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05-01-2024, 06:04 AM | |
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Springpatch
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Dead Money
By my math, there is nearly a billion dollars in dead money on NFL caps this year.
Over $828 million. Nearly a billion dollars spent by 32 NFL teams on players that no longer play for the team. Analyzing these dead caps is fascinating to me this year -- in part because the Chiefs have absolutely lapped the entire league in how little dead money they've spent. Starting with the good guys, the Chiefs are actually 2nd in the least dead money at $5.9m -- the Rams are first at $4.2m. However, $3.4m of that is on Chris Jones, who, last I checked, is still a Chief. That leaves MVS at $2m, and less than $200,000 each on Darian Kinnard, Keondre Coburn, and Joshua Kaindoh. All told, that puts the Chiefs non-Jones dead money at $2,436,500. That is almost half the Rams number, and is just a demonstration that Veach and the Chiefs sign an absurdly small number of contracts that they come to regret. And if you're wondering, combined with his active cap hit, Chris Jones total 2024 cap hit is $11m. So. Anyway, speaking of contracts that teams regret, the #1 team in dead money in 2024 are the Vikings at a whopping $57m:
Jets are 3rd at $52m -- and there's no massive charges, just a ton of mid-level players that they've cut over the past couple years. They have a $2m cap hit for Mecole Hardman from last year, which is fun. (The Chiefs currently owe Hardman zero dollars.) I'll talk about one more team, and that's the Chargers at #4 with $51.4m:
The Broncos are listed as having only $14.6m in official dead cap charges:
So the Broncos are actually at about $67.6m, which would by far be the most in the league. Except that OverTheCap didn't include Tre'Davious White for the Bills, who has a cap hit of $16.4m, which would actually give the Bills the highest dead cap at $71.3m. Just further evidence to show that for all the praise we give Veach in terms of talent acquisition, he's put in literally peerless work on having brilliant cap management. The Chiefs, more than any other team in the league, have their money on the field. Anyway, have a great Wednesday, everybody. |
Posts: 59,483
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05-01-2024, 09:22 AM | #16 |
It was not a fair catch
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Correcting papers
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purely amazing and gross at the same time.
The Broncos will be broke for a long time It proves Herschel Walker type deals never work. |
Posts: 38,155
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05-01-2024, 09:36 AM | #17 |
sorta mod-ish
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: KC North
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Man, the Bills were REALLY through with Stephon Diggs. Would love to know exactly what happened between Diggs and the team that they would trade him to a contender and still eat over 31 million worth of cap hit. They wanted him the hell out of there.
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05-01-2024, 09:40 AM | #18 |
Politically Incorrect
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
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A past friend and golf buddy from NJ was the top salary cap expert working for the NFL head office and then went to the Texans to run football operations.
He tried explaining the salary cap to a bunch of us one day after golf and no one could understand it. Really complex...... |
Posts: 52,396
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05-01-2024, 09:41 AM | #19 |
Has a particular set of skills
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: On the water
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We are paying Mahomes top $, we can't afford dead cap money. It would kill us that year. As long as Mahomes is upright and not running for his life at the snap of the ball, we have a realistic chance to win a SB.
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Posts: 80,019
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05-01-2024, 09:44 AM | #20 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
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Quote:
Ultimately they were willing to eat a little shit this year to save $19 million over the next 2 seasons (the base salary they avoided this year). If you view it in the context of them treating 2024 as a stepback season to clean up the books (Miller should be off in 2025 as well) before re-loading again, it's a pretty smart move. The Bills plan seems really clear at this point - they're not trying real hard for 2024. They're trying to plan for life after the Bengals start losing WRs and Kelce ages out. They pulled the chute on what appeared to be a 3-year window around the Von Miller deal and are looking to set up a new one. It's really not a bad plan. |
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05-01-2024, 09:47 AM | #21 | |
sorta mod-ish
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: KC North
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Quote:
My brain went full TMZ thinking that Allen really did bang Diggs' ex (or vice-versa?), and it had become way too toxic there to move forward. |
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Posts: 103,550
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05-01-2024, 09:55 AM | #22 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2013
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Still amazes me how 1 single loss sends one of the most powerful franchises spiraling out of control. |
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05-01-2024, 09:55 AM | #23 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
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Quote:
That cost just gets sent to the next year. For the Bills, it cost the same to keep him as it would to cut him...over 1 season. But over 2, you get the benefit of the subtracted base. It's why most cap maneuvers really need to be looked at over a 2 year window and sometimes 3. There are ways to work it that make a lot of sense when viewed in the context of possible restructures. When you do that - and focus on base salary or roster bonuses being freed up (because the signing/restructure bonuses are baked into the cake either way) you can really see what the end game was. This was all about freeing up that $19 million in base salary over 2 seasons. the rest of the damage was just a matter of when it hit. And whether it hits in 24 or 25 is immaterial in the rollover era, especially when you have a QB contract that you can move money around on to make things largely even out. |
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Posts: 62,880
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05-01-2024, 09:59 AM | #24 | |
sorta mod-ish
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: KC North
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Quote:
Mahomes just straight up wrecks franchises in the playoffs. |
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05-01-2024, 10:03 AM | #25 | |
Has a particular set of skills
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: On the water
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Quote:
Last year was their chance. Agree with your theory. Wait till the Bengals lose their WR's and Kelce retires to take your SB shot again. |
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Posts: 80,019
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05-01-2024, 10:07 AM | #26 |
Banned!
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: NOT Columbia, MO 65201
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"By my math, there is nearly a billion dollars in dead money on NFL caps this year.
Over $828 million." And only around half of that is due to Russel Wilson. |
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05-01-2024, 10:21 AM | #27 | |
Time For Your Wake Up Call !!!
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Barn Yard
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05-01-2024, 10:42 AM | #28 |
Diablo Negro
Join Date: Sep 2003
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05-01-2024, 10:47 AM | #29 |
Needs more middle fingers
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Diego
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Good thread, Direkshun.
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05-01-2024, 11:46 AM | #30 |
Politically Incorrect
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
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