Largest 2015 Cap Hits By Team: NFC South
Before NFL training camps get underway next month, we’ll be taking a closer look at the top 2015 cap hits for teams around the league. We began our series last week by focusing on the NFC East and AFC East divisions, and earlier this week, we looked at the NFC North and AFC North. Today, we’ll head back to the NFC to examine the South division.
Listed below are the top 10 cap hits for the coming season for each of the four NFC South franchises, accompanied by some observations on the spending habits of those clubs. Let’s dive in….
Atlanta Falcons:
- Matt Ryan, QB: $19,500,000
- Julio Jones, WR: $10,176,000
- Roddy White, WR: $5,556,250
- William Moore, S: $5,368,750
- Paul Soliai, DT: $4,400,000
- Jon Asamoah, G: $4,268,750
- Justin Blalock, G: $4,120,000 (dead money)
- Joe Hawley, C: $4,000,000
- Tyson Jackson, DT: $3,850,000
- Jake Matthews, LT: $3,733,977
Total: $64,973,727
Besides Ryan’s substantial cap hit and an eight-digit figure for Jones, which could be reduced if he signs a contract extension this year, the Falcons aren’t carrying a single cap number exceeding $5.56MM in 2015. Overall, Atlanta’s top 10 players account for less than $65MM of the team’s 2015 cap, a very club-friendly total.
Of course, the Falcons are somewhat lacking in star power outside of the players involved in their passing game, so it makes sense that they wouldn’t be too heavily invested at other positions. In recent years, offensive and defensive line play has been one of Atlanta’s shortcomings, and the club’s recent investments at those positions is reflected in this list — Soliai, Asamoah, Jackson, and Matthews have all been added to the roster within the last year and a half.
At $4.12MM, Blalock easily represents the largest dead-money charge on the Falcons’ books, but if he had been retained for the 2015 season, his cap number would have been $7.91MM, third on the team behind Ryan and Jones.
Carolina Panthers:
- Charles Johnson, DE: $20,020,000
- Cam Newton, QB: $13,000,000
- Ryan Kalil, C: $11,795,000
- Jonathan Stewart, RB: $8,300,000
- Greg Olsen, TE: $6,300,000
- Thomas Davis, LB: $5,900,000
- DeAngelo Williams, RB: $4,333,333 (dead money)
- Luke Kuechly, LB: $4,002,283
- Steve Smith, WR: $4,000,000 (dead money)
- Mike Tolbert, RB: $3,425,000
Total: $81,075,616
With a $20.02MM cap hit for the 2015 season, Johnson has a cap charge that ranks first among defensive players, and is also one of just three figures over $20MM at any position — Lions receiver Calvin Johnson‘s cap number also exceeds $20MM, as does another player in the NFC South, whom we’ll discuss shortly.
Still, despite Johnson’s extravagant figure, it may not even be the most noteworthy feature of the Panthers’ list. Even more unusual is the fact that three running backs show up within Carolina’s top 10 cap hits. Combining for a total cap charge of nearly $12MM, Stewart and Tolbert alone would represent an overpayment at the position, and that doesn’t even take into account Williams’ $4MM+ dead-money charge. I imagine GM Dave Gettleman is looking forward to eventually getting those deals off the books and perhaps investing in younger, cheaper backs.
The rest of the Panthers’ top 10 is made up primarily of core players who either recently signed extensions or will do so soon. Newton, Olsen, and Davis all agreed to new contracts this offseason, and it’s just a matter of time before Kuechly does the same.
New Orleans Saints:
- Drew Brees, QB: $26,400,000
- Jimmy Graham, TE: $9,000,000 (dead money)
- Jahri Evans, G: $7,000,000
- Marques Colston, WR: $6,500,000
- Ben Grubbs, G: $6,000,000 (dead money)
- Jairus Byrd, S: $5,500,000
- Junior Galette, OLB: $5,450,000
- Curtis Lofton, LB: $5,000,000 (dead money)
- Keenan Lewis, CB: $4,500,000
- Max Unger, C: $4,500,000
Total: $79,850,000
Heading into the offseason, no team had more cap maneuvering to do than the Saints, who were about $20MM over the cap prior to free agency. All the dead-money charges on the team’s top-10 list don’t look great, but they reflect the moves New Orleans had to make in order to create a little flexibility this spring. If the team had kept Graham, Grubbs, and Lofton rather than trading or releasing them, their cap figures would be even larger.
