Saints Cap Moves: Derek Carr restructured, Erik McCoy restructured; J. Williams released; cap space is at -$8,543,537 (135 Viewers)

[StudioSaint]

Under Payton’s entire career with the Saints, you can literally count on 1 finger, how many good ones got away. (Rob Ninkovich).

Besides Ninkovich and Hendrickson, Malcolm Jenkins immediately comes to mind. Payton himself said it was a huge mistake to let Jenkins go.

If you're not referring to just defensive players, there was also TE Cameron Brate. He may not have been all-pro, but he was really good.

Every NFL coach has let some players go that have gone on to do well somewhere else. Some coaches have done it more than other coaches, but they've all done it.

 

[SAINTSFAN]

Is adebo really trying to get $19M APY?

Wow! Is anyone really gonna pay him that much? That would be a hard pass for me.

 

[Taker597]

Kellen Moore values Carr as a QB and chose to stick with Carr as QB instead of moving on from him when he had that option.

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.

 

[SAINTSFAN]

Besides Ninkovich and Hendrickson, Malcolm Jenkins immediately comes to mind. Payton himself said it was a huge mistake to let Jenkins go.

If you're not referring to just defensive players, there was also TE Cameron Brate. He may not have been all-pro, but he was really good.

Every NFL coach has let some players go that have gone on to do well somewhere else. Some coaches have done it more than other coaches, but they've all done it.

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

 

[Taker597]

 

[StudioSaint]

It is such a weird tone shift from media day with being noncommittal.

I don't think there's been any tone shift. Moore's tone about Carr has been consistent. On media day, Moore said very sincerely that he sees Carr as premiere QB. Moore said very sincerely that he was looking forward to working with Carr and excited about Carr.

I think Moore is intelligent too and I think that's why he didn't say definitively that Carr would be the starter, when asked on media day. I think he clearly wanted Carr as the starter, but knew that since he didn't have a chance to talk to Carr to hear Carr's thoughts on the matter, he couldn't definitively say Carr would be the starter.

The impression I got from the media day is that Moore wanted Carr as the starter, but it would have been putting the cart before the horse for him to declare Carr the starter before he had a chance to meet with Carr.

It didn't help that Loomis broke the news about sticking with Carr, either. Should of been Moore.

It doesn't matter to me who makes the announcement, but I understand it does to some.

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.

I understand it's hard to imagine that Moore might have a different opinion of Carr that you do.

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.

I don't think that's accurate at all. You're assuming that Moore can't build a contender around Carr and find another QB to continue being a contender. You're assumption is that Moore can only do one or the other. I think he can do both and that's the approach I would take.

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

Moore may have a different plan than this and/or he may not see the situation the same way you do. He has an inside perspective. We all have an outside perspective with very limited information.

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.

Reports say that Loomis wanted to wait to fire Allen at the end of the year. I think it's unlikely that Allen was going to get another year, but only the Saints know.

 

[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]

 

[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.