So how do we restructure/extend Charles Johnson?

[Squirrel]

After reading http://overthecap.com/panthers-2015-salary-cap-outlook/it would seem both Johnson and Kalil have contracts that aren't worth touching unless its a last resort

Yeah you let Johnson's contract expire. Then hopefully he will do a team friendly one.

[Mr Mojo Risin]

You'd also have to consider the fact you'd be paying Hardy upwards of 30 mil for potentially only 7 games.

30 mill for one season? Id pay 15 at most for Hardy next year anything more than that then I'd let him go

But like what you and squirrel are saying, chances are CJ won't be touched and that kind of sucks because 20 million is a fug ton for CJ.

[Gin and Juice]

Is his production worth 20 mil?

Why did we let go of Dwill?

[AU-panther]

Most of the blatant offseason moves have been made, all that is left is the restructuring/extensions of Thomas Davis, Greg Olsen, and Ryan Kalil, they will all happen but they are trivial affairs, they will most likely be cut and dry with Gettleman creating a fair deal for both parties. However, things are a lot more complicated on the Charles Johnson contract.

 

With Charles he has 2 years left with 20 million this year and 15 million next year totaling 35 million. Now, I would love to have that spread over 4 years and it would also still be fair for both parties, but it ain't gonna happen in our wildest dreams, therefor, what realistically is possible with Charles Johnson's contract? I understand we all want to see a contract reconstruction but with only 2 years left and 35 million on hand, how does the process shake out? Here is a salary cap calculator to help out: http://overthecap.com/calculator/carolina-panthers

 

First of all that calculator that you linked is a great tool for trying to figure out what options DG has with certain players.

 

With only two years left on his contract a simple restructure won't provide a huge amount of relief.  You are basically just switching the two years around.

 

Cap hit as is:  2015 - $20,020,000                                                  Basic restructure: 2015 - $15,580,000

                       2016 - $15,020,000                                                                               2016 - $19,460,000

 

By a "basic restructure" I'm referring to converting the majority of his 2015 salary into a signing bonus and spreading it out over the life of the contract.   As you can see, either way he is going to consume roughly $35,000,000 in cap space over the next two years, which would average close to $17,500,000 a year.

 

In order to get this number down anymore CJ would have to take a pay cut or we would have to add years to his contract.  To determine if this is feasible for either party we would have to look at some of the variables involved.

 

CJ's total cap hit for the next two years:  $35,000,000 <the number the team cares about

CJ's total salary for the next two years:  $21,000,000 <the number CJ should care about

CJ's Dead Money left: $14,000,000 <no matter what we do we will be responsible for this amount over the next few years

 

Pay cut:

For all practical purposes CJ has a $21m/2yr contract left with none of it guaranteed.  You have to remember all of his previous guaranteed money has already been paid to him so it really doesn't add anything to what he will earn over the next few years.

Would CJ be willing to take less over the next few years, say $16m for 2 years? I doubt it, I would think he could get close to $10m a year on the open market.

 

Extension:

For him to sign an extension he would have to feel like it was beneficial to him.  As I stated above his current salary is $21m for 2 years.  Would he consider $36m for 4 years if we guaranteed a decent amount of it?  I have no idea.

 

$36m for 4 years would be $9m per year but we would also have to account for his $14m in dead money.

$36m + $14m = $50m

$50m/4yrs = $12.5m per year cap hit

 

In reality the yearly cap hit probably wouldn't be the same each year.  Depending on the structure of the contract it could start out lower and go up.  Since bonuses can only be spread out over 5 years there is a limit on how much we could spread out some of his old dead money.  I really don't see a way we can get his 2015 cap hit much below $10m.

 

While an extension could possible lower his yearly cap cost there are drawbacks.  With any extension there will probably be some guaranteed money associated with it and therefore his dead cap would increase.  This makes it harder for the team to move on from the player if his production starts to decline as he ages.

 

For any extension the coaches and GM have to decide how productive the player can be in the future and for how long.

 

 

 

 

[PhillyB]

hurney still haunts us. those are obscene figures.

 

i don't see CJ being let go, especially with the other side of the line in question and the dependence we have on a great front seven. twenty-eight is young for a defensive end with his playing style, and realistically he has another seven years left in the tank. if he wants to play his career at carolina, i say give the man a three-year extension, front-loaded, but restructure some of that up-front money to a signing bonus and set ourselves up to be able to cut him a few years down the road with minimal impact if his production takes a dive.

 

very doable IMO

[dunnlx]

What is the chances Greg Olsen gets cut?

Cam would lose his danger mind lol!

[Moorgan]

What are the chances that the 100% guaranteed rumors about the Wilson contract affect how all this is done in the near future? Does 100% guarantee just equal dead cap money?

