by Chad Jones
Over the past 2 NFL Seasons, the salary cap has been relatively flat at 123 Million. Teams are anxiously awaiting the kick-in of new television money in 2015, which will allow the cap to rise significantly over the remainder of the current CBA. Let's take a look at NFC East Cap concerns for 2014.
Dallas Cowboys:
Mr. Jones enters the 2014 offseason again facing dilemmas. An estimated 10 million over the 2014 flat cap, America's team will inevitably restructure contracts to create flexibility. Two defensive stalwarts, Anthony Spencer & Sean Lee, require decisions about longterm future. Spencer will be on the wrong side of 30 & Lee returns from season ending injury. With Lee, the team feels he's a building block player & a true leader. Spencer's future will hinge on his transition to the new 4-3 Under Scheme, but both Mr. Jones & Spencer's Agent Jordan Woy have expressed interest in working out a long term pact prior to 2013.
Creating cap space won't be feasible with releases, it will have to come from restructuring. This will require further guaranteeing Romo's contract. The loan potential cut could be DeMarcus Ware, who would open nearly 7.5 Million of cap space with slightly over 8.5 Million of dead money.
The other logical cuts are last offseason's Free Agent Offensive Guard Busts- Mackenzy Bernadeau & Nate Livings. These moves won't open significant space, but circumstances could necessitate these moves.
Retaining Spencer longterm inhibits keeping Sean Lee, and makes any notion of keeping Jason Hatcher outside the realm of possibility. That is unless one of the players doesn't live up to expectations in 2014, and can be retained on a team friendly deal.
New York Giants:
GM Jerry Reese will have roughly 20 Million of Space, which could increase significantly by reducing Eli Manning's $ 20.4 M figure. With Eli's deal set to expire in 2015, the path to reducing his 2014 figure would be an extension.
Numerous veterans will be cap casualties, as the Giants seek to open resources to retain an extensive list of Free Agents.
These include:
OG Chris Snee -31- (CS: 7.0 M) (DM: 2.0 M)
S Antrel Rolle -30- (CS: 7.25 M) (DM: 2.0 M)
Successful teams rarely draw criticism for free agency busts, but Jerry Reese signing David Baas in 2011 was a failed foray into Free Agency. For the past 2 seasons, Baas' deal has been restructured, pushing guaranteed money into later years. Baas' Cap Nubmer is 9.0 Million, of which 7.0 Million is guaranteed.
Looking at the 2014 Free Agents, the most discussed are the wide receivers Hakeem Nicks & Victor Cruz. Beyond these two core players, Safety Stevie Brown & DT Linval Joseph are both eligible for Free Agency. The Giants will inevitably loose Linval Joseph, similar to the loss of Barry Coefield after 2010. Stevie Brown could also land elsewhere. If the Giants prioritize retaining both wide receivers, the ramifications will be felt on Defense.
Philadelphia Eagles:
Year one of the Chip Kelly era will dictate the future of Michael Vick, a free agent after 2013. The main longterm decisions relate to Jeremy Maclin & Kenny Phillips. With Maclin, he's never produced a 1,000 yard season and won't warrant a commitment beyond 4-5 million annually. Not an elite players, the Eagles will be hesitant to keep him in the fold. With Phillips, he's a player I'm exceptionally high on. Though he's never been healthy, when on the field- He's an elite single high safety, which is a rare commodity in the league.
The remaining list of 2014 UFAs is unspectacular, holdovers from the Reid era that never became impact playmakers- Riley Cooper, Clay Harbor, Jamar Chaney, Nate Allen, Kurt Coleman.
Unless Jason Peters rebounds, he'll be a cap casualty- freeing 10 Million of cap space in the transaction. The loan difficult contract to get out from is Trent Cole's. The team should prioritize getting an impact out of him, as moving him seems near impossible unless they're willing to bear significant cap ramifications.
The Eagles up against the 2014 cap, but Peters (10 Million) & DeMeco Ryans (6.9 M) open space, if their Agents aren't willing to restructure.
Washington:
Redskins 2 Year Cap penalties for releasing major contracts during the uncapped year lapses in 2014, and the team currently has 108 Million committed. GM Bruce Allen has afforded himself flexibility, as multiple veterans can be axed to free up space to spend in free agency or to retain core players.
WR Josh Morgan -28- (CS: 6.35 M) (DM: 3.7 M)
DL Stephen Bowen -29- (CS: 3.0 M) (DM: 3.0 M)
DL Adam Carriker -29- (CS: 3.5 M) (DM: 3.25 M)
LB London Fletcher -38- (CS: 4.2 M) (DM: 2.0 M)
S Brandon Meriweather -29- (CS: 2.2 M) (DM: 1.0 M)
For the first time in decades, the Redskins have managed their cap prudently. The main UFAs are Fred Davis & Brian Orakpo. If either rebounds from 2012 injuries, they could command longterm commitments. The Skins remain a few years away from having to consider extensions with recently drafted impact players, and thus must make major choices with Orakpo & Fred Davis. With Davis, he'll be 28 next offseason, and is a 4-5 million dollar a year player if he performs above expectations. The issue is Orakpo, who could command 8-10 million a year if he has a productive year on the edge.
