Can we keep the band together for 2016?

[Datawire]

6 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

I gotta know where that pic comes from.

You make it, or find it?

Nah, not this one. It was a hijinks off the interweb. :D

[Datawire]

53 minutes ago, PoundCat said:

For one, Jared Allen's $11 million cap hit will be on our books instead of Chicago's. We can also anticipate Norman's hit to be much higher next year as well, leaving less room for the large contracts of JA, CJ and Stew. I'm sure nippleshorts has a plan for all this, I'm just wondering if those 4 vets are in the plan.

Good points. However, isn't the cap expected to go up next season?

[PantherPhann89]

I'd love to see us keep Josh Norman, I'd consider that our highest priority...

[KendrickPanther]

There is way too much up in the air to speculate. But one of the dumbest things I see people do is try to keep everyone. That's just not how it works. You have to let players leave and you have to replace them. The good GMs make the right moves. The bad ones put you in cap hell and get fired.

[SIGCHI222]

John Bonham will be back next year  (KB).  You think we are good now?

[KSpan]

11 hours ago, PoundCat said:

For one, Jared Allen's $11 million cap hit will be on our books instead of Chicago's. We can also anticipate Norman's hit to be much higher next year as well, leaving less room for the large contracts of JA, CJ and Stew. I'm sure nippleshorts has a plan for all this, I'm just wondering if those 4 vets are in the plan.

Allen's contract is not an issue, as there is pretty much zero chance he is on the roster next year with an $11MM cap hit. He'll either take a pay cut/cheap extension or will be cut.

[csx]

The only questionable return I see is Norman. That's big but the only one. I can't believe Allen will be back. That seems like a short term bandaid. 

[thefuzz]

13 hours ago, PoundCat said:

For one, Jared Allen's $11 million cap hit will be on our books instead of Chicago's. We can also anticipate Norman's hit to be much higher next year as well, leaving less room for the large contracts of JA, CJ and Stew. I'm sure nippleshorts has a plan for all this, I'm just wondering if those 4 vets are in the plan.

There is 0 chance that Allen will be on this team with a cap hit of 11M.  There is no dead money on that deal, we can cut him the day the season ends and be on the hook for 0, which will happen, or he will sign a low end extension.

CJ and Stew both can be June 1 cuts, and the dead money next season would only be 3.5M total for the both of them, and another 3.5M in 17 was well.

I'm going to assume that we either restructure, or extend CJ to a much better deal team wise, and Stew will either take a pay cut outright or will be cut.

Kalil is the one that is the sticking point, he carries a 10M cap hit next season, which is terrible for a C, but he is our best lineman, and he and Cam are close.  I can see us restructuring him, to push back some of hat cash, or letting it ride out as the contract gets a little better after the 16 season...much like we did with CJ's this year.

Heading into the 16 season, we will be in a better cap situation than we have been in years and years.