Saints are likely over the 2026 Salary Cap

AsylumGuido · 03-13-2025, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by BakoSaint

Carr lovers have been talking about how if we did need to move on from Carr, 2026 will likely be year, because we are $100 million or whatever under the salary cap. Well, so much for that.

When you follow this link and click over to 2026 it currently shows the Saints $24 million under the salary cap:

https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/new-orleans-saints

But it does not reflect:

$17m/yr Chase Young
$10.5m/yr Justin Reid

While these numbers are averages, most contracts are structured so the first year is way below average and later years are above average, so when all the numbers are released and entered we will probably be at least $5 million over the 2026 before signing any more free agents or extensions or the results of any post-June-1 cuts that accelerate dead money to 2026.

So the Saints are likely already over the 2026 salary cap. And by the end of the 2025 season, they could be $50-100 million over with Loomis loomising himself some more eyeliner wearing boy toys.

Of course, the Saints will find a way to get under the cap in 2026. Restructures are basic middle school math and nothing complicated. But the need to get under the cap will be an excuse to extend Derek Carr again and backload more money, as well as retaining many mediocre vets like Shepherd, Saunders, Godchaux, Carr, Johnson, etc. 9-8 is the dream and Mickey Loomis is living for it.

When it comes down to Carr as our QB it isn't a case of black and white. There are many shades of grey. It isn't simply haters and lovers. Oh, I know there are the outright haters. But, I for one definitely do not hate Carr as our QB. Nor do I necessarily love him in the position. What I do like is him there over any other option at this point. I believe he gives us the best chance of winning games now. I believe that Kellen Moore sees it the same way. I'm all for drafting a QB every year until we come across one that can be the real thing. Or at least an average NFL starter. Those are very rare and as it is there aren't 32 in the league today. Give me that 10-7 or 9-8 and the playoffs out of the NFC South until that time. You have to at least get in to win.

Sinner · 03-13-2025, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

When it comes down to Carr as our QB it isn't a case of black and white. There are many shades of grey. It isn't simply haters and lovers. Oh, I know there are the outright haters. But, I for one definitely do not hate Carr as our QB. Nor do I necessarily love him in the position. What I do like is him there over any other option at this point. I believe he gives us the best chance of winning games now. I believe that Kellen Moore sees it the same way. I'm all for drafting a QB every year until we come across one that can be the real thing. Or at least an average NFL starter. Those are very rare and as it is there aren't 32 in the league today. Give me that 10-7 or 9-8 and the playoffs out of the NFC South until that time. You have to at least get in to win.

When people talk about kicking the proverbial can down the road, it has become painfully clear that YOU DAT CAN, bro.

BakoSaint · 03-21-2025, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

When it comes down to Carr as our QB it isn't a case of black and white. There are many shades of grey. It isn't simply haters and lovers. Oh, I know there are the outright haters. But, I for one definitely do not hate Carr as our QB. Nor do I necessarily love him in the position. What I do like is him there over any other option at this point. I believe he gives us the best chance of winning games now. I believe that Kellen Moore sees it the same way. I'm all for drafting a QB every year until we come across one that can be the real thing. Or at least an average NFL starter. Those are very rare and as it is there aren't 32 in the league today. Give me that 10-7 or 9-8 and the playoffs out of the NFC South until that time. You have to at least get in to win.

Where I disagree is I want the best chance of winning it all, not of winning 9 games, and I think the two are different. I agree to drafting a QB every year until we come across one that can be the real thing. I just think that instead of paying $40-50 million a year for a mediocre safety net in Derek Carr, it would be smarter to hoard salary cap resources at a rate of $40-50 million a year, and then when we find the real thing, we are going into the new league year already being $50 million under the salary cap without having to restructure a single deal, and we can sign top free agents for the next several years and cut dead weight at will, to build a powerhouse around that QB. Ditching the safety net could result in more losses short term, but they actually award higher draft picks to teams with more losses, so worst case scenario maybe we are in a position to draft that dark horse by the name of Manning instead of having to bet on a Milroe or Ewers every time.

