Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith
 

Pat Yasinskas of ESPN writes that Saints could look to free up some much needed cap space by addressing the contracts of veterans like DB Roman Harper, LB Jonathan Vilma and DL Will Smith in the coming weeks.

Harper, 30, is due $5.35 million next season, but his overall production has dropped off considerably as of late. Pro Football Focus actually has him rated as the second worst qualifying safety from last season.

Vilma, 30, has a $4.8 million base salary to go along with a $1.1 million roster bonus. There’s been some talk that he could moved to outside linebacker in their new 3-4 defense, even though it seems a little strange given his skill set. Reducing his salary figures to be the only sure way he’ll be back in New Orleans next season.

Smith, 31, is almost certain to be gone. He has base salaries of $9 million and $10.4 million along with $1 million roster bonuses coming his way the next two seasons. His 2014 salary is voidable, but it’s doubtful he sees any of this 2013 salary given that he’s poor fit in their new defensive scheme.

New Orleans needs to free up close to $20 million and these three players figure to be some of the first contracts addressed in the process of doing so.

Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith

Re: Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith
 

I could see Harper staying in Ryans scheme at a reduced salary but Vilma and Smith, no.

Re: Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith
 

I sure as hell hope Harper is gone.

Re: Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith
 

If there's a way Loomis will find it. Coach Payton aint playing aroun this season. In the Payton and Loomis I trust!

Re: Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith
 

As much as i like roman harper i believe we need to become a younger defense

I believe all 3 should be released, if any id prefer harper to stay but for a very reduced salary

Our D needs a youth movement, pretty much half the players on D should be changed in my opinion - players such as pat robinson, jenkins, will smith, harper, sed ellis, maybe even greer as hes getting on in age now

So we need reduce 20 mill to get under the cap. Even if you flat cut those three out its only 18mill in savings. Who else gets cut if they don't ? I don't have a good feeling about this. The math just doesn't work.

Re: Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith
 

Thats were loomis comes in and reworks all the deals, he does a great job at lowering the figure with his magician ways

Couple of peoples deals will get reworked and we'll be below the cap in no time

Re: Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith
 

I think we'll keep Vilma, lose the other 2.

Re: Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith
 

Dropping Greer is a bad move, only decent CB we have.

IF you cut these guys I think this is the break down, or close to the minus to CAP, and what it cost in 2014. Correct if wrong, so we can be somewhat accurate.

LB Scott Shanle -$2.25
Sedrick Ellis -$7.6
Will Smith -$6.6 + $3.4 added to 2014 cap ( worst signing ever, cut)
Jon Vilma -$4.7 + $1.3 added to 2014 cap ( may be cut )
Roman Haper -$4.1 + $2.0 add to 2014 cap ( please cut )
Brodrick Bunkly -$2.9 +$1.8 add to 2014 cap ( might have been a bad signing, but probably restructures or cut)
Malcolm Jenkins -$3.15 + $750,000 add to 2014 cap (?)
David Hawthorne -$3.3 +$1.5 add to 2014 cap ( maybe restructured )
Curtis Lofton -$5.1 + $2.0 add to 2014 cap ( ?)
Jabari Greer -$3.4 +$2.0 add to 2014 cap (?)
Jon Casillas -$1.25
Turk Mcbride -$1

Its around 16-17 million I thought. If you cut Ellis, Shanle, Smith, Harper, and Vilma or Bunkly, you have wiggle room. Or restructure some, and a bunch of 1 million dollars guys on the roster to $600,000. Loomis will figure it out.

Re: Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith
 

Not as bad a move as you think. Greer has been injury riddled his whole career with the Saints. Now on top of injuries which he has never been able to get ahead of teams are singling him out and picking on him.

Re: Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith
 

Harper, Vilma and Smith all have limitations and will only decline from here. We could bring in some young guns and train them cheaper.

Re: Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith
 

You lost me at "Will Smith, worst signing ever."

Re: Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith
 

Greer is only 30
You call injury riddled ?
2004 12
2005 16
2006 16
2007 16
2008 10
2009 9
2010 14
2011 16
2012 14
you really need to look things up a bit more before, no offense. If that is injury riddled in the NFL, then Ellis and smith and porter are paraplegic. Greer has been trailing revis in stats sense 2009, and was highly respected in Bufl. Ive shown that 100x, and scored as our 2nd highest defender in the rankings. Most QB's know not to pass Greers way. Which is why white and RP look so bad.
But Its pretty understandable he did not have a great year, and as the best DB we have, he can only do so much. Cutting Greer makes no sense.

Re: Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith
 

Harper, 30, is due $5.35 million next season, but his overall production has dropped off considerably as of late. Pro Football Focus actually has him rated as the second worst qualifying safety from last season.

Harper GONE !

Re: Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith
 

Everyone keeps screaming "Cut so and so!" You do realize that we have to replace these guys with somebody right? And that we have to pay them? I can understand Vilma and Smith, they're pretty much done for anyway and their salaries are far beyond their abilities. Harper is definitely overpaid but he's a good SS and I'm pretty sure Loomis will work something out. But if you're going to cut half the defense, like so many here seem to want to do, who are you going to find that's better AND cheaper?

Re: Saints Notes: Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith
 

Here, here, Boutte!

Some cuts are undoubtedly on their way, but that doesn't mean that there'll be too many of them. Smith and Vilma are certainly on the bubble, but even they might be brought back after the release or with a re-negotiated contract.