Redskins 2014 Salary Cap Status

Study the numbers and uncover a potential offseason plan. That's the premise of this thread. We've had these threads for a few years running now, typically we're not too far off from what to expect. This year will be tougher to predict because A) there are new sheriffs in town with Allen and Gruden, and B) there's so much salary cap space available that the team could take a million different directions.

That said, I'm assuming Bruce Allen was being truthful when he said to expect an active free agency. And I'm assuming he'll continue to shy away from mortgaging the future.



Last Updated: 1/30/2014 at 4:30pm Eastern


Current Cap Space: $16.9M

Expected Contract Voids:
Josh Morgan: $6.8M Savings
Brandon Meriweather: $2.2M Savings
Void/Retirement - London Fletcher: $4.1M Savings
Incremental Impact of 3 Players Replacing in Top 51: ($1.5M) Hit

Expected Cap Space Following Voids: $28.5M

Expected Roster Cuts:
Tyler Polumbus: $1.5M Savings
Sav Rocca: $1.2M Savings
Incremental Impact of 2 Players Replacing in Top 51: ($1.0M) Hit

Expected Cap Space Following Cuts: $30.2M


Anticipated Resignings:
Brian Orakpo: ($7.5M) Hit
Perry Riley: ($3M) Hit
DeAngelo Hall: ($2.5M) Hit
Rob Jackson: ($1.5M) Hit
Incremental Impact of 4 Players Bumped Out of Top 51: $2.0M Savings

Expected Cap Space Following Resignings: $17.7M

Anticipated Free Agent Signings:
A Decent RT: ($4M) Hit
CB Aqib Talib: ($5M) Hit
FS Jairus Byrd: ($5M) Hit
WR Brandon Tate: ($2.0M) Hit
Any Punter, Whatever: ($0.9M) Hit
5 Other Guys at Pretty Low Sal: ($5.0M) Hit
Incremental Impact of 10 Players Bumped Out of Top 51: $5.0M Savings

Expected Cap Space Following Free Agency: $0.8M

Rookie Signings:
Anticipated Rookie Pool: ($4.0M) Hit
Incremental Impact of Players Bumped Out of Top 51: $4.0 Savings

Expected Cap Space Following Rookie Signings: $0.8M


Interestingly, the team has a lot of holes to fill and could go in a thousand different directions in free agency. I set a path here that prioritizes fixing the secondary and the RT spot. Certainly the team could try to address those needs without going after the high dollar players I've listed here.

Also, consider the possibility that the team approaches Trent Williams now to extend him. This would lock in one of the cornerstones of the team for a long time while lowering his 2014 cap number. That kind of move may not be Bruce Allen's style but the opportunity to free up space this way is very significant.

Anyway, have at it. Ask questions or chart a different free agent course. I'll track the moves here and keep this updated as much as possible.

This is excellent Schneed, thanks for posting this. Ok I will get into more detail later on what I think they should do but at first glance I agree with most of your suggestions. If we could resign those guys on D I would be very happy (especially Riley and Orakpo). Adding a top CB like Talib though for $5M I think is underselling his value. I think he'll go for more than that in the open market. If you're talking just cap hit instead of salary then yeah I can see them structuring it that he only counts for that much. Same with Byrd. I'd love to land him but I think he'll be looking for over $9M/season.

I agree with your releases but I would also think they will definitely cut Carriker or restructure his contract at the very least for a pay cut. That should free up a few Mill. I think Chester and Bowen are possibilities as well. I also hope we go for a bigger name at WR than Brandon Tate. As a surprise to most they may target WR high in the draft.

I think with what you have laid out we would then have starters at every position except for another ILB. I can see us making a run for someone like Donald Butler or Brandon Spikes to start opposite Riley. That would cost an additional how much, $2.5M? That's another position I think they'll target early in the draft. They could also resign one of the UFA's on the cheap like Bryan Kehl or Nick Barnett.

Good stuff!

last season is dead and gone; the future is bright!

is it march 11th yet?

Yeah Talib and Byrd both will be worth a pretty penny, but cap hits typically come lower in the first season is usually lower from a cap hit angle. I think Orakpo will take 11M a season but have the cap hit at 8.

The only thing I don't like about your design Schneed is I would rather go into the year with somewhere in the ballpark of 3-4 cap space remaining. I know you don't need multiple millions of cap space, just enough for inseason contingencies, but it would be nice not to get back to the Dallas and previous Skins model of buy alot, rework what you need to. I just don't think that's sustainable. (of course having 60mil like the Raiders do this year is equally ridiculous).

The only thing I don't like about your design Schneed is I would rather go into the year with somewhere in the ballpark of 3-4 cap space remaining. I know you don't need multiple millions of cap space, just enough for inseason contingencies, but it would be nice not to get back to the Dallas and previous Skins model of buy alot, rework what you need to. I just don't think that's sustainable. (of course having 60mil like the Raiders do this year is equally ridiculous).

Probably a good point and more reflective of reality.

I'll hold my numbers where they are in anticipation that the cap gets raised a little bit. It always seems to.

I have figured a way to get my spreadsheet out there by using a file drop site that doesn't require registration (the file will only be there for 7 days). If you guys are interested download it (it's in Excel) and you tinker with it and see who would be beneficial to release/resign. It's heavily based on numbers from SpotRac and I've taken CrazyCanuck's differences and used his numbers (actually there is a worksheet in there with his info).

Redskins' 2014 Cap Info (http://wikisend.com/download/402404/RedskinsCap2014SFO.xls)

Hope it works. I don't mean to step on anyone's toes I'm just sharing info and enjoy comparing info with others. This seems like a great place to do this. Not sure why I enjoy this cap stuff so much since I'm not a bean counter by any stretch but I just enjoy it.

I'll hold my numbers where they are in anticipation that the cap gets raised a little bit. It always seems to.

I believe the NFLPA was trying to do another year of sliding benefit payments/other maneuvers to create more cap space.

Hopefully we don't have any other Mar 10th surprises this year to help them cover up their bad CBA.

Hope it works. I don't mean to step on anyone's toes I'm just sharing info and enjoy comparing info with others. This seems like a great place to do this. Not sure why I enjoy this cap stuff so much since I'm not a bean counter by any stretch but I just enjoy it.

I was able to download it, I'll play around with it on the weekend.