papz · 03-21-2025, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

When it comes down to Carr as our QB it isn't a case of black and white. There are many shades of grey. It isn't simply haters and lovers. Oh, I know there are the outright haters. But, I for one definitely do not hate Carr as our QB. Nor do I necessarily love him in the position. What I do like is him there over any other option at this point. I believe he gives us the best chance of winning games now. I believe that Kellen Moore sees it the same way. I'm all for drafting a QB every year until we come across one that can be the real thing. Or at least an average NFL starter. Those are very rare and as it is there aren't 32 in the league today. Give me that 10-7 or 9-8 and the playoffs out of the NFC South until that time. You have to at least get in to win.

Who are you and what have you done with AsylumGuido?

This type of objectivity is refreshing.

When we all accept the fact that we are not rebuilding, nor will we be, this is pretty much what we should be hoping for.

saintsfan1976 · 03-22-2025, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

When it comes down to Carr as our QB it isn't a case of black and white. There are many shades of grey. It isn't simply haters and lovers. Oh, I know there are the outright haters. But, I for one definitely do not hate Carr as our QB. Nor do I necessarily love him in the position. What I do like is him there over any other option at this point. I believe he gives us the best chance of winning games now. I believe that Kellen Moore sees it the same way. I'm all for drafting a QB every year until we come across one that can be the real thing. Or at least an average NFL starter. Those are very rare and as it is there aren't 32 in the league today. Give me that 10-7 or 9-8 and the playoffs out of the NFC South until that time. You have to at least get in to win.

Agree.

03-13-2025, 08:40 AM	#1
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,622	Re: Saints are likely over the 2026 Salary Cap Originally Posted by BakoSaint Carr lovers have been talking about how if we did need to move on from Carr, 2026 will likely be year, because we are $100 million or whatever under the salary cap. Well, so much for that. When you follow this link and click over to 2026 it currently shows the Saints $24 million under the salary cap: https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/new-orleans-saints But it does not reflect: $17m/yr Chase Young $10.5m/yr Justin Reid While these numbers are averages, most contracts are structured so the first year is way below average and later years are above average, so when all the numbers are released and entered we will probably be at least $5 million over the 2026 before signing any more free agents or extensions or the results of any post-June-1 cuts that accelerate dead money to 2026. So the Saints are likely already over the 2026 salary cap. And by the end of the 2025 season, they could be $50-100 million over with Loomis loomising himself some more eyeliner wearing boy toys. Of course, the Saints will find a way to get under the cap in 2026. Restructures are basic middle school math and nothing complicated. But the need to get under the cap will be an excuse to extend Derek Carr again and backload more money, as well as retaining many mediocre vets like Shepherd, Saunders, Godchaux, Carr, Johnson, etc. 9-8 is the dream and Mickey Loomis is living for it. When it comes down to Carr as our QB it isn't a case of black and white. There are many shades of grey. It isn't simply haters and lovers. Oh, I know there are the outright haters. But, I for one definitely do not hate Carr as our QB. Nor do I necessarily love him in the position. What I do like is him there over any other option at this point. I believe he gives us the best chance of winning games now. I believe that Kellen Moore sees it the same way. I'm all for drafting a QB every year until we come across one that can be the real thing. Or at least an average NFL starter. Those are very rare and as it is there aren't 32 in the league today. Give me that 10-7 or 9-8 and the playoffs out of the NFC South until that time. You have to at least get in to win. Danno, papz, Crusader and 2 others like this.
	“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