The Saints aren’t quite out of the woods yet. Contracts like Byrd’s, Galette’s, and Cameron Jordan‘s – which didn’t make the cut here – have relatively modest cap numbers in 2015 before jumping significantly in future seasons. Those three players will count for a total of about $32MM against the cap in 2016, representing the club’s top cap numbers besides Brees.
Speaking of Brees, his $26.4MM cap hit is by far the biggest one in the NFL this year. However, the Saints did well to avoid restructuring his contract and pushing more money onto future seasons. Brees’ cap number will increase to $27.4MM in 2016, but since that’s the last year of his contract, New Orleans should be able to reduce that figure by extending him.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
- Gerald McCoy, DT: $14,595,000
- Vincent Jackson, WR: $12,209,777
- Michael Johnson, DE: $7,000,000 (dead money)
- Logan Mankins, G: $7,000,000
- Carl Nicks, G: $4,714,000 (dead money)
- Jameis Winston, QB: $4,609,323
- Bruce Carter, LB: $4,250,000
- Alterraun Verner, CB: $4,250,000
- Dashon Goldson, S: $4,000,000 (dead money)
- Evan Smith, C: $3,750,000
Total: $66,378,100
Like the Saints, the Buccaneers have three dead-money charges amongst their top 10 cap hits, which I was somewhat surprised to see — Tampa Bay often structures contracts to include larger base salaries and small signing bonuses, in order to make it easier to go year to year. That wasn’t the case for these three players, though, particularly Johnson, who epitomizes the team’s misguided 2014 spending spree.
One factor that could give the Bucs a leg up on their division rivals within the next three or four seasons is the small amount of cap room they’re dedicating to their quarterback. The NFC South’s other three starters have an average cap hit of more than $19MM for 2015, while Winston comes in below $5MM. If the No. 1 overall pick develops into a solid NFL starter, it will allow Tampa Bay to surround him with pricier impact players at other positions until he’s eligible for his second contract.
Information from Over the Cap was used in the creation of this post.
Latest On Dez Bryant Contract Talks
2:56pm: A source with knowledge of the situation tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that “nothing would be happening soon” in regard to Bryant’s contract. That suggests no deal is imminent, though it doesn’t necessarily mean that the two sides won’t work it out prior to the July 15 deadline.
12:04pm: Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan (link via CBSDFW.com) paints a more positive picture of Bryant’s negotiations with the Cowboys, suggesting that the two sides have a good chance of finalizing a long-term agreement sometime after the holiday weekend and before the July 15 deadline. Sources tell Fisher that the Dallas front office, led by owner Jerry Jones, wants to avoid any negativity or potential unhappiness for Bryant, and hopes to make a “positive mark” heading into the 2015 season.
The two sides essentially agreed to take a break from contract talks during the long weekend, but are optimistic that an agreement can be reached soon, according to Fisher, who adds that one sticking point is the guaranteed money involved — when it will be paid and how much of it will be fully guaranteed.
8:55am: Last weekend, we heard that the Cowboys had a face-to-face meeting with Dez Bryant‘s agent Tom Condon for the first time in months, which was considered a positive sign for the possibility of the two sides working out a contract extension for the star receiver. However, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link), the sitdown didn’t necessarily result in any forward momentum toward a deal. Here’s the latest on the Bryant negotiations:
- A source tells Cole that “no progress” was made between the Cowboys and Bryant’s camp at last week’s meeting. Per Cole, the Cowboys are – at least for now – unwilling to budge off their standing long-term offer, which features about $20MM in guaranteed money. That proposal also includes additional money becoming guaranteed in later years.
- According to Cole, the Cowboys believe they have the leverage in negotiations, since they don’t think Bryant would actually sit out a regular season game. Not only is Dallas skeptical that the wideout would miss regular season action after he couldn’t entirely stay away from the team’s offseason activities, but the club also believes Bryant can’t afford to miss out on pay checks. Based on his $12.823MM franchise tender, the 26-year-old would forfeit about $754K per week if he holds out during the regular season.
