Under the Cap AFC West Cap Overview Football Outsiders
Under the Cap: AFC West Cap Overview Football Outsiders
Franchise Tag Candidate: adds little in terms of pass rush –- he has just six sacks in 92 career games -– but his acquisition after the lockout played a role in the Broncos improving from in 2010 to . The franchise tender for defensive tackles is in 2012. The other premium name on the Broncos unrestricted free agent list is kicker , who had seven field goals in either the fourth quarter or overtime in four of the Broncos' eight wins in 2011. The 27-year-old is 12-of-16 on field goal attempts from beyond 50 yards in his career, wants to remain in Denver (what kicker doesn't?), and if franchised. That's about the same as a "first round" restricted free agent tender. With the amount of cap room at their disposal, using the franchise tag would be an easy decision if a multi-year extension cannot be worked out by March 5.
Player Cap Figure
Richard Seymour 15,000,000
Carson Palmer 12,500,000
Kamerion Wimbley 11,000,000
Tommy Kelly 8,892,856
Darren McFadden 6,716,667
Michael Huff 5,828,750
Aaron Curry 5,700,000
Shane Lechler 5,650,000
Rolando McClain 5,570,000
John Henderson 4,750,000
Hiram Eugene 2,500,000
Darius Heyward-Bey 2,105,000
Sebastian Janikowski 1,700,000
Lamarr Houston 1,116,250 Above are the players with a greater than 1M cap hit. The only defensive player worth his money on the list above is Houston. On offense, if McFadden could stay healthy, he would be worth his salary. Palmer is an unknown, and Heyward-Bey may well be worth his cap hit next year. Janikowski is worth that money if for no other reason fans go into each season waiting for Jano to set the NFL field-goal distance record. This is not including Stanford Routt or his replacement. At least the offense scores points because it has a number of bargains such as Moore, Ford, Veldheer, and Wisniewski. When the does the mechanism kick in where teams individually have to spend a certain percentage of the cap? I'm not positive, but I believe it starts next year. How is it possible to be 50-60 million under a 120M cap, unless most of your 53 man roster is playing for the league minimum? With, 19 free agents, they only have 34 players under contract. I'm not sure whether these figures include additional room rolled from last season. If they were $30m under the cap last year, their cap this year is $150m, not $120m. "John Henderson is due $4 million in base salary that is guaranteed for skill and injury, but not for cap" I don't understand this. Surely any cut to get/stay under the cap is a decision based on a balance of cap considerations and skill? I had the same thought. Maybe they can only not pay him if they're actually over the cap at the time he's cut? November 8, 1:26pm ET
February 15, 2012, 9:56 am ET Under the Cap: AFC West Cap Overview Photo: USA Today Sports Images by Brian McIntyre Over the next two weeks, Football Outsiders will take a look a division-by-division look at the salary cap situations of all 32 NFL teams. We'll look at estimated cap space –- since cap situations are fluid and actual adjusted cap figures for 2012 remain unknown -– restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, which players are candidates for the franchise tag, and which players are headed towards the chopping block. We continue our trek with the AFC West.
Denver Broncos
Estimated Cap Space: Around $50 million Unrestricted Free Agents (18): , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Restricted Free Agents (2): , started three of 16 games in 2011 and was second among the team's defensive linemen with four sacks. A fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma State by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2007, an "original round" tender for McBean would cost the Broncos $1.26 million in non-guaranteed base salary in 2012.Franchise Tag Candidate: adds little in terms of pass rush –- he has just six sacks in 92 career games -– but his acquisition after the lockout played a role in the Broncos improving from in 2010 to . The franchise tender for defensive tackles is in 2012. The other premium name on the Broncos unrestricted free agent list is kicker , who had seven field goals in either the fourth quarter or overtime in four of the Broncos' eight wins in 2011. The 27-year-old is 12-of-16 on field goal attempts from beyond 50 yards in his career, wants to remain in Denver (what kicker doesn't?), and if franchised. That's about the same as a "first round" restricted free agent tender. With the amount of cap room at their disposal, using the franchise tag would be an easy decision if a multi-year extension cannot be worked out by March 5.
