So Cap numbers and possible cuts

[UNCrules2187]

The 2015 NFL cap is projected at $141.8m. Panthers have ~$129.5m committed so far. Add ~$4m for draft picks, and that leaves you with $8.3m in cap space for free agents.

 

Gettleman could:

 

Cut DeAngelo (Post-June 1) = $2m cap savings

Restructure Chuck (convert $8.88m of base into bonus) = $4.44m cap savings

Restructure TD (convert $6.28m of base into bonus) = $4.71m cap savings

 

That adds $11.15m to the existing $8.3m for a total of ~$19.5m cap space in 2015 for free agents.

 

Chuck and TD are easy candidates for restructures. 2015 is the only "absurd" year accounting wise for TD. His cap hits:

 

2015: $9.9m

2016: $2.0m

2017: $2.0m

2018: $2.0m

 

Converting $6.28m of his 2015 base of $7.25m and spreading it out over four years only adds $1.57m to his cap hits in 2016-2018 while freeing up $4.71m in cap space for 2015.

 

No brainer IMO.

[AU-panther]

The 2015 NFL cap is projected at $141.8m. Panthers have ~$129.5m committed so far. Add ~$4m for draft picks, and that leaves you with $8.3m in cap space for free agents.

 

Gettleman could:

 

Cut DeAngelo (Post-June 1) = $2m cap savings

Restructure Chuck (convert $8.88m of base into bonus) = $4.44m cap savings

Restructure TD (convert $6.28m of base into bonus) = $4.71m cap savings

 

That adds $11.15m to the existing $8.3m for a total of ~$19.5m cap space in 2015 for free agents.

 

Chuck and TD are easy candidates for restructures. 2015 is the only "absurd" year accounting wise for TD. His cap hits:

 

2015: $9.9m

2016: $2.0m

2017: $2.0m

2018: $2.0m

 

Converting $6.28m of his 2015 base of $7.25m and spreading it out over four years only adds $1.57m to his cap hits in 2016-2018 while freeing up $4.71m in cap space for 2015.

 

No brainer IMO.

 

One problem with restructures is that you are also increasing the players cap hit in future years so we really don't save cap space over the life of the contract.

 

CJ's current cap hits for 2015 and 2016 are roughly $20m and $15m.  If you do a simple restructure his cap hits for those years would change to $15.6m and $19.4m.  Either way he is taking up the same amount of your cap over the life of his contract. 

 

The only true way to get some savings would be for him to take a pay cut or to sign an extension.  Either of those would probably be dependent on a fair amount of guaranteed money to be added to his contract.

 

For example a 4yr/$36m contract would get his yearly cap hit down to around $12-13m a year for the life of the contract.

As it stands right now his average cap hit for the rest of his current contract is $17.5m.

 

In regards to TD those last 3 years of his contract are actually the most absurd years.  Those are voidable years.  We actually have dead money associated with a player that isn't under contract with us.

 

[TheSpecial1]

The 2015 NFL cap is projected at $141.8m. Panthers have ~$129.5m committed so far. Add ~$4m for draft picks, and that leaves you with $8.3m in cap space for free agents.

 

Gettleman could:

 

Cut DeAngelo (Post-June 1) = $2m cap savings

Restructure Chuck (convert $8.88m of base into bonus) = $4.44m cap savings

Restructure TD (convert $6.28m of base into bonus) = $4.71m cap savings

 

That adds $11.15m to the existing $8.3m for a total of ~$19.5m cap space in 2015 for free agents.

 

Chuck and TD are easy candidates for restructures. 2015 is the only "absurd" year accounting wise for TD. His cap hits:

 

2015: $9.9m

2016: $2.0m

2017: $2.0m

2018: $2.0m

 

Converting $6.28m of his 2015 base of $7.25m and spreading it out over four years only adds $1.57m to his cap hits in 2016-2018 while freeing up $4.71m in cap space for 2015.

 

No brainer IMO.

 

Good stuff.

[UNCrules2187]

One problem with restructures is that you are also increasing the players cap hit in future years so we really don't save cap space over the life of the contract.

CJ's current cap hits for 2015 and 2016 are roughly $20m and $15m. If you do a simple restructure his cap hits for those years would change to $15.6m and $19.4m. Either way he is taking up the same amount of your cap over the life of his contract.

The only true way to get some savings would be for him to take a pay cut or to sign an extension. Either of those would probably be dependent on a fair amount of guaranteed money to be added to his contract.

For example a 4yr/$36m contract would get his yearly cap hit down to around $12-13m a year for the life of the contract.

As it stands right now his average cap hit for the rest of his current contract is $17.5m.

In regards to TD those last 3 years of his contract are actually the most absurd years. Those are voidable years. We actually have dead money associated with a player that isn't under contract with us.

Yeah, I know that CJ would be a simple restructure. I was just looking at freeing up money this year. IMO we will be in better cap shape year after next, so essentially switching the cap hits from $20/$15 to $15/20 would be preferable.

As for TD, it's my understanding that the voidable years only bites us in the ass if TD decides to exercise/void the contract, correct? Given how the organization and JR stood by Thomas after what he went through, I don't think he'd be inclined to do that. Although I guess you never know.

Edit: think I'm wrong about the voidable years. Hm. Does that mean we take a $6m hit after next season if we keep TD for this coming year?

[hepcat]

Williams is gone, no question there.  With how well Stewart played late in the season I don't think there's any way they can let him go.  He could be in for a career year next year if he stays healthy.  They can restructure CJ and have a good bit of cap to play with.  It's not as bad as 2013 or 2014, so this is actually pretty exciting.  We'll be in great shape next offseason and might be able to finally make a Superbowl push with a talented roster top to bottom.  