- July 15 is the deadline for the Cowboys and Bryant to work out a multiyear extension, so the two sides have just under two weeks to reach an agreement. Otherwise, Bryant will have to play on his one-year tender in 2015, if he wants to play at all.
NFC Notes: Guion, 49ers, Panthers, Cowboys
Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion is already at risk of being suspended for an arrest earlier this year, and now he’s facing a civil suit over a 2013 altercation in which no criminal charges were filed, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Seth Katz tells Demovsky that the suit is of “suspect nature” and that there’s “no basis for it.” While the suit is unlikely to lead to any discipline from the NFL, it’s the latest issue Guion has had to face in what has been a tumultuous offseason for the veteran defensive lineman.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- The 49ers, who selected 10 players in this year’s draft, have placed an emphasis on developing young players, which means some veterans may be in danger of losing their roster spots this fall. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com identifies three Niners – tight end Vance McDonald, safety Craig Dahl, and outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks – whose places on the 53-man roster may not be completely secure.
- The Panthers didn’t make a huge splash in free agency or on the trade market in recent months, as the 2015 offseason was all about keeping the team’s core intact, writes Max Henson of Panthers.com. Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, and Thomas Davis have each inked new contracts with Carolina since the start of March.
- Considering how tight NFL playoff races can be, suspensions to key defensive players like Greg Hardy and Rolando McClain may have a noticeable effect on the Cowboys‘ postseason chances, says Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. Earlier today, we asked whether McClain’s four-game ban would negatively impact the Cowboys more than Sheldon Richardson‘s and Antonio Gates‘ suspensions would impact the Jets and Chargers, respectively.
Poll: Which Thursday Suspension Will Have Biggest Impact?
Black Monday is an annual NFL tradition, when coaches and general managers around the league are dismissed on the Monday following Week 17’s games. So why not a Black Thursday? Yesterday, on the Thursday before a holiday weekend, the league announced four suspensions over the course of the afternoon, including three four-game bans for standout players. Those penalties could end up having a real impact on a handful of teams as they pursue postseason berths this season.
Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson and Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain were suspended four games each for violating the league’s substance abuse policy; Packers pass rusher Datone Jones got one game for violating the same policy; and Chargers tight end Antonio Gates was banned four games for a violation of the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Because Jones’ suspension is just for one game, and he hasn’t been a top performer so far in Green Bay, we won’t feature him in this discussion, but the other three players are all extremely important to their respective teams.
Richardson is coming off a Pro Bowl season, and was expected to once again contribute to one of the best defensive lines in the NFL, alongside Damon Harrison and Muhammad Wilkerson. Now, sixth overall pick Leonard Williams will presumably be pressed into starting action immediately, while Richardson sits out the season’s first month.
In Dallas, the Cowboys’ new-look linebacker corps includes offseason signees Andrew Gachkar and Jasper Brinkley, along with Sean Lee, who is returning from a torn ACL. But the team will certainly miss McClain, who ranked as the league’s eighth-best inside linebacker out of 60 qualified players in 2014, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), despite only playing 13 games.
Of course, the most recognizable name among the suspended players is Gates. The future Hall-of-Famer hasn’t earned a Pro Bowl nod since the 2011 season, but he remains a focal point for the Chargers’ passing attack, having racked up 146 receptions and 16 touchdowns over the last two years. Young tight end Ladarius Green, who many observers pegged as a breakout candidate last year, will be tasked with filling Gates’ shoes for the first month of the 2015 campaign.
While all three suspended players are key contributors, their teams have viable replacements, and should be able to get by for a few weeks while they wait for their veterans to return. Still, those players will be missed. Which suspension do you expect to have the biggest impact on that player’s team? Cast your vote in the poll and feel free to weigh in below in the comments section to explain your reasoning.
AFC South Notes: Ivory, Titans, Jaguars
Within the last year or so, NFL teams have begun to move more swiftly when players are arrested, with yesterday’s release of Brandon Ivory by the Texans acting as the latest example, says Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. While cutting a player who has been arrested looks good from a public relations standpoint, it’s creating new problems — teams will often wait for the legal process to play out for more talented players, while less talented players are released immediately, even though they could eventually be cleared of those initial charges.
As Florio writes, the NFL’s decision to use the commissioner exempt list for players who are being investigated makes teams more reluctant to hang onto fringe players who are accused of a crime, since those players are essentially placed on paid leave. At some point, the league may have to find a new approach that respects labor relations and the rights of all players.
