, they might be rolling at least $17 million in cap space from this year into the cap next year.

But, like I said, isn't that the tear down that many have been asking for if it turns out the plan is just to fill roster spots with draft picks and UDFAs?

 

[St. Widge]

Watch the 1st Tampa game then watch the 2nd Tampa game. Rattler improved significantly, they couldn't even attack him in the same way they did the 1st game.

I agree. I think he still needs to put two halfs together, but if he can do the things he did in halfs of the last few games last year in full games then he's a solid QB that you can play and win with. And, he's likely only going to get better with more snaps. That's why I wanted to let go of Carr and start Rattler this. I think he can take over and be as good or close to as good as Carr is with a few more games as a starter. And if he doesn't do that they you know you need to draft a young QB next year. Maybe I'm naive, but I didn't see letting Carr go as a tank, I saw it as an opportunity to develop Rattler who I think could win close to as many games as Carr and maybe more if his development accelerates.

But, I also get why Moore would rather go with the sure things at QB in Carr.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

I agree. I think he still needs to put two halfs together, but if he can do the things he did in halfs of the last few games last year in full games then he's a solid QB that you can play and win with. And, he's likely only going to get better with more snaps. That's why I wanted to let go of Carr and start Rattler this. I think he can take over and be as good or close to as good as Carr is with a few more games as a starter. And if he doesn't do that they you know you need to draft a young QB next year. Maybe I'm naive, but I didn't see letting Carr go as a tank, I saw it as an opportunity to develop Rattler who I think could win close to as many games as Carr and maybe more if his development accelerates.

But, I also get why Moore would rather go with the sure things at QB in Carr.

I concur but I point to the Chiefs/Packers model as the best way to develop a QB.

The team around Rattler right now isn't bad, but it is a team of aging veterans who don't have long in their careers to justify a developmental year for a QB. Thats #1. You think when discussion w/ Cam Jordan or Davis were being had, that it involved doing anything but competing? Your ability to compete at a high enough level shrinks w/ Rattler, significantly.

Good teams develop QB's and bring them along slowly if they can. The bad ones draft them @ #1, ruin them by starting them too early, and then watch them have success w/ othr teams.

If you have a bridge QB, use it and you can continue to accelerate his development due to him being the clear #2 now instead of competing for #2 and splitting snaps.

Rattler needs time to sit in the oven and not develop bad habits..and learn. This is more ideal than anyone thinks and that's why I've never been in the # that truly wanted to walk away from Carr.

Rattler also needs a #1 WR. He's not a point guard QB who scans and hits the ideal read at the right moment. He's more a QB that his WR's need time to adjust to him escaping the pocket and extending plays, he also needs a guy he can trust to win 50/50 balls. His highlight real was Juwan Johnson and then everyone else. Resigning Juwan was ideal, adding another big target would be optimal. He's more Brett Favre than Drew Brees

 

[St. Geezy]

Underhill’s latest article is about the cap space accumulation. In short, he doesn’t think any sort of big reveal is coming.

NewOrleans.Football

neworleans.football

 

[St. Widge]

I concur but I point to the Chiefs/Packers model as the best way to develop a QB.

The team around Rattler right now isn't bad, but it is a team of aging veterans who don't have long in their careers to justify a developmental year for a QB. Thats #1. You think when discussion w/ Cam Jordan or Davis were being had, that it involved doing anything but competing? Your ability to compete at a high enough level shrinks w/ Rattler, significantly.

Good teams develop QB's and bring them along slowly if they can. The bad ones draft them @ #1, ruin them by starting them too early, and then watch them have success w/ othr teams.

If you have a bridge QB, use it and you can continue to accelerate his development due to him being the clear #2 now instead of competing for #2 and splitting snaps.

Rattler needs time to sit in the oven and not develop bad habits..and learn. This is more ideal than anyone thinks and that's why I've never been in the # that truly wanted to walk away from Carr.

Rattler also needs a #1 WR. He's not a point guard QB who scans and hits the ideal read at the right moment. He's more a QB that his WR's need time to adjust to him escaping the pocket and extending plays, he also needs a guy he can trust to win 50/50 balls. His highlight real was Juwan Johnson and then everyone else. Resigning Juwan was ideal, adding another big target would be optimal. He's more Brett Favre than Drew Brees

That's certainly a valid point of view. My only caveat is that I do wonder at what point sitting and watching ceases to be useful and a guy just has to take snaps to be able to progress? I don't know if that time period is one year, two years, or more, but I suspect it depends on the QB.

IMO, and I could be wrong, it just looks like Rattler is at a point where he needs to be on the field taking snaps in order to learn more. But, again, I could be wrong.

Of course, it's easy to want to risk playing the young QB when my job isn't on the line like it is for Moore.

And that's a good point about a #1 WR or at least a #1 target. We don't have one and having one may be the best way to help a young QB. It's part of why I like Tet or Warren in the first.

 

[SoggyBottomBoy]

I don’t disagree, though I think the lack of 2nd half adjustments superseded Rattler because in the games Carr played we struggled in the 2nd half too. That was more on coaching staff than singling out a rookie QB as the culprit.

I think the lack of adjustments in the second half of games grew worse as the injuries piled up. I couldn't tell if Kubiak wasn't good at countering second half adjustments or if he simply didn't have enough tricks in his bag to mask his depleted talent. He may simply be lacking in those adjustments at this point in his career. It's just so hard to evaluate anyone from most of last season.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

I think the lack of adjustments in the second half of games grew worse as the injuries piled up. I couldn't tell if Kubiak wasn't good at countering second half adjustments or if he simply didn't have enough tricks in his bag to mask his depleted talent. He may simply be lacking in those adjustments at this point in his career. It's just so hard to evaluate anyone from most of last season.

