Free agency is around the corner, and Mickey Loomis has until March 17th, 4pm eastern to get under the cap.
That leaves exactly two weeks from today to fix the -$65.3 million cap situation the Saints have found themselves in. So within the next 14 days expect trades, cuts, restructures, and extensions.
The Saints already started the process of fixing the cap situation by restructuring Drew Brees’ contract saving $23 million. Then came the release of Nick Easton saving $8ish million. Malcom Brown is set to be traded saving $5 million, plus the NFLPA cap floor was raised to around $180 million saving the Saints $5 to $10 million. Today’s transactions include a restructure of David Onyemata saving $4.3 million, while signing J.T. Gray to a two year deal worth $4 million and a cap hit of $1.5 million.
As that deadline approaches players like Patrick Robinson, Jared Cook, and Kwon Alexander are some names to expect on the cut list.
Malcom Brown’s name has been in trade conversations, but some other names that could be mentioned are Emmanuel Sanders, and possibly Latavius Murray. I wouldn’t expect them to be traded however, just something to monitor.
A player to either get cut or extended is Janoris Jenkins. Parting ways with Jenkins would save $7 million in cap space, but I would hope they extend him. Click here to get a more detailed explanation why.
Ryan Ramczyk and Marshon Lattimore could also be extended or signed to a new deal, but only once the Saints are under the cap floor.
Now for the restructures expect the star players like Michael Thomas, Cam Jordan, Terron Armstead, and Malcom Jenkins to be restructured. David Onyemata has already restructured his contract.
As a reminder, all these type of transactions have to take place within the next 14 days. The next two weeks will emerge sooner than some may think, so prepare yourself a for some news days.
Written By Kadin Janisch
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