Here’s more from around the AFC South:
- In recent weeks, Kenneth Adams IV, the grandson of team founder Bud Adams, has taken on a much more visible role with the Titans, according to David Climer of The Tennessean. Crimer views the younger Adams’ increased importance within the organization as a good thing, since the 31-year-old can bring a fresh perspective to the franchise, and one of the team’s five co-owners needed to step into that role.
- Still, as Florio notes in a PFT piece, Adams only owns 11% of the Titans, and the fact that the club is divvied up among so many people likely contributes to the frequent rumors about a potential sale. If Adams emerges as a clear voice from out of the team’s ownership group, it could provide some much-needed stability for the organization.
- The last two teams to finish signing their 2015 draft picks are in the AFC South, and while the Colts just need to lock up a pair of third-rounders, the Titans have yet to sign No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota. As Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk observes, it’s the third consecutive year that Tennessee has been the last team in the NFL to sign its first-round pick.
- ESPN’s AFC South beat writers examine where the Jaguars have made their biggest improvements since GM David Caldwell and head coach Gus Bradley took over two and a half years ago.
NFC Notes: Guion, Hardy, Panthers, 49ers
Letroy Guion was arrested in February when police found 357 grams of marijuana and an unloaded gun in his truck, and there’s a chance the incident will result in discipline from the NFL for the Packers defensive tackle. However, as Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com observes, despite the fact that Guion’s case was closed in March when he accepted a plea deal, the Packers have yet hear from the league one way or the other about a possible suspension.
As Guion and the Packers wait to hear whether he’ll be eligible to play all 16 games this season, let’s round up a few more items from around the NFC….
- Five weeks after Greg Hardy‘s appeal, arbitrator Harold Henderson has yet to announce a ruling, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The CBA calls for a decision “as soon as practicable,” which gives arbitrators plenty of wiggle room. If Hardy’s 10-game suspension is ultimately upheld, the delay will give the Cowboys defensive end less time to challenge the ruling in court.
- While Hardy awaits word on his appeal, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer examines how the Panthers plan to get after opposing quarterbacks now that Hardy is no longer on their roster.
- In a piece for The Sporting News, Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap takes a closer look at the salary cap situation for the 49ers, a team in transition. Meanwhile, on his own site, Fitzgerald identifies the three least team-friendly running back contracts in the NFL, writing that Jonathan Stewart‘s pact with the Panthers puts the other two to shame.
Antonio Gates Gets Four-Game Suspension
Yet another suspension has been announced by the NFL, as the Chargers confirmed today (via Twitter) that tight end Antonio Gates will miss the first four games of the 2015 season. The penalty was handed down due to a violation of the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.
“We are tremendously disappointed for our team and our fans as well as Antonio, but no more disappointed than Antonio is with himself,” the Chargers said in a statement. “Antonio is a member of the Chargers’ family and we will continue to support him 100-percent. We have the utmost confidence he will stay in excellent shape for the season and be ready to go when he returns in Week 5. While it’s unfortunate to not have him to start the season, we have complete confidence our tight end group will continue to play at a high level.”
For his part, Gates also released a statement, confirming that he tested positive for a substance that he was unaware was on the league’s banned substance list.
“I have always believed that ignorance is no excuse when it comes to these issues, and I take full responsibility for my actions,” Gates said. “I’d like to express my sincere apologies to the Chargers, my teammates, coaches, fans and the league who have always supported me and expected and gotten nothing but the highest level of integrity from me.”
Gates, the Chargers‘ all-time leader in catches, made it known after the 2014 season that he was not considering retirement. In fact, he stated that 2015 might not even be his last season. Now, for the first four weeks of the season, the tight end position will be held down by understudy Ladarius Green, someone who many feel is a future star.
Rolando McClain Suspended Four Games
After announcing earlier today that Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson would be suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season, the NFL has announced another four-game ban. According to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter link), Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain has been suspended for four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
McClain, who re-signed with the Cowboys on a one-year deal in April, was facing a third failed drug test earlier in the year. That third failed test called for only a fine, but as we noted at the time, a fourth would result in a four-game suspension, so it appears McClain failed another test since then.