 

When you're playing Brenton Bersin for heavy minutes in a divisional playoff game, you know you're scraping the bottom of the barrel.  

[AU-panther]

Yeah, I know that CJ would be a simple restructure. I was just looking at freeing up money this year. IMO we will be in better cap shape year after next, so essentially switching the cap hits from $20/$15 to $15/20 would be preferable.

As for TD, it's my understanding that the voidable years only bites us in the ass if TD decides to exercise/void the contract, correct? Given how the organization and JR stood by Thomas after what he went through, I don't think he'd be inclined to do that. Although I guess you never know.

Edit: think I'm wrong about the voidable years. Hm. Does that mean we take a $6m hit after next season if we keep TD for this coming year?

 

When teams use voidable years neither side really expects the player to play for that amount.  In this case the $1m salary is just a placeholder.  I guess in theory he could choose to play for that amount but I would be surprised if he did. 

 

We would actually take a $3m hit.  The 3 years of $1m salary we wouldn't be responsible for.

 

It will be interesting to see how DG handles CJ, Kalil, Olsen, and TD over the next few years.  All of them have been very productive for us and are fan favorites but they are getting older and towards the ends of their contracts.  Also their cap hits are what some would consider a bit out of line.  CJ, Kalil, and TD all have the highest cap hits for their respective positions in the league next year according to overthecap.com.

 

I could see DG cutting some of them, extending some, or letting them play out their contract and leave. 

 

As a fan I hope all 4 can continue to play at a high level for a awhile longer and are able to reach deals that both them and the team are happy with.  I think most of us would like to see all 4 retire as Panthers.

[Carolina Cajun]

After seeing what happened last season, I don't feel confident in making any predictions because I never thought we wouldn't sign a LT and that our boldest move would be to cut the face of the franchise.  That said, I think CJ restructures and D-will is as good as gone.  Stewart will stay, but he doesn't need to get too comfy, I think we'll bring in a rookie to mold after him, and I think Stew will be gone next offseason.  We'll have enough room to make a few moves, which actually could be awesome for us considering we're not going into next season with a ton of glaring holes.

[Thorrez]

Kalil is gone unless he takes a huge pay cut.

He is set to count over $10M in both 15 and 16.

If we June 1st him we will have about $5M extra power year to sign his replacement.

Finding a replacement FA for $2M should not be to hard, that leaves $3M extra per year to spend elsewhere (read replace bell). If we use a 4th rounder the extra jumps a million.

While Kalil is good and will be missed, the reason centers are not payed premium (unless hurney is involved of course) is that the step down to just a dud is not that big.

[CamCan]

Kalil is gone unless he takes a huge pay cut.

He is set to count over $10M in both 15 and 16.

If we June 1st him we will have about $5M extra power year to sign his replacement.

Finding a replacement FA for $2M should not be to hard, that leaves $3M extra per year to spend elsewhere (read replace bell). If we use a 4th rounder the extra jumps a million.

While Kalil is good and will be missed, the reason centers are not payed premium (unless hurney is involved of course) is that the step down to just a dud is not that big.

Yeah, sure, that's what Carolina needs to do. Cut its best offensive lineman. Not gonna happen.

[UNCrules2187]

When teams use voidable years neither side really expects the player to play for that amount.  In this case the $1m salary is just a placeholder.  I guess in theory he could choose to play for that amount but I would be surprised if he did. 

 

We would actually take a $3m hit.  The 3 years of $1m salary we wouldn't be responsible for.

 

It will be interesting to see how DG handles CJ, Kalil, Olsen, and TD over the next few years.  All of them have been very productive for us and are fan favorites but they are getting older and towards the ends of their contracts.  Also their cap hits are what some would consider a bit out of line.  CJ, Kalil, and TD all have the highest cap hits for their respective positions in the league next year according to overthecap.com.

 

I could see DG cutting some of them, extending some, or letting them play out their contract and leave. 

 

As a fan I hope all 4 can continue to play at a high level for a awhile longer and are able to reach deals that both them and the team are happy with.  I think most of us would like to see all 4 retire as Panthers.

 

Ah ok thanks. Do the voidable years automatically void after next season, or would TD have to elect to void them? 

[UNCrules2187]

Yeahhhhh... good luck in thinking Jonathan Stewart is gonna get cut.

 

I don't think he will, but how many thought we'd take a $5m dead money hit to cut Steve Smith last offseason? Getts don't play, I could absolutely see him doing that it. It will save, depending on which site you trust, anywhere from $2m-$4.5m on the cap.

 

Again, I think Stew is back as the feature back next season. But it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Getts cut him if he thinks he can replace his production with a cheaper option and better spend the money elsewhere.

[Zaximus]

I don't think he will, but how many thought we'd take a $5m dead money hit to cut Steve Smith last offseason? Getts don't play, I could absolutely see him doing that it. It will save, depending on which site you trust, anywhere from $2m-$4.5m on the cap.

 

Again, I think Stew is back as the feature back next season. But it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Getts cut him if he thinks he can replace his production with a cheaper option and better spend the money elsewhere.

 

 

Smith was cut for more reasons than money.

[UNCrules2187]

Smith was cut for more reasons than money.

 

Yeah, I know. Just saying, Gettleman has proven he's more than capable of playing hardball (Gross pay cut comes to mind: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9104595/jordan-gross-takes-pay-cut-remain-carolina-panthers).

[Jacob]

You are mentally ill if you think Carolina will release J-Stew. If any back is cut its unfortunately DeAngelo.

Why is that unfortunate?