Fat Contracts...

[Mongo3451]

If OTC is correct, we are projected to have 1.4 million in cap space next year.  That's not good considering the free agents we will have.  I looked at a few contacts that may be overvalued and the best scenario.  From left to right (player, cap#, dead money, savings and action taken)

DJ   28,4,24 Trade Post 6/1
Edmunds 17, 2,15  Trade Pre or Post 6/1
Dayo  20,0,7   Restructure
Jarrett  19,4,15  Trade Post 6/1
Johnson  Can't cut, trade or restructure.                                  Gordon 23,2,11 Trade post 6/1 

Chart is ugly.  I don't think a miracle is gonna happen with Gordon or Jarrett.  DJ and Edmunds can get us 39 million back if traded.  Add in 7 mil for Dayo for 46 mil.  I didn't put Sweat, Jackson, Dalman or Thuney on the list, due to them playing commensurate to their value.  They can be traded post 6/1 for savings, if needed.  The bummer of it is that bone of the above has good value being traded to gain picks on the upcoming draft.  For that weed have to look at guys on their rookie contract.  Y'all feel to add or correct, as this is definitely not my wheelhouse.

[Stinger226]

If traded, they will be around draft time, not post 6-1. I don't think they trade DJ, more like restructuring his contract. Edmunds may be the odd man out with the play of Jackson. If they want to keep any of the big contracts, I see many restructuring before they trade them.

[adam]

Post-June 1st moves are really just for operating expenses and vet minimum deals in the late offseason. You can't count on those for use during the actual free agent period or post-draft free agency. 

Moore has a $28.5M cap hit for 2026, not $38M. 

There are a few easy restructures that wont kill the future cap. Moore has a $28.5M cap hit with $23.4M in salary. They could convert a good chunk of the 2026 salary into a bonus and then spread it out over the remainder of his contract (thru 2029). So just say they won't want too much in future years, they can convert $12M to a bonus and save $9M on this year's cap without hurting future years with a ton of dead cap ($3M per yr). 

Sweat is similar, but his deal ends in 2027. So with $20M in salary, they could convert say half of it to a bonus, save $5M this year and only push $5M to next season. Sweat only has $18M left in guarantees after this season, so there is some wiggle room there too. 

I figure they could easily save $12-15M with just Moore and Sweat without too much impact on future years.

Dalman only signed a 3-year deal, so I can see them working on an extension which could save $5M on the 2026 cap. Jackson has a similar deal that also ends in 2027, so they could extend him for 2 more years and flatten the cap hit. Probably another potential $10M in savings if they want to extend either of those guys. 

So that is 4 transactions, saving $25M on the cap, only extending core players under 30 (Jackson and Dalman). 

Then for potential cuts/trades, Edmunds is the most enticing with $15M in pre-June 1st savings. He will almost certainly be a move they act on. The LB Corps needs a rookie contract to balance it out. So if you cut/trade Edmunds, now you are potentially up to $40M in available cap.

Kmet is another option for a cut/trade/restructure. He has a $11.6M cap hit probably as a TE2. There is no way you can pay that/ They could save $8.4M with a pre-June 1st move. However, he is a team-leader, but would he be willing to sign an extension for less money? So a Kmet action would save between $5-$8M.

So restructing Moore and Sweat, extending Jackson and Dalman, cutting/trading Edmunds, and doing anything with Kmet could free up in the high 40s in cap space for 2026 with mainly needs at S, DT, and possibly LB. That seems very doable to me. 

 

I forgot about Jaylon Johnson, who is also in a similiar position as Sweat. Deal ends in 2027, so any restructure would just slide to 2027, so again, if they need some additional wiggle room, they can slide some money into 2027 with Johnson. Probably another $5M if they need it.

[Mongo3451]

6 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

If traded, they will be around draft time, not post 6-1. I don't think they trade DJ, more like restructuring his contract. Edmunds may be the odd man out with the play of Jackson. If they want to keep any of the big contracts, I see many restructuring before they trade them.

Agreed on post 6/1 trades.  They would probably only happen if someone gets hurt on another team.  I posted “post 6/1“ to show the largest savings on cap and dress money.   

Side note: DJ's $ is fixed above.

[Mongo3451]

I do have a post 6/1 trade that would be beneficial for both teams.  KC is looking to get better at WR, so they are a good partner.  Send DJ to them for Chris Jones.  I think Jones would pick up his play with a change of scenery.  KC has become stagnant from success and could use the spark DJ could provide.  

[adam]

2 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

I do have a post 6/1 trade that would be beneficial for both teams.  KC is looking to get better at WR, so they are a good partner.  Send DJ to them for Chris Jones.  I think Jones would pick up his play with a change of scenery.  KC has become stagnant from success and could use the spark DJ could provide.  

That would be interesting, but as they are $43M over the cap for next year already, they would have to get under the cap before the league year starts in March. So any massive move like that would need to happen before then or a restructure that gets them under the cap, then something like that.