Orakpo is represented by CAA, as is London Fletcher. So expect Ben Dogra & Tom Condon to broker a deal that slots the money saved from Fletcher's post 2013 retirement to Orakpo.
Dallas Cowboys:
Mr. Jones enters the 2014 offseason again facing dilemmas. An estimated 10 million over the 2014 flat cap, America's team will inevitably restructure contracts to create flexibility. Two defensive stalwarts, Anthony Spencer & Sean Lee, require decisions about longterm future. Spencer will be on the wrong side of 30 & Lee returns from season ending injury. With Lee, the team feels he's a building block player & a true leader. Spencer's future will hinge on his transition to the new 4-3 Under Scheme, but both Mr. Jones & Spencer's Agent Jordan Woy have expressed interest in working out a long term pact prior to 2013.
Creating cap space won't be feasible with releases, it will have to come from restructuring. This will require further guaranteeing Romo's contract. The loan potential cut could be DeMarcus Ware, who would open nearly 7.5 Million of cap space with slightly over 8.5 Million of dead money.
The other logical cuts are last offseason's Free Agent Offensive Guard Busts- Mackenzy Bernadeau & Nate Livings. These moves won't open significant space, but circumstances could necessitate these moves.
Retaining Spencer longterm inhibits keeping Sean Lee, and makes any notion of keeping Jason Hatcher outside the realm of possibility. That is unless one of the players doesn't live up to expectations in 2014, and can be retained on a team friendly deal.
New York Giants:
GM Jerry Reese will have roughly 20 Million of Space, which could increase significantly by reducing Eli Manning's $ 20.4 M figure. With Eli's deal set to expire in 2015, the path to reducing his 2014 figure would be an extension.
Numerous veterans will be cap casualties, as the Giants seek to open resources to retain an extensive list of Free Agents.
These include:
OG Chris Snee -31- (CS: 7.0 M) (DM: 2.0 M)
S Antrel Rolle -30- (CS: 7.25 M) (DM: 2.0 M)
Successful teams rarely draw criticism for free agency busts, but Jerry Reese signing David Baas in 2011 was a failed foray into Free Agency. For the past 2 seasons, Baas' deal has been restructured, pushing guaranteed money into later years. Baas' Cap Nubmer is 9.0 Million, of which 7.0 Million is guaranteed.
Looking at the 2014 Free Agents, the most discussed are the wide receivers Hakeem Nicks & Victor Cruz. Beyond these two core players, Safety Stevie Brown & DT Linval Joseph are both eligible for Free Agency. The Giants will inevitably loose Linval Joseph, similar to the loss of Barry Coefield after 2010. Stevie Brown could also land elsewhere. If the Giants prioritize retaining both wide receivers, the ramifications will be felt on Defense.
Philadelphia Eagles:
Year one of the Chip Kelly era will dictate the future of Michael Vick, a free agent after 2013. The main longterm decisions relate to Jeremy Maclin & Kenny Phillips. With Maclin, he's never produced a 1,000 yard season and won't warrant a commitment beyond 4-5 million annually. Not an elite players, the Eagles will be hesitant to keep him in the fold. With Phillips, he's a player I'm exceptionally high on. Though he's never been healthy, when on the field- He's an elite single high safety, which is a rare commodity in the league.
The remaining list of 2014 UFAs is unspectacular, holdovers from the Reid era that never became impact playmakers- Riley Cooper, Clay Harbor, Jamar Chaney, Nate Allen, Kurt Coleman.
Unless Jason Peters rebounds, he'll be a cap casualty- freeing 10 Million of cap space in the transaction. The loan difficult contract to get out from is Trent Cole's. The team should prioritize getting an impact out of him, as moving him seems near impossible unless they're willing to bear significant cap ramifications.
The Eagles up against the 2014 cap, but Peters (10 Million) & DeMeco Ryans (6.9 M) open space, if their Agents aren't willing to restructure.
Washington:
Redskins 2 Year Cap penalties for releasing major contracts during the uncapped year lapses in 2014, and the team currently has 108 Million committed. GM Bruce Allen has afforded himself flexibility, as multiple veterans can be axed to free up space to spend in free agency or to retain core players.
WR Josh Morgan -28- (CS: 6.35 M) (DM: 3.7 M)
DL Stephen Bowen -29- (CS: 3.0 M) (DM: 3.0 M)
DL Adam Carriker -29- (CS: 3.5 M) (DM: 3.25 M)
LB London Fletcher -38- (CS: 4.2 M) (DM: 2.0 M)
S Brandon Meriweather -29- (CS: 2.2 M) (DM: 1.0 M)
For the first time in decades, the Redskins have managed their cap prudently. The main UFAs are Fred Davis & Brian Orakpo. If either rebounds from 2012 injuries, they could command longterm commitments. The Skins remain a few years away from having to consider extensions with recently drafted impact players, and thus must make major choices with Orakpo & Fred Davis. With Davis, he'll be 28 next offseason, and is a 4-5 million dollar a year player if he performs above expectations. The issue is Orakpo, who could command 8-10 million a year if he has a productive year on the edge.
Orakpo is represented by CAA, as is London Fletcher. So expect Ben Dogra & Tom Condon to broker a deal that slots the money saved from Fletcher's post 2013 retirement to Orakpo.
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