03-13-2025, 11:31 AM	#2
Sinner 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 4,068	Re: Saints are likely over the 2026 Salary Cap Originally Posted by AsylumGuido When it comes down to Carr as our QB it isn't a case of black and white. There are many shades of grey. It isn't simply haters and lovers. Oh, I know there are the outright haters. But, I for one definitely do not hate Carr as our QB. Nor do I necessarily love him in the position. What I do like is him there over any other option at this point. I believe he gives us the best chance of winning games now. I believe that Kellen Moore sees it the same way. I'm all for drafting a QB every year until we come across one that can be the real thing. Or at least an average NFL starter. Those are very rare and as it is there aren't 32 in the league today. Give me that 10-7 or 9-8 and the playoffs out of the NFC South until that time. You have to at least get in to win. When people talk about kicking the proverbial can down the road, it has become painfully clear that YOU DAT CAN, bro.
Sinner 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 4,068

03-21-2025, 10:07 AM	#3
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,385	Re: Saints are likely over the 2026 Salary Cap Originally Posted by AsylumGuido When it comes down to Carr as our QB it isn't a case of black and white. There are many shades of grey. It isn't simply haters and lovers. Oh, I know there are the outright haters. But, I for one definitely do not hate Carr as our QB. Nor do I necessarily love him in the position. What I do like is him there over any other option at this point. I believe he gives us the best chance of winning games now. I believe that Kellen Moore sees it the same way. I'm all for drafting a QB every year until we come across one that can be the real thing. Or at least an average NFL starter. Those are very rare and as it is there aren't 32 in the league today. Give me that 10-7 or 9-8 and the playoffs out of the NFC South until that time. You have to at least get in to win. Where I disagree is I want the best chance of winning it all, not of winning 9 games, and I think the two are different. I agree to drafting a QB every year until we come across one that can be the real thing. I just think that instead of paying $40-50 million a year for a mediocre safety net in Derek Carr, it would be smarter to hoard salary cap resources at a rate of $40-50 million a year, and then when we find the real thing, we are going into the new league year already being $50 million under the salary cap without having to restructure a single deal, and we can sign top free agents for the next several years and cut dead weight at will, to build a powerhouse around that QB. Ditching the safety net could result in more losses short term, but they actually award higher draft picks to teams with more losses, so worst case scenario maybe we are in a position to draft that dark horse by the name of Manning instead of having to bet on a Milroe or Ewers every time.
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,385

03-21-2025, 11:02 AM	#4
papz Problem? Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 11,793	Re: Saints are likely over the 2026 Salary Cap Originally Posted by AsylumGuido When it comes down to Carr as our QB it isn't a case of black and white. There are many shades of grey. It isn't simply haters and lovers. Oh, I know there are the outright haters. But, I for one definitely do not hate Carr as our QB. Nor do I necessarily love him in the position. What I do like is him there over any other option at this point. I believe he gives us the best chance of winning games now. I believe that Kellen Moore sees it the same way. I'm all for drafting a QB every year until we come across one that can be the real thing. Or at least an average NFL starter. Those are very rare and as it is there aren't 32 in the league today. Give me that 10-7 or 9-8 and the playoffs out of the NFC South until that time. You have to at least get in to win. Who are you and what have you done with AsylumGuido? This type of objectivity is refreshing. When we all accept the fact that we are not rebuilding, nor will we be, this is pretty much what we should be hoping for. neugey, Crusader and saintsfan1976 like this.

03-22-2025, 08:57 AM	#5
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 11,017 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Saints are likely over the 2026 Salary Cap Originally Posted by AsylumGuido When it comes down to Carr as our QB it isn't a case of black and white. There are many shades of grey. It isn't simply haters and lovers. Oh, I know there are the outright haters. But, I for one definitely do not hate Carr as our QB. Nor do I necessarily love him in the position. What I do like is him there over any other option at this point. I believe he gives us the best chance of winning games now. I believe that Kellen Moore sees it the same way. I'm all for drafting a QB every year until we come across one that can be the real thing. Or at least an average NFL starter. Those are very rare and as it is there aren't 32 in the league today. Give me that 10-7 or 9-8 and the playoffs out of the NFC South until that time. You have to at least get in to win. Agree.