biloxi-indian

After signing some players to futures contracts, the New Orleans Saints now have $140.9 million committed toward the 2013 salary cap.

That means the Saints will have to trim more than $20 million just to get under the cap at the start of free agency in March. They’ll have to trim even more than that if they want to re-sign left tackle Jermon Bushrod and some other potential free agents. And they’ll need more room if they want to pursue any free agents from outside.

There is no doubt general manager Mickey Loomis will clear some of that room by restructuring some existing contracts. That’s a tactic Loomis has used frequently in the past. But restructuring alone isn’t going to get the Saints to where they need to be.

They’re going to have to release some players to get under the cap. Let’s take a look at some candidates:

Will Smith: The defensive end has a $14.5 million cap figure, which is second only to Drew Brees. The Saints could free up $7.7 million by releasing Smith.

Roman Harper: The veteran safety has a $7.1 million cap figure. The Saints could clear $3.6 million in cap space by releasing him.

Jonathan Vilma: He has a cap figure of $8.6 million. Releasing Vilma would free up $6 million in cap space.

Pierre Thomas: He still is a quality running back, who could have some trade value. But the emergence of Mark Ingram and the cap situation could make Thomas expendable. There would be no salary-cap hit if the Saints released Thomas and they would free up $2.5 million. If they’re going to let Thomas go it will come before the third day of the league year, when he’s scheduled to earn a $300,000 bonus.

Will Herring: The Saints haven’t gotten much out of this linebacker. He’s scheduled to count $1.9 million against the cap. Releasing him would clear up $1.6 million in cap space.

Five Saints on the cap bubble - NFC South Blog - ESPN

Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over, over, and over again...and expecting a different outcome!

lee909

The only player on that list i would be sad to see go is Thomas.
The rest are good but can be replaced cheaper.
Id consider a third maybe early 4th rounder for Thomas

|Mitch|

With the emergence of Ingram late in the season and Pierre's knee issues the past few seasons, that makes him expendable and hurts his trade options...

The rest are easily gone and replaced, unless they do some serious restructuring...

dizzle88

Think we would be dumb to let PT go, he's one of our best players

Agreed that Ingram has improved though and I'm pleased that the coaching staff have committed to running Ingram more

I think smith and Vilma are gone, cap space is needed and they are pretty much done

Mardigras9

Doubt PT is going anywhere. Smith and Vilma will have to restructure or go after this past season.

Danno

Then again, maybe we resign them both at market value, which shouldn't be that high. Both are decent players. At the very least they'd make great backups.

Rugby Saint II

I would miss PT terribly. I like Ingram but I love me some PT.

NuNu318

PT should stay....I love PT. Dude is a heck of a player & leader. But with that said...if he goes I wouldn't be that suprised. With both Ingram & Ivory coming along....he is because of milage probably the odd man out.

alleycat_126

No way they trade pt, there are parts if this team that don't work pt is not one of those parts. Ivory is the guy who I could see e saints dangling, he can't stay healthy.... Harper can be traded away too.

xan

That doesn't include the draft or contracts that we need to improve on. Like Graham's.

Anyway, this team's about to be BLOWED UP SIR. If you thought that the defense sucked with a bunch of veterans who had essentially played together for 4 years, get used to a lot of new players who both don't know the system and have little experience either in the league or together.