2016 Salary Cap & Possible Moves

[DenverRaven]

The numbers were released this week and the NFL pins them between $147-154 Million. These numbers typically run a bit low, so expectations are seemingly based around the $154 million number.

 

According to Brian McFarland (does he post here?) this is where we stand before any cuts or restructures happen. So, where do we go from here? Thoughts?

 

 

@RavensSalaryCap

With ERFA/RFA tenders in place (but still prior to cuts), Ravens would be estimated to be ~$364K under Cap.

[rmcjacket23]

Does this or does this not include slotted estimates for draft picks? I'm working under the assumption its already included to move the number from the top 46 to the top 51.

 

Obviously there will be some cuts and at least an extension or two. Joe's extension will free up the most money probably, though given the timing of his injury, we may not get an extension done before FA opens.

 

I'd ultimately expect us to be in the $10-15M range in cap space after we do some extensions and cuts.

[DenverRaven]

Does this or does this not include slotted estimates for draft picks? I'm working under the assumption its already included to move the number from the top 46 to the top 51.

 

I am unsure of this as well. Assuming the same though. It's probably good to keep in mind that higher draft picks will cost more than what we've paid in the last few years. That said, I believe the $10 million range for making moves feels about right. Joe should save between $3-7 mil with his restructure. There will likely be some tough decisions about cuts this year. 

[Sami84]

I am unsure of this as well. Assuming the same though. It's probably good to keep in mind that higher draft picks will cost more than what we've paid in the last few years. That said, I believe the $10 million range for making moves feels about right. Joe should save between $3-7 mil with his restructure. There will likely be some tough decisions about cuts this year. 

 

boy..we really are not a team at the moment that can afford to not have flexibility with our cap space..

sadly bad contracts and failed draft picks have put us in this spot..

i hope joe does a bit more than we would expect and really gives us some relief..a bit more than 3-7 mill..

[PurpleCity5]

Man, there are plenty of guys who will get cut soon. 

[DenverRaven]

boy..we really are not a team at the moment that can afford to not have flexibility with our cap space..

sadly bad contracts and failed draft picks have put us in this spot..

i hope joe does a bit more than we would expect and really gives us some relief..a bit more than 3-7 mill..

 

In all fairness, a lot of teams are in trouble next year. The Stillers, Phins, Jets, Bills and NO have some really tough decisions ahead. I think Joe will come in around the 18-21 million range, at least in terms of cap hit. That's just me speculating though.

[rmw10]

I don't remember who said it on Twitter, but they recommended making 2017 a "rebuild" year, too, and I kind of agree.  It's a good time to dump the bad contracts and eat the dead money now.  There are a lot of holes to fill and all of that isn't going to happen in one offseason.  I wouldn't look at is a tanking situation necessarily, but if there's a time to go into a "rebuild," now might be the time.

[Moderator 3]

Our team philosophy is NOT to ever rebuild. It is to push the cap limit every year and keep reloading as necessary. We will always be tight to the cap.

[GrimCoconut]

Tucker and Aiken are likely to return but I don't see any other free agent coming back. I don't think we'll even tender anyone. Aiken likely gets a two year deal.

Edited December 4, 2015 by GrimCoconut

[RavensFanMania]

Does this or does this not include slotted estimates for draft picks? I'm working under the assumption its already included to move the number from the top 46 to the top 51.

 

Obviously there will be some cuts and at least an extension or two. Joe's extension will free up the most money probably, though given the timing of his injury, we may not get an extension done before FA opens.

 

I'd ultimately expect us to be in the $10-15M range in cap space after we do some extensions and cuts.

I would agree with the 10-15 million range.  Probably closer to 10.  I do believe we will restructure prior to fa though.  He'll be here anyway you look at it.

[DenverRaven]

I would agree with the 10-15 million range.  Probably closer to 10.  I do believe we will restructure prior to fa though.  He'll be here anyway you look at it.