[CPantherKing]

I do not see Gettleman keeping Charles Johnson. Would not be the least bit surprised if you see Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy playing together again with the Atlanta Falcons.

[panthers55]

First of all that calculator that you linked is a great tool for trying to figure out what options DG has with certain players.

With only two years left on his contract a simple restructure won't provide a huge amount of relief. You are basically just switching the two years around.

Cap hit as is: 2015 - $20,020,000 Basic restructure: 2015 - $15,580,000

2016 - $15,020,000 2016 - $19,460,000

By a "basic restructure" I'm referring to converting the majority of his 2015 salary into a signing bonus and spreading it out over the life of the contract. As you can see, either way he is going to consume roughly $35,000,000 in cap space over the next two years, which would average close to $17,500,000 a year.

In order to get this number down anymore CJ would have to take a pay cut or we would have to add years to his contract. To determine if this is feasible for either party we would have to look at some of the variables involved.

CJ's total cap hit for the next two years: $35,000,000 <the number the team cares about

CJ's total salary for the next two years: $21,000,000 <the number CJ should care about

CJ's Dead Money left: $14,000,000 <no matter what we do we will be responsible for this amount over the next few years

Pay cut:

For all practical purposes CJ has a $21m/2yr contract left with none of it guaranteed. You have to remember all of his previous guaranteed money has already been paid to him so it really doesn't add anything to what he will earn over the next few years.

Would CJ be willing to take less over the next few years, say $16m for 2 years? I doubt it, I would think he could get close to $10m a year on the open market.

Extension:

For him to sign an extension he would have to feel like it was beneficial to him. As I stated above his current salary is $21m for 2 years. Would he consider $36m for 4 years if we guaranteed a decent amount of it? I have no idea.

$36m for 4 years would be $9m per year but we would also have to account for his $14m in dead money.

$36m + $14m = $50m

$50m/4yrs = $12.5m per year cap hit

In reality the yearly cap hit probably wouldn't be the same each year. Depending on the structure of the contract it could start out lower and go up. Since bonuses can only be spread out over 5 years there is a limit on how much we could spread out some of his old dead money. I really don't see a way we can get his 2015 cap hit much below $10m.

While an extension could possible lower his yearly cap cost there are drawbacks. With any extension there will probably be some guaranteed money associated with it and therefore his dead cap would increase. This makes it harder for the team to move on from the player if his production starts to decline as he ages.

For any extension the coaches and GM have to decide how productive the player can be in the future and for how long.

Having done some of the same calculations as you did without doing so in detail (good job), I agree that a restructure makes no sense. You either move on after 2015 or you extend him for at least. 2 more years which only makes him 32 going on 33 when the extension would end. Given he has been pretty durable and consistent, I wouldn't worry about him declining too much. Plus with the franchise tag for a DE being right at 15 million for 2015, getting him for under that would be a win win for both sides.

[Swaggasaurus]

I know cj is our best DE under contract currently, but he did have a down year and 20 million dollars is something I'd expect JJ Watt to make in a season.

Here is a hypothetical question if we designate CJ as a june 1st cut and then use that money to go after Hardy would anyone be opposed to that? I know this is extremely unlikely to happen but IMO it puts us in better shape for the long term as long as Hardy can keep his nose clean. Keep in mind you also have to take into account Hardys possible suspension next year as well.

not happening guys, I mean they went to his grandma's funeral

[panthers55]

I do not see Gettleman keeping Charles Johnson. Would not be the least bit surprised if you see Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy playing together again with the Atlanta Falcons.

Thanks for the nightmare scenario. Let's have Newton and Kuechly going there as well.

[Montsta]

I do not see Gettleman keeping Charles Johnson. Would not be the least bit surprised if you see Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy playing together again with the Atlanta Falcons.

Gettleman LOVES defensive lineman. Outside of Charles Johnson right now we have a bunch of jags. Chuck J isn't going anywhere. He will be extended to a mutually beneficial deal and there will be much rejoicing.

Like when they ate Sir Robin's Minstrels.

[TN05]

I know cj is our best DE under contract currently, but he did have a down year and 20 million dollars is something I'd expect JJ Watt to make in a season.

Here is a hypothetical question if we designate CJ as a june 1st cut and then use that money to go after Hardy would anyone be opposed to that? I know this is extremely unlikely to happen but IMO it puts us in better shape for the long term as long as Hardy can keep his nose clean. Keep in mind you also have to take into account Hardys possible suspension next year as well.

He was leg-whipped after an excellent opening in 2013 and didn't fully recover until about midway through this season. PFF rated him as the best DE over the final stretch of this season. There is absolutely no way he is cut.

[Montsta]

He was leg-whipped after an excellent opening in 2013 and didn't fully recover until about midway through this season. PFF rated him as the best DE over the final stretch of this season. There is absolutely no way he is cut.

And the apparently-not-so-common-common-sense-award goes to...