jeanpierre

I'm reading two different thoughts on his contract...

One that nothing is guaranteed after this season, in which case, he costs the team nothing and salary cap hit is negated if released after this season...

The second is that we are delaying a potentially bigger salary cap hit in two seasons...

Danno

His salary isn't guaranteed but his cap hit is, due to the signing bonus he received. Two different things.

TheOak

Terms:

Guaranteed Money: Mooney guaranteed by a contract.

Dead Money: Cap hit due to proration of upfront bonus.

If I give a player 25M in upfront bonus for a 5 year contract you can expect 10m a year in dead money for years 4 and 5M for year 5 if I cut you in year 3 (in year 3 I would take a 15M cap hit). (keep in mind this has nothing to do with paying the player in those years, only how the teams cap is effected)

If i give a player 25M for 5 years guaranteed that means if I cut you in year 3, I am still paying the player until he gets his 25M.


This is why I like Spotrac
Roman Harper Contracts, Salaries, Cap Hits, & Transactions

Its a 10M 3/year contract worth 10.5m
4m of this IS guaranteed
His signing bonus was 2.9 m
Look at his variable cap hit, and variable dead money.

NFL contracts can be very complex in the pay structure, most people assume they are not.

Roman Harper, New Orleans Saints ink extension - NFL.com


So to answer your question, both statements are true.

His 4M is guaranteed. And we delayed cap hit.

While salary cap hit would be nil after this season, the dead money hit is still in effect.

Example David Thomas, he has no salary this year to take a hit on but we are taking a hit on .5m dead money.
New Orleans Saints - 2013 Salary Cap Breakdown