Saints still in bad shape capwise

[Mr. Scot]

Saints still in bad cap shape, even after flurry of moves

Although the Saints did manage to get under the salary cap, they’re still dead last in the NFL by a large margin in their available cap space, according to Spotrac.com. (The Saints are actually over the cap on the Spotrac list because it hasn’t yet been updated for the restructured contracts of Keenan Lewis and Dannell Ellerbe.)

The reason is that while the Saints have been shedding salaries, they haven’t gone into full-on tanking mode, the way the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers have. New Orleans is still trying to win, which is why the Saints have made moves like signing running back C.J. Spiller and cornerback Brandon Browner, and acquiring center Max Unger in the Graham trade. It’s not that the Saints are totally shedding all their expensive veteran contracts, it’s that the Saints are making just enough moves to keep themselves under the cap.

And that approach means the Saints don’t have a lot of cap relief coming in the future. Which is why, as noted in today’s Monday Morning Quarterback, next year could be very interesting in New Orleans. The 2016 season is the last year on the contract of Drew Brees, and his cap number will be more than $27 million. This year Brees is one of the only players the Saints aren’t shopping. Next year could be the time that the Saints decide it’s time to move on, and get what they can get for Brees in a trade.

Ultimately, the Saints are going to be in bad cap shape as long as Brees is on the team.

Feel free to chuckle

[Jangler]

[hepcat]

Wouldn't surprise me one bit to see the Saints last in the NFC South next year and blowing the entire team up.  Brees cut, Payton fired, the whole shebang.  

[KSpan]

$27M?!?  Team-friendly hometown deal indeed.

[Moorgan]

Wouldn't surprise me one bit to see the Saints last in the NFC South next year and blowing the entire team up.  Brees cut, Payton fired, the whole shebang.  

That would be nice. A rookie QB in Tampa this year and potentially a rookie QB in NO the next? But it's never that simple and Tampa may be getting better. Not sure what NO would get for a Brees trade but I'm sure someone would bite. He says he can play another 10 years.

[DeeJay]

I'm surprised they haven't done that now.....

[Dingo_ate_Babies]

I don't get what NO is trying to do.  They dump some of their best players and eat all that dead money, restructure more contracts, to only sign more players to bad contracts.  You either fix your cap or improve your roster...and they've done neither. 

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

here we go

[hepcat]

That would be nice. A rookie QB in Tampa this year and potentially a rookie QB in NO the next? But it's never that simple and Tampa may be getting better. Not sure what NO would get for a Brees trade but I'm sure someone would bite. He says he can play another 10 years.

 

If Tampa drafts Winston and surprises everyone by signing Greg Hardy, the Bucs could be dangerous.  

[Wyank]

Team friendly deal.  Isn't that what that breesusisgod was saying Drew would do when Show Me the Money Brees was about to sign his new deal?

[Moorgan]

If Tampa drafts Winston and surprises everyone by signing Greg Hardy, the Bucs could be dangerous.  

I agree. I think Winston is legit. Maybe not next year but will be as he grows. They have good receivers and, when healthy, a good RB. Defense could make strides. They could be our toughest competition in the near future for the division. Especially since it seems no one wants to play in Atlanta. Every free agent that visits with them seems to immediately sign somewhere else.

 

Hotlanta - Where the playas don't wanna play

[hepcat]

I agree. I think Winston is legit. Maybe not next year but will be as he grows. They have good receivers and, when healthy, a good RB. Defense could make strides. They could be our toughest competition in the near future for the division. Especially since it seems no one wants to play in Atlanta. Every free agent that visits with them seems to immediately sign somewhere else.

 

Hotlanta - Where the playas don't wanna play

 

Tampa has some good talent on offense for sure and I think Winston could be successful there.  They still have a lot of holes and are probably still a couple years away from being competitive.  

 

Atlanta is confusing.  They have some elite offensive talent but struggle to put it all together.  They were at their best when Michael Turner was battering defenses and having Matt Ryan throw daggers in play action.  Their defense was also at least mediocre then.  I think they improve on defense with the new coach but still struggle in the run game with that bad offensive line.

[mikencP226]

Tampa could be improved, but they still have Lovie.

[t96]

Cam will never have a cap hit of $27M for us. Even with inflated salaries on a 2nd contract.