Need some help understanding the salary cap.

[Eazy-E]

So I was looking at some of the moves made this off-season trying to see why we were not able to sign a viable LT. Obviously Hardy counts 13mil against the cap. We signed Harper to a 2 year 4.5mil deal. I'm not sure of the structure though.

Reports were the Panther offered Anthony Collins a contract similar to what Tampa offered and he chose Tampa. His salary for this year is 6mil.

A top tier tackle Branden Albert got a big deal from the dolphins with a cap number this year of 2.5mil.

If the cap number next year is supposed to rise and DG was willing to spend money on guys like Harper and Decoud was there really no way he could have signed a decent lineman? I mean why not take the money used on Harper and use it to entice Collins. Or structure a deal like Branden Albert got. Am I missing something?

Yes I know The Panthers will need to sign Cam and Luke but what good is Cam without a decent Oline. We are all witnessing it first hand right now.

[Eazy-E]

Sorry for multiple posts. Mobile app is acting up.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

Albert signed a $46 million deal. If DG doesn't think he's worth that then he's not going to give him that much, regardless of structure, need or year one cap hit. And his cap hit is NOT 2.5 this year.

[Eazy-E]

Albert signed a $46 million deal. If DG doesn't think he's worth that then he's not going to give him that much, regardless of structure, need or year one cap hit. And his cap hit is NOT 2.5 this year.

Sorry that is his base. It's is 4.2 after signing bonus.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

Yeah and jumps to nearly 11 million next year. You can always push money forward by structuring (or re-structuring) contracts a certain way. It's just a matter of if you want to get into the habit of doing so as it tends to screw you over long term. It's something Hurney did continuously, which is a big reason why we're so cap screwed right now.

[Eazy-E]

Yeah and jumps to nearly 11 million next year. You can always push money forward by structuring (or re-structuring) contracts a certain way. It's just a matter of if you want to get into the habit of doing so as it tends to screw you over long term. It's something Hurney did continuously, which is a big reason why we're so cap screwed right now.

I understand. Also Albert got a huge deal. I mean is the report of the Panthers offering Collins a contract even true. I know Dave will put a number on a guy and say that is what he is worth but at what point to you say I have to pay for a need rather than screwing the team. Is he just going to start drafting tackles every year until he finds one he values? Hell he didn't even draft one this year.

I guess my actual question is if the cap is the reason Dave didn't sign a tackle or was it just him being content with what we have. Which is a bunch of undrafted out of position linemen with hardly any experience.

[t96]

We're in the cap mess because Hurney handed out massive backloaded contracts like that. That's not how you have continued success in this league. The Patriots o-line sucks too but they're making do by utilizing other aspects of the team. We'll get there in the next few years.

[Eazy-E]

We're in the cap mess because Hurney handed out massive backloaded contracts like that. That's not how you have continued success in this league. The Patriots o-line sucks too but they're making do by utilizing other aspects of the team. We'll get there in the next few years.

Pats line is no where near as bad as the Panthers. Panthers are playing 4 undrafted linemen and one of them is a converted DT. That's unheard of in the NFL if you expect to compete and protect your QB.

[Eazy-E]

Also this past LT FA class was a pretty good one. 2015 has absolutely nothing. It is now either pray we get a tackle in the draft that doesn't bust or trade for one. I still for the life of me can't figure out why the Panthers didn't sign a tackle this off-season

[Frizzy350]

We're in the cap mess because Hurney handed out massive backloaded contracts like that. That's not how you have continued success in this league. The Patriots o-line sucks too but they're making do by utilizing other aspects of the team. We'll get there in the next few years.

 

Pats line isn't as good as it used to be, but think of how long they had a great oline (over a decade).

 

You saw it in the off seasons during their incredible period of AFC dominance (yes their were other good teams, but I'd argue the pats were the most consistent in the AFC since their first Tom Brady superbowl).  They rotated through skill players like clock work, and the guys they lost were never able to duplicate the success they had with the Pats.  They DID NOT trade away or let their linemen walk for free during that period (the good ones at least).  No matter which big name running back or wideout they lost, they consistently had a great line and Tom Brady and were able to consistently put points on the board.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

Albert signed a $46 million deal. If DG doesn't think he's worth that then he's not going to give him that much, regardless of structure, need or year one cap hit. And his cap hit is NOT 2.5 this year.

 

Right, wrong or rain, DG has been steadfast in not kicking the can down the road in terms of contract and cap $$$.  I think Harper's deal had about 2 million guaranteed so the hit is not substantial.  Philosophically speaking I think he is/was trying to extremely limit the long term cap implications for "non core" players.

[LinvilleGorge]

"Cap hell" is largely a myth. Good GMs find a way to manipulate the cap in order to get the guys they want. New Orleans was supposedly in cap hell too, right? They still found a way to sign one of the best safeties on the market.

[Kevin Greene]

Everything Marty Hurney ever did, don't do it.

[X-Clown]

"Cap hell" is largely a myth. Good GMs find a way to manipulate the cap in order to get the guys they want. New Orleans was supposedly in cap hell too, right? They still found a way to sign one of the best safeties on the market.

They are also going all in because they know their window is closing with brees getting older.