“I apologize to my family, the Cowboys organization, my teammates and Cowboys fans for my mistake,” McClain said in a statement released through the NFLPA. “I will not break the rules of my profession in the future, and I regret my error. I look forward to returning to the field on Week 5, when I hope to help my team beat the Patriots.”
McClain, who turns 26 later in July, recorded 87 tackles and a sack to go along with two interceptions in 13 games for the Cowboys in 2014. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked the former first-round pick eighth out of 60 qualified inside linebackers, and he excelled in every aspect of the game — PFF’s grades placed him eighth as a pass rusher, seventh as a cover man, and 11th as a run defender, among inside linebackers.
Still, as I noted when I examined his free agent stock in March, McClain has plenty of off-field question marks, as this suspension shows. Those red flags resulted in a fairly modest deal for the linebacker in free agency, and now he’ll forfeit some of his $750K base salary for 2015 and will likely have to return a portion of his $500K signing bonus. McClain will also miss out on some of his per-game roster bonuses while he sits out the first four weeks, and will be hard-pressed to earn any of his playing-time incentives.
Sheldon Richardson Suspended Four Games
1:45pm: Richardson was suspended for marijuana use, a source tells Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). There are several stages in the league’s policy for marijuana use before a four-game suspension is handed down, which suggests that this isn’t Richardson’s first positive test.
1:19pm: The Jets defensive line, considered one of the very best in the NFL, took a hit today as the league announced Sheldon Richardson has been suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. In a statement released via the Jets, Richardson issued an apology for violating NFL rules.
“I apologize for letting down my family, teammates, this organization and the fans,” Richardson said (link via Garafolo). “However, words aren’t enough. This is something that can only be addressed by how I handle myself from this point on. I don’t want this to take away from what the team is trying to accomplish. While I won’t be there at the start of the regular season, I will do whatever I can to support my teammates until I’m able to return to the field.”
Richardson, 24, had been expected to start on the Jets’ defensive line alongside nose tackle Damon Harrison and standout defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson. Now that Richardson will miss the first month of the 2015 season, it opens the door for sixth overall pick Leonard Williams to step into the starting lineup, at least temporarily, though we’ll have to see how things play out in training camp under new head coach Todd Bowles.
Richardson’s suspension could also provide Wilkerson some additional leverage in his extension talks with the Jets. The two sides haven’t much made progress toward negotiating a a new contract, and while I wouldn’t expect Richardson’s four-game ban to make a huge impact on those discussions, it will be another factor for the team to consider. After all, if Richardson were to violate the substance abuse policy again in the future, he’d be facing an even lengthier suspension.
Because Richardson’s suspension is unpaid, he’ll lose four of his 17 weekly checks for the 2015 season. The former 13th overall pick had been in line for a $1.319MM base salary, so he figures to forfeit about $310K of that amount. As Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap details, Richardson will also have to return nearly $335K in bonus money.
Three More Players Enter Supplemental Draft
Houston defensive end Eric Eiland, UConn tight end Sean McQuillan, and Kansas defensive back Kevin Short have joined the list of players eligible to be selected in next week’s supplemental draft, according to NFL VP of football communications Michael Signora (via Twitter). Signora also confirms that the draft will take place on July 9.
The supplemental draft allows NFL clubs to select players who for some reason were unable to enter the standard draft; academic trouble or disciplinary issues are often – but not always – key factors. McQuillan was charged with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct in April, while Short left the Jayhawks back in September for personal reasons.
As for Eiland, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net reported in February that the Cougars defensive end was “very likely” to enter the supplemental draft — he intended to enter April’s draft, but didn’t fill out the required paperwork.
The three new additions to the supplemental draft pool join Clemson offensive tackle Isaiah Battle, West Georgia defensive tackle Dalvon Stuckey, West Georgia defensive end Darrius Caldwell, and North Carolina Central receiver Adrian Wilkins. Battle has a good chance to be picked, with the Falcons among the teams reportedly eyeing him.
While Battle may come off the board next Thursday, the majority of players who enter the supplemental draft go undrafted, which allows them to become free agents and sign with any team. The last two players to be selected in the supplemental draft were Terrelle Pryor (third round, 2011) by the Raiders and Josh Gordon (second round, 2012) by the Browns.