 

Gotta assume the plan is to get the restructure done ASAP. Otherwise we're heading into FA without much room at all. It does open up more questions about Tucker though, and how that is approached.

[ellicottraven]

Tucker and Aiken are likely to return but I don't see any other free agent coming back. I don't think we'll even tender anyone. Aiken likely gets a two year deal.

And I think Tucker has to agree to a deal a little poorer than Gradkowski's. He's missed every single FG over 50 yds this year. It is to the benefit of both parties if he signs a deal.

[ellicottraven]

A lot will depend on how Joe Flacco's restructure helps us with cap space and how much Linta wants for Joe's services for the next several years. I am praying Joe agrees to a deal that averages no more than 18MM for 6 yrs with about 70MM in guarantees. That will assure him 4 yrs of job security at the minimum and also afford us the ability to build a good roster.

[allblackraven]

Joe @18mil is not happening, I think. There's no reason to think he won't recover well after surgery, so that can't be used as leverage.

 

Bisciotti said before the season that they're operating at 22-24 mil cap figure for Joe in 2016.

[GrimCoconut]

Joe isn't taking 18MM/average unless his agent sucks or he feels bad for us. QB are making a lot of money--a lot. At least, they are if you're a starting franchise QB, which he is. Love him or hate him, it's hard to argue that he's a franchise QB for this team.

[LosT_in_TranSlatioN]

Joe isn't taking 18MM/average unless his agent sucks or he feels bad for us. QB are making a lot of money--a lot. At least, they are if you're a starting franchise QB, which he is. Love him or hate him, it's hard to argue that he's a franchise QB for this team.

I could point you to a thread that does.

Yeah. I think he could take a four million dollar cut and we make a few here and ther(Webb is the obvious one) to open up just enough cap room to bring in a mid tier FA or something. Trumaime Johnson anyone?

[allblackraven]

I could point you to a thread that does.

Yeah. I think he could take a four million dollar cut and we make a few here and ther(Webb is the obvious one) to open up just enough cap room to bring in a mid tier FA or something. Trumaime Johnson anyone?

Yeah, I want Johnson definitely. Rams can't keep both him and Jenkins. Johnson shouldn't be too expensive either and he's a solid player.

[JO_75]

The numbers were released this week and the NFL pins them between $147-154 Million. These numbers typically run a bit low, so expectations are seemingly based around the $154 million number.

 

According to Brian McFarland (does he post here?) this is where we stand before any cuts or restructures happen. So, where do we go from here? Thoughts?

 

 

@RavensSalaryCap

With ERFA/RFA tenders in place (but still prior to cuts), Ravens would be estimated to be ~$364K under Cap.

 

Either way we look at it, an increase of any amount is good. I thought we were supposed to have all this big money next year with all the dead weight finally coming off? How do we now only have less than $500,000 in cap room prior to cuts?

[CalvinSmoke]

Either way we look at it, an increase of any amount is good. I thought we were supposed to have all this big money next year with all the dead weight finally coming off? How do we now only have less than $500,000 in cap room prior to cuts?

because Joe's contract balloons.

[52liveforever]

I might pump the breaks on Joe definitely giving a discount especially coming off of an injury. A season ending injury can give you a lot of time to think. I'm not going to make any predictions of what is going through his head, but it could make a guy think of life after football and the quality of life they want. Does he want to play until his late 30's and be a beat up old man or does he want to take his pay day and make it out of the league in one piece.

 

Again not saying this will happen, but I will prepare myself for the possibility. I don't necessarily see a competitor like Joe being quite affected like that, but crazier things have happened.

[arnie_uk]

Does this or does this not include slotted estimates for draft picks? I'm working under the assumption its already included to move the number from the top 46 to the top 51.

Obviously there will be some cuts and at least an extension or two. Joe's extension will free up the most money probably, though given the timing of his injury, we may not get an extension done before FA opens.

