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Potential Cap Casualties: NFC South
Hello Everyone! Coach Craig back at it again. This is the third edition of my cap causality articles. In this article, I will be looking at each team in the NFC South and their cap situation for the 2021 season. I will also mention some potential players that could be cap causalities as well as some key free agents. I have also included the Post June 1st Savings (for players cut after June 1st). All these numbers mentioned below come from Spotrac.com.
Atlanta Falcons
Projected Cap Space: $-23,216,845
Potential Cap Causalities:
Allen Bailey DE
Cap Hit: $6,125,000
Dead Cap: $1,625,000
Savings: $4,500,000
Cap Hit: $4,663,333
Dead Cap: $2,426,668
Savings: $2,236,665
Post June 1: $3,450,000
Key free agents include: C Alex Mack, RB Todd Gurley, RB Brian Hill, DE Charles Harris, S Keanu Neal, CB Darqueze Dennard, and K Younghoe Koo
The Falcons are caught in between the competing and rebuilding phrases. New head coach Arthur Smith and new general manager Terry Fontenot will have a lot of work to do in the coming years. They will have to decide when to move on from mainstays Matt Ryan and Julio Jones (likely after the 2021 season). This offseason they will also have to create cap space. Allen Bailey is likely to be a cap casualty. Expect to see players like Deion Jones, Grady Jarrett, and Jake Matthews to have their contracts restructured. Brian Hill, Keanu Neal, Darqueze Dennard, and Younghoe Koo all could return if the price is right.
Carolina Panthers
Projected Cap Space: $27,545,434
Potential Cap Causalities:
Kawann Short DT
Cap Hit: $20,839,000
Dead Cap: $11,017,000
Savings: $9,822,000
Post June 1: $14,500,000
Key free agents include: LT Russell Okung, RB Mike Davis, WR Curtis Samuel, RT Taylor Moton, and CB Rasul Douglas
The Panthers are in a favorable position in terms of cap space. However, they will have to decide whether or not to bring back Mike Davis, Curtis Samuel, Taylor Moton, and Rasul Douglas. Kawann Short will likely be a cap casualty due to his inability to stay healthy and the emergence of rookie Derrick Brown (Short was cut on 2/16, projected cap reflects that now). Look for the Panthers to continue their rebuild this offseason.
New Orleans Saints
Projected Cap Space: $-70,796,484
Potential Cap Causalities:
Cap Hit: $16,225,000
Dead Cap: $9,612,500
Savings: $6,612,500
Post June 1: $11,687,500
Cap Hit: $14,200,000
Dead Cap: $7,200,000
Savings: $7,000,000
Post June 1: $10,000,000
Cap Hit: $13,212,500
Dead Cap: $0
Savings: $13,212,500
Cap Hit: $10,500,000
Dead Cap: $4,000,000
Savings: $6,500,000
Post June 1: $8,500,000
Cap Hit: $10,000,000
Dead Cap: $7,500,000
Savings: $2,500,000
Post June 1: $7,500,000
Nick Easton OL
Cap Hit: $6,875,000
Dead Cap: $1,000,000
Savings; $5,875,000
Post June 1: $6,375,000
Malcom Brown DT
Cap Hit: $6,443,750
Dead Cap: $1,500,00
Savings: $4,943,750
Cap Hit: $4,500,000
Dead Cap: $2,000,000
Savings: $2,500,000
Post June 1: $3,500,000
Key free agents include: TE Jared Cook, S Marcus Williams, QB Jameis Winston, LB Alex Anzalone, and DE Trey Hendrickson
The bad news: the Saints are in cap hell. The good news: they have plenty of cap casualty candidates. The salary cap number above is in a bit of flux (due to Drew Brees' retirement). Expect the Saints to be very active this offseason as they find creative ways to get under the salary cap. Marcus Williams and Jameis Winston are the most likely free agents to return for the 2021 season.
Projected Cap Space: $27,784,114
Potential Cap Causalities:
Cap Hit: $14,250,000
Dead Cap: $0
Savings: $14,250,000
Cap Hit: $6,500,000
Dead Cap: $0
Savings: $6,500,000
OJ Howard TE
Cap Hit: $6,013,000
Dead Cap: $0
Savings: $6,013,000
Key free agents include: LB Shaq Barrett, LB Lavonte David, TE Rob Gronkowski, RB Leonard Fournette, WR Antonio Brown, WR Chris Godwin, and K Ryan Succop
The Buccaneers enter the 2021 season as the defending Super Bowl champions. They will do so with a good amount of cap space as well. However, they will have to spend up to bring back Shaq Barrett, Lavonte David, and Chris Godwin. It sounds like Rob Gronkowski will be returning on a reasonable deal. Antonio Brown and Leonard Fournette may end up elsewhere.
In conclusion, the 2021 NFL offseason will be very important for the future of the teams in the NFC South. I am very interested to see how each of these teams handle their respective cap situations and what cap casualties will happen (especially for the Saints and Falcons). My next article will look a closer looker at the NFC East teams. Be sure to let me know your thoughts down below in the comments or on Twitter @CoachCraigSport.
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