Kansas City Chiefs
Estimated Cap Space: $60-63 million Unrestricted Free Agents (18): , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Restricted Free Agents (1): Belcher has started 31 games over the last two seasons, totaling 171 tackles and a quarterback sack. The former undrafted free agent out of Maine is expected back on a one-year tender (minimum of $1.26 million in base salary) to compete with for the starting job opposite . Franchise Tag Candidate: The Chiefs have an abundance of salary cap room and a pair of candidates for the franchise tag. Wide receiver had a down year without a healthy (and and ), but is a season removed from . Franchising Bowe is in guaranteed base salary in 2012. Starting right cornerback is also scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent. A 2008 fifth-round pick, Carr has started all of the 64 games he possibly could have during his NFL career, leading the NFL in passes defensed in 2010 (25) and pulling down a career-high four interceptions in 2011. Franchising Carr would cost the Chiefs around in 2012. Potential Cap Casualties/Restructures: No team has more cap space than the Chiefs, so restructuring to clear more room is not an issue. In terms of cash, linebacker is due the most ($11.5 million), including an $11.25 million base salary on February 7. Defensive end 's 2012 base salary .Oakland Raiders
Estimated Cap Space: $11 million over Unrestricted Free Agents (16): , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Restricted Free Agents (1): Franchise Tag Candidate: Of the Raiders' 16 unrestricted free agents, just three -– , and –- were full-time starters. Satele and Barnes are unlikely to be franchised, not with a price tag of in 2012. The cost of franchising Branch is . Considering their cap situation, the Raiders are unlikely to use the franchise tag this year, but if they were to use it, it would almost undoubtedly be on Branch. Potential Cap Casualties/Restructures: Where to begin? 33-year-old defensive tackle is due $4 million in base salary that is guaranteed for skill and injury, but not for cap. Linebacker played better in Oakland without the pressure of being the No. 4 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, but is unlikely to be back at the $5.7575 million base salary he's scheduled to make. Release or restructure candidates include veteran defensive tackle Tommie Kelly ($6 million) and right guard ($3 million) and the Raiders could restructure the contracts of quarterback ($12.5 million base salary, $5 million of which is guaranteed) and linebacker , whose $11 million base salary will become fully guaranteed on March 17.San Diego Chargers
Estimated Cap Space: Between $9 and $10 million Unrestricted Free Agents (16): , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Restricted Free Agents (2): , After a season on the Chargers' practice squad, Dombrowski, an undrafted free agent out of San Diego State, has been a key reserve offensive lineman over the last three seasons, starting 15 of 47 games. With four offensive linemen ticketed for unrestricted free agency, an "original round/right of first refusal" tender at $1.26 million is a possibility. Franchise Tag Candidate: The Chargers used the franchise tag in 2011 on wide receiver at a cost of $11.424 million. Jackson validated that with a strong season, . To use a second tag on Jackson would cost the Chargers $13.709 million, a 20 percent increase over his 2011 salary number. Potential Cap Casualties/Restructures: Left tackle 's $10.5 million base salary becomes fully guaranteed on March 13. Coming off a season-ending neck injury, McNeill will likely be released before that happens, clearing $6.6 million in cap space. Left guard is leaning towards playing in 2012 after a concussion, and subsequent seizure, ended his 2011 season and nearly sent him into retirement. Dielman is due $5.5 million in total compensation –- a $4.5 million base salary and has a $1 million roster bonus –- that the Chargers may seek to reduce. Defensive end missed most of 2011 with a broken leg and is due $4.975 million in total compensation that the Chargers may seek to restructure.Comments
14 comments, Last at 16 Feb 2012, 11:53am I knew McKenzie has his work cut out for him, but wow. $11M OVER the cap. Don't know how much of the mess was Al Davis and how much was Hue Jackson, but there's some major purging McKenzie will have to do. Since it worked so well for Thompson in GB, expect lots of cuts beyond the above and an attempt to trade down for more picks - even though he doesn't have many picks left this year (3, 5, and 6 I think). He should get at least two additional though for Asomugha and Zack Miller, but I don't know if you can trade those. I believe Big Al spent that 3rd in the sumplemental draft and, no, comp picks can't be traded. So...you can't trade down much from a 5th and a 6th. "sumplemental" I guess that I invented a new word there. Any suggestions on how the dictionary would define it? 'A U-bend made of tasteless dutch cheese' Yeah. I'm still amazed he chose that as the job to finally take and move his family out of a good situation in Green Bay. No picks, way over, uncertain coach and QB situation, etc... it's just a nightmare. Must be he wanted a real challenge. I think he gets a pass in Oakland for the no picks thing because that is not his doing. Plus, it is only one year of no picks (and no 2nd in 2012). As for the coach. He hired his own coach, so if that is an "uncertain" coach, then the fault lies squarely on him for picking Dennis Allen. QB is a different matter. I would like to see what Palmer does in a full year in Oakland, and if he gets more health from his top targets. I thought as the season moved on he started playing well, and he certainly wasn't the reason the Raiders gave away that playoff spot. Considering that Carson Palmer's cap hit is probably twice what Jason Campbell's would have been, even in Campbell's wildest dreams, at least half of that cap overage is Hue Jackson's fault. Then there is Aaron Curry. That said, this problem was made by Al Davis. (From Spotrac)Player Cap Figure
Richard Seymour 15,000,000
Carson Palmer 12,500,000
Kamerion Wimbley 11,000,000
Tommy Kelly 8,892,856
Darren McFadden 6,716,667
Michael Huff 5,828,750
Aaron Curry 5,700,000
Shane Lechler 5,650,000
Rolando McClain 5,570,000
John Henderson 4,750,000
Hiram Eugene 2,500,000
Darius Heyward-Bey 2,105,000
Sebastian Janikowski 1,700,000
Lamarr Houston 1,116,250 Above are the players with a greater than 1M cap hit. The only defensive player worth his money on the list above is Houston. On offense, if McFadden could stay healthy, he would be worth his salary. Palmer is an unknown, and Heyward-Bey may well be worth his cap hit next year. Janikowski is worth that money if for no other reason fans go into each season waiting for Jano to set the NFL field-goal distance record. This is not including Stanford Routt or his replacement. At least the offense scores points because it has a number of bargains such as Moore, Ford, Veldheer, and Wisniewski. When the does the mechanism kick in where teams individually have to spend a certain percentage of the cap? I'm not positive, but I believe it starts next year. How is it possible to be 50-60 million under a 120M cap, unless most of your 53 man roster is playing for the league minimum? With, 19 free agents, they only have 34 players under contract. I'm not sure whether these figures include additional room rolled from last season. If they were $30m under the cap last year, their cap this year is $150m, not $120m. "John Henderson is due $4 million in base salary that is guaranteed for skill and injury, but not for cap" I don't understand this. Surely any cut to get/stay under the cap is a decision based on a balance of cap considerations and skill? I had the same thought. Maybe they can only not pay him if they're actually over the cap at the time he's cut? November 8, 1:26pm ET