I'd ultimately expect us to be in the $10-15M range in cap space after we do some extensions and cuts.

his figures normally factor in draft picks slotted values. Obviously thatl change depending on where we draft

[rmcjacket23]

Either way we look at it, an increase of any amount is good. I thought we were supposed to have all this big money next year with all the dead weight finally coming off? How do we now only have less than $500,000 in cap room prior to cuts?

The dead money coming off has no impact on 2016.

[rmcjacket23]

I might pump the breaks on Joe definitely giving a discount especially coming off of an injury. A season ending injury can give you a lot of time to think. I'm not going to make any predictions of what is going through his head, but it could make a guy think of life after football and the quality of life they want. Does he want to play until his late 30's and be a beat up old man or does he want to take his pay day and make it out of the league in one piece.

 

Again not saying this will happen, but I will prepare myself for the possibility. I don't necessarily see a competitor like Joe being quite affected like that, but crazier things have happened.

He doesn't need to give a discount. Just needs to agree to an extension that allows us to flatten out his cap more effectively.

[edthehead]

joe has all the leverage and I hope he take full advantage, and with his extension savings 

1. Get him a True #1 WR 

2. a  veteran  LT.

3.move broke down monroe to R tackle

4. what do you all think of ryan jenson should he stay at r tackle or monroe there or l guard   

[BmoreBird22]

So, some possible moves that are very feasible to saving roughly $10M in cap are...

 

1. Cut Daryl Smith- Zach Orr is seeing an expanded role and taking the place of Smith in games, not to mention the ILB class is very top heavy if the Ravens wanted to go that route.

2. Steve Smith retires- He seems to have his mind made up, but who knows.

3. Cut Justin Forsett- It's all going to depend on how Mostert, Allen, and West look in these next five games.

4. Cut Chris Canty- He's an underrated asset due to veteran leadership and he's pretty talented, but the Ravens have drafted Jernigan, Davis, and Urban in recent drafts. They seem like they're priming to have a young offensive line. 

 

Those are the ones that I see as most obvious and likely to happen. There are some other possible moves that could be made (like cutting Arrington), but that's less likely than the above. 

 

I could see the Ravens having around $20-$25M to work with, but that's obviously going to be going very much toward their own free agents and a very select group of low end free agents.

The really crappy part about the cap is that I checked the projected cap for 2016, 2017, and 2018 and the Ravens are bottom three in every one of those years. If they don't make some serious moves in the draft, they're going to be having more 2015 than 2014.

[NewJerseyRavens]

While I would love a healthy Dennis Pitta, it doesn't look like he will play again.  If he retires does that give a us a big cap benefit?

[GrimCoconut]

While I would love a healthy Dennis Pitta, it doesn't look like he will play again. If he retires does that give a us a big cap benefit?

I may be wrong here, but I think he'll free up like $1.1M.

[allblackraven]

I may be wrong here, but I think he'll free up like $1.1M.

Less than 1mil I think. Post June cap savings if cut is $5 mil, with little over $2mil in dead money.

[BmoreBird22]

I may be wrong here, but I think he'll free up like $1.1M.

600k, but as allblacksaid, they'd likely tag him as a post June 1st and take those immediate cap savings of $5M, giving the Ravens around $25-$30M if all those other moves came to fruition

[Winchester]

What do the ravens save if Suggs unexpectedly retires?? And how much would be saved if Dumervil is traded?? I do not like idea of paying 2 older olbs. Anyways cuts could include pitta,Canty,webb,Daryl Smith,Forsett,Elam,arrington,Jimmy Smith traded or cut(if he saves anything significant),monroe(if he saves enough and Tunsil or a left tackle is drafted,signed or traded for,lewis,SS may retire, and Suggs will not embarrass himself if he is not effective returning from Achilles. It would be nice to find a way to dump Jimmy smith. Oz has the ravens cap busted to hell!! Jimmy should never been signed so early. He has been erratic at times even when not injured. He has never been consistent enough to get a contract like that!!