BakoSaint

His contract is not the worst part. Its the team that gave him the contract, what his contract means for us, with our cap situation. If any other team had given him the contract they could pull the rip cord and escape it before paying him $40 million 2025 or $50 million in 2026. The $50 million in 2026 was even discussed as not being real, effectively a void year, looking at the modest cost to bail on the deal at that point, which would be leverage to renegotiate at a more reasonable number if it was working out. But with the way the Saints manage the salary cap starting every year $100 million over the cap and restructuring every deal, we can't afford the dead cap that comes with pulling the rip cord on a deal this big, because that modest sum to get out of the deal if needed increases with every restructure. For any other team, Carr's contract would be a roll of the dice that is done in 2 years if it fails. For the Saints, its ride or die for the long term on Carr being elite, and that is what makes it a disaster. DeShaun Watson's deal is fully guaranteed, making it a disaster. The truth is that Derek Carr's deal is really fully guaranteed too, not because the language of the contract prevents Carr from ever being cut, but because the the state of the Saints salary cap and the way they manage it prevents him from ever being cut. But at least Watson's contract expires and the Browns will not be inquiring about an extension. With Carr, an extension in 2027 is highly probable to avoid what will be a $60 million or so dead cap hit at the time if he is not extended just after restructuring his 2025 $50 million salary to kick the can on another $40 million of it.