They really screwed themselves with the Mahomes contract. He has a $78M cap hit and 77.8M in dead money. Now due to his injury, at most they can restructure his and save maybe $10M at the most, but not much. They are in a bad spot thru 2027.

[Mongo3451]

Maybe someone can explain why most trades after 6/1 more cap relief and less dead cap?  It makes no sense to me.

[adam]

1 hour ago, Mongo3451 said:

Maybe someone can explain why most trades after 6/1 more cap relief and less dead cap?  It makes no sense to me.

The remaining cap hit gets spread out similarly to a restructure over multiple years. It is a little more complicated when they have multiple years left, but if you look at Sweat's, it is easier to see (2 years left in 2026).

With one year left (after 2026), if Sweat was traded before June 1st 2026, the team would have $8,170,589 Dead Cap because it would all be applied in 2026. However, if it occurs after June 1st, only $4,085,294 in Dead Cap would be applied to the 2026 cap, while the other half is applied in 2027 (the final year of his original deal).
 

[Mongo3451]

3 minutes ago, adam said:

The remaining cap hit gets spread out similarly to a restructure over multiple years. It is a little more complicated when they have multiple years left, but if you look at Sweat's, it is easier to see (2 years left in 2026).

With one year left (after 2026), if Sweat was traded before June 1st 2026, the team would have $8,170,589 Dead Cap because it would all be applied in 2026. However, if it occurs after June 1st, only $4,085,294 in Dead Cap would be applied to the 2026 cap, while the other half is applied in 2027 (the final year of his original deal).
 

Good explanation.  I finally get it.

[BearFan PHX]

Also, while it was originally designed to happen after June 1st, i THINK (and I could be wrong) that you can only use the June 1st designation a limited number of times, and you can use it before June 1st too, just designate it as such?

[Stinger226]

17 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

I do have a post 6/1 trade that would be beneficial for both teams.  KC is looking to get better at WR, so they are a good partner.  Send DJ to them for Chris Jones.  I think Jones would pick up his play with a change of scenery.  KC has become stagnant from success and could use the spark DJ could provide.  

DJ is showing his value with Rome being injured. He's now a target that Caleb is looking for. IMO, next year I think we have a SB run so I don't think their trading offensive weapons. I think, unfortunately, Edmunds may be the big money guy traded.

Demarco Jackson was given PPF defense player of the week. We can sign Jackson for 4 to 5 mil where Edmunds will have a 17.4 mil cap hit. In a trade we can pick up 15 mil in Cap space. They drafted Hyppolite that will be in the picture. 

I also think , both being 27, they may just redo Edmunds (last year of contract) next year. He was playing like a pro bowl LBer and since next year will be a SB run, keep him around. It's obvious, DA knows how to use him.

The key for next year will be bringing back Byard, Gardener-Johnson and maybe DuShon. Wright. G-J can play SS. Don't forget Terrell Smith is still around and was playing well. 

People like Dayo and Jarrett cost to much without big performances. Doubt anyone trades for them . 

As I've stated before, lots of contract reconstructions and the draft will probably be our options for 2026. 

 

[AZ54]

I don’t care if CJGJ is back next year.   He doesn’t have the athleticism nor discipline to be a starter.  He’s a backup and I’d offer him vet. min if he wants to stick around.   One of the things hurting this defense is a lack of speed at safety.   

[Mongo3451]

2 hours ago, AZ54 said:

I don’t care if CJGJ is back next year.   He doesn’t have the athleticism nor discipline to be a starter.  He’s a backup and I’d offer him vet. min if he wants to stick around.   One of the things hurting this defense is a lack of speed at safety.   

Enter Terrell Smith and Tyreek Stevenson.  CJGJ can probably play there too.  The key is a healthy Gordon...🤞🏼

[Mongo3451]

3 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

DJ is showing his value with Rome being injured. He's now a target that Caleb is looking for.

I would almost bet against this.  With the emergence of Burden, that kicks DJ to 3.  Don't forget Jahdae Walker, he really impressed in the pre season.  He's 6'3 and faster than DJ and 22 million cheaper.

[AZ54]

2 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

I would almost bet against this.  With the emergence of Burden, that kicks DJ to 3.  Don't forget Jahdae Walker, he really impressed in the pre season.  He's 6'3 and faster than DJ and 22 million cheaper.

I feel like the team will want to keep DJ around but there has always been something amiss with him in this offense.  From being moved early on to taking snaps in the backfield, which he still does at times, to the poor production and lack of connection with Caleb in the first half of the season.  Was DJ not making the right adjustments to his routes earlier in the season?   DJ just seems like the most obvious trade candidate.   I don't think they do that for a draft pick it would be for a DE/DT that improves the pass rush and I could also see a trade for safety.   Safeties are cheap so we'd clear cap space, and adding a good starter gives us more flexibility in the draft.   Might get a 3rd or 4th Rd pick tossed in the deal too.