Saintswrath

29. San Diego Chargers
Approximate Current Available Cap Space - $3.8 million

Up against the cap at the start of free agency, San Diego’s biggest acquisition was Donald Brown (three-year deal worth $10.5 million). Brown got $4 million in fully guaranteed money. San Diego’s past cap mismanagement—their $12.5 million in 2014 dead money is the sixth most in the league—is a contributing factor to their current cap struggles. Don’t expect them to compete for any of the top remaining free agents.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers
Approximate Current Available Cap Space - $2.9 million

One of the more active executives in the days leading up to free agency, signing Jason Worilds to the $9,754,000 transition tag figure left GM Kevin Colbert in a tough spot. However, he still found a way to acquire a difference-making free agent in former Panther safety Mike Mitchell. Mitchell’s five-year, $25 million contains just $5.25 in guaranteed money. He is due a $2 million roster bonus next March, which means there is at least a chance that this will only be a one-year deal given Pittsburgh’s tight cap scenario. The Steelers are now likely out of spending money for the rest of free agency.

31. Detroit Lions
Approximate Current Available Cap Space - $2.6 million

GM’s on the hot seat don’t always exhibit rational thinking. So while Detroit's long-term cap scenario is unsettling for Lions fans, it is not Martin Mayhew's chief concern—he won’t be around to deal with the consequences if the Lions fail to make the playoffs in 2014. The signing of Golden Tate, whose $3.1 million 2014 cap hit gradually increases over the life of this deal, will only contribute to the Lions future cap issues. But Tate is a playmaker—the type of player who might save Martin Mayhew’s job.

After re-signing Brandon Pettigrew and bringing in former Redskin Darryl Tapp, Detroit has exhausted its 2014 spending money. Mayhew could create some more space by extending Ndamukong Suh, whose current 2014 cap number is a whopping $22,412,500.


32. New Orleans Saints
Approximate Current Available Cap Space - $1.9 million

Have you ever really wanted something that you simply couldn’t afford, then impulsively said “screw it, I’ll figure it out later” before buying it anyways? Well that’s what Saints GM Mickey Loomis did with the signing of Jairus Byrd.

The Saints—who still have not locked up Jimmy Graham to a long-term contract—embody one of the NFL’s worst current cap situations. If Graham wins the grievance that he will reportedly file and ends up being paid the franchise number WR, the Saints will actually be over the 2014 cap. But they found a way to snag the play-making Byrd anyways, as Byrd’s 2014 cap hit is just $3.5 million.

This number jumps to $10.3 million in 2015, and remains in the $10 million per year cap hit range over the remainder of the deal. This means you can count on Byrd being a member of the Saints for a minimum of two years—it would be counterproductive for New Orleans to cut him after 2014 as they’d lose $4.5 million in cap room. If Byrd has a tremendous 2014, it’s possible that New Orleans will look to restructure this deal next offseason.

The Saints also created some extra 2014 cap room by extending Pierre Thomas and trading Darren Sproles. Although trading Sproles instead of simply releasing him outright didn’t net New Orleans any extra 2014 cap space, they did get an extra draft pick.


__Click below to read other team cap situations.__

Salary Cap Notes: Team Updates - Offseason Low Down - Rotoworld.com

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