I agree, it's a difficult eval and yet I'll point out. The 2nd half struggles first appeared in Week 3 vs PHI. We simply couldn't do anything after McCoy left, and yet it's worth pointing out because the rest of the roster was still healthy. Simultaneously it was also the 1st week we didn't have a commanding lead going into half-time. Prior to that there was no experience w/ the need to adjust so they were able to keep chopping wood perse

That's certainly a valid point of view. My only caveat is that I do wonder at what point sitting and watching ceases to be useful and a guy just has to take snaps to be able to progress? I don't know if that time period is one year, two years, or more, but I suspect it depends on the QB.

IMO, and I could be wrong, it just looks like Rattler is at a point where he needs to be on the field taking snaps in order to learn more. But, again, I could be wrong.

Of course, it's easy to want to risk playing the young QB when my job isn't on the line like it is for Moore.

And that's a good point about a #1 WR or at least a #1 target. We don't have one and having one may be the best way to help a young QB. It's part of why I like Tet or Warren in the first.

It's a fine balance, but I think you have to consider 2 things that weren't optimal last year. Preferably I think Mahomes sat majority of his 1st year starting a single game in Week 16 or 17. He was handed the keys to a playoff team a year later. However, of note.....Mahomes was the #2 from Day 1. Meaning he didn't compete w/ anyone for snaps to start the season, he also didn't at any point get rushed onto the field w/ a depleted team.

Both of those things worked against Rattler. No doubt playing in those games helped, but the circumstances were less than favorable. I'll always point back to his biggest moment yet, to prove he could win a game, and it was vs WAS where he could have won us the game. Granted the playcalling didn't do him a favor, it was his opportunity to show he was a QB you could win because of..and he fell short of transcending the playcalling.

Going into this year w/ a season under his belt, and clear #2 snaps will help. Sitting for as long as he can while the team around him improves will also be another help, but if Carr can get us to the playoffs you let him. If he can't, or things collapse, I am not against putting Rattler back in and seeing what you have.

Mahomes was a 1st round QB...i think his floor was always higher. Rattlers floor was lower so leaving him in the oven a bit longer probably helps.

 

[texasjefe]

The numbers won't settle down in my head, but I think the exit strategy with Carr is that post June 1, 2026, they can cut or trade him with a dead cap hit of $20M, but $20M+ in new cap savings when his fat contract comes off the books. There was no cap savings to be gained by moving him in 2025. Business decision first and foremost.

If they cut him June 1, 2026, then the cap money will free up for summer/fall free agents, trades by the Nov. deadline, or rollover to 2027.

 

[SoggyBottomBoy]

I agree, it's a difficult eval and yet I'll point out. The 2nd half struggles first appeared in Week 3 vs PHI. We simply couldn't do anything after McCoy left, and yet it's worth pointing out because the rest of the roster was still healthy. Simultaneously it was also the 1st week we didn't have a commanding lead going into half-time. Prior to that there was no experience w/ the need to adjust so they were able to keep chopping wood perse

After watching the Super Bowl, I'm not as hard on our effort against the Eagles as I was back then. That four man front dominated a really good Chiefs team. Also in that game, I believe we lost Taysom. We very quickly learned how important McCoy and Taysom are to our success. And how thin we are depth-wise.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

After watching the Super Bowl, I'm not as hard on effort against the Eagles as I was back then. That four man front dominated a really good Chiefs team. Also in that game, I believe we lost Taysom. We very quickly learned how important McCoy and Taysom are to our success. And how thin we are depth-wise.

Touche, forgot we lost Taysom too

 

[SonOfNOLA]

Underhill’s latest article is about the cap space accumulation. In short, he doesn’t think any sort of big reveal is coming.

NewOrleans.Football

neworleans.football

Makes sense because a handful of 1-year, vet min—$5 million FAs who can start or have untapped potential would be more helpful to the Saints right now than throwing out a 1/3-half of the cap space on one player. Its looking like they made space to rollover cap for absorbing some of next year’s dead money.

 

[StudioSaint]

I thought that was last year’s line, about resetting things back to a certain mean. This year the line was that we’d be more aggressive this off-season, more active than last offseason, but I would not say we have done that to this point.

Loomis clearly said they'd be more active this year than last.

“I think we’ll be able to add a few pieces,” Loomis said. “It just depends upon the who, the where and the cost. I expect us to be active.”

Asked if that meant more than last year, Loomis replied, “Yeah.”

The Saints expect to be 'active' in free agency after taking quieter approach last year

When the NFL informed teams last week that next season’s salary cap was expected to fall between $277.5 million and $281.5 million, the projection was even higher than the New Orleans Saints anticipated internally.

www.nola.com

People will interpret what Loomis said however they want to interpret it.

 

[StudioSaint]

Yes, and that's on the coaching staff for not finding ways to help their rookie QB make those adjustments with plays that give him options when teams let loose their blitzers. Obviously the player takes some responsibility, but he was a rookie 5th round pick. The staff has to realize that and help him with the play calling.

It's possible the coaches did exactly that and Rattler still struggled.

Just like we don't know it wasn't the coaches, we also don't know it wasn't Rattler.