Packers Reportedly Are Only $5 Million Under the Salary Cap Limit
The Packers Reportedly Are Only $5 Million Under the Salary Cap Limit.
The Packers reportedly have less cap space than previously estimated.
I'm starting to hear the #Packers aren't in good salary cap shape as reported. Because of cap charges that weren't previously calculated, multiple sources say they are very tight after their most recent spending spree. One source estimated it was close to $5M under. We'll see.
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) March 18, 2019
Currently, Overthecap and Sportrac list the Packers with $13.58 million and $13.83 million, respectively. The discrepancy is in the area of $8.5 million, if accurate. The NFLPA is still listing the Packers as having the ability to roll over $7.88 million. When I checked the Union's site on March 18, the Union listed the Packers as having $31M in cap space, but that updated this morning to $15.88 million.
I assume that the roughly $5 million in cap space number does not include the cap space necessary to sign the incoming draft class, which Mr. Silverstein estimated at $4 million in a later tweet. I estimate that the actual cost to sign the draft class if there are no trades at somewhat more, perhaps $4.6 million. If so, then the Packers would have less than $1 million dollars in cap space available to spend on free agents.
That would certainly explain why Bashaud Breeland signed with the Chiefs. [With the Chiefs releasing Eric Berry and losing starting cornerback Stephen Nelson in free agency, Breeland may simply have felt that he would have a better opportunity to showcase his abilities in Kansas City.] It would also explain why the contracts of the four major free agents the Packers signed have such low cap hits for the 2019 season.
I have seen suggestions on social media that the lower cap space issue came as a surprise to the Packers. I would be surprised if that were true. It could be a coincidence that after signing the four major free agents and re-signing Marcedes Lewis and Geronimo Allison that the Packers just happened to have barely enough cap space to sign its draft class, but I doubt it. While I do not like the structure the team uses to sign players, I see no evidence that Russ Ball has any difficulty crunching numbers.
The Packers are still bringing in free agents for try-outs, though no one has been signed. That could mean that the $5 million figure for cap space already has deducted enough money to sign the draft class and the Packers have $5 million left to spend on free agents. If so, the discrepancy would be in the area of $4 to $5M, which could be explained by a few players reaching some incentives, or perhaps the Packers have finally lost their appeal regarding the signing bonus for Martellus Bennett.
Of course, the Packers could generate more cap space to sign another free agent if they wanted to enough, though the sources are limited. The roster bonus to Tramon Williams was due on March 15 and Jimmy Graham's was due today, so it would seem unlikely that the Packers would release either player to generate cap savings.
The NFLPA, Sportrac, and Overthecap all indicate that the Packers have the ability to roll over $7.88 million or so from the 2018 season into 2019. I have yet to see an official announcement by any team as to rollover amounts, but I think that is the key number.
We will have to wait for more information to gain a better understanding of Green Bay's current salary cap situation. Stay tuned.
EDIT: Mr. Silverstein has clarified his previous tweet. He reports that the Packers have $13 million in salary cap space. Overthecap and Sportrac estimated that the Packers were $13.5 million and $13.8 million under the cap. This is not an alarming difference.
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Comments (43)
JakeDickerson
March 19, 2019 at 07:22 am
Cut Tramon and pick up Boston.
Thegreatreynoldo
March 19, 2019 at 07:39 am
His $1M roster bonus was due 3-15-19. They could still release Tramon, but the cap savings would be $3.75M instead of $4.75M.
jannesbjornson
March 19, 2019 at 02:15 pm
TGR, Thanks for the update. I trust over the cap to know their business.
Post-draft cuts can always adjust the Cap up for added manuvering if a veteran is released and Gutekunst has him targeted. The Ghost of Ted has permeated the consciuosness of many a Fan and sounds of aftershocks are to be expected after last weeks tsunami in the free agent pool.
stockholder
March 19, 2019 at 08:12 am
I wouldn't dump Tramon. The packers made a mistake years ago letting him go. He's proved he's a good player. Sure Boston may look good on paper. But Williams is learning. With so many needs. I don't think you'll get much better. Unless you want to go over the cap. So I'd like to keep him.
Coldworld
March 19, 2019 at 08:41 am
I’d say Tramon is cover for pretty much anything secondary. Unless you want to go UDFA that’s not as expensive as folks think.
JakeDickerson
March 19, 2019 at 06:19 pm
What’s he learning at 36? He’s not Charles Woodson. Bring in a younger playmaker. Boston has shown that he can create turnovers, something Amos and recently Tramon have lacked, and frankly something this Defense needs sorely. I love Tramon but there’s not much left besides nostalgia. Boston signed for a ridiculously low amount last year and the longer the FA period lasts the lower his price will go.
Dzehren
March 20, 2019 at 09:42 am
Josh Jones, Tramon, Raven Greene, possibly Oren Burks who played safety at Vanderbilt will battle it out. Depending on what draft capital GB uses on safety, he could possibly rotate in.
Dzehren
March 19, 2019 at 10:19 am
Player / Cap Hit / Dead Money
Bryan Bulaga $8.26M NA (contract expires this year)
Lane Taylor $5.4M $2.5M (contract expires 2020)
Jason Spriggs $2.48M 459k (contract expires this year)
Kapri Bibbs $805K NA (contract expires this year)
Tramon $6.37M $2.62M ($1M bonus paid 3-15-19)
Mason Crosby $4.85M $1.25M (contract expires this year)
Mike Daniels $10.7 $ 2.4 (contract expires this year)
The recently under performing Lane Taylor or the oft injured Bulaga could be cap casualty’s. Spriggs & Bibbs options.
Tramon paid $1 roster bonus last week so he stays.
Maybe re-working Crosby or Daniels contract’s is another option. Source Spotrac
dblbogey
March 19, 2019 at 04:09 pm
They are very weak at guard. Lane Taylor had 2 good years, then played this year on a bad ankle. No way do you cut him. Bulaga is a top 8 right tackle. We have nothing in depth. He's had injury issues, but has also played a lot of very good football, and played well last year. I can't imagine cutting him either.
TKWorldWide
March 19, 2019 at 05:56 pm
Turner can play guard. I also want to see what Nico Siragusa can do there.
Coldworld
March 20, 2019 at 06:39 am
Agree, siragusa is someone that might prove to be a significant pick up. Potential at this point of course but one piece we should not overlook.
stockholder
March 19, 2019 at 07:39 am
I only have to look at Arron Rodgers contract. Somebody did a Boo Boo.
TKWorldWide
March 19, 2019 at 05:59 pm
In the bigger picture, (not just GB) how does any team with a $30 mil QB put it all together?
alinger84
March 19, 2019 at 08:01 am
"One source estimated it was close to $5M under."
Maybe that means that they are $5M under the reported cap of ~ $13.5M which means they have ~ $8.5M left
Thegreatreynoldo
March 19, 2019 at 08:46 am
Your interpretation is certainly possible. i just checked and Mr. Silverstein hasn't elaborated or clarified yet.
Your interpretation would be against the standard phraseology. If they are $5M under the estimated amount, which estimate are they referring to? It then could be $5M under the $15.87M estimated by the NFLPA, and now GB would have $10.5M left.
Thegreatreynoldo
March 19, 2019 at 10:04 am
It now appears that your interpretation is more correct. Mr. Silverstein issued a new tweet noting GB is $13M under the salary cap limit. He then notes that $13M - $5M for draft picks means GB has $8M to spend/save.
Wow, so now it is a complete non-story. I have no idea what $5M under meant at all. Now he's reporting that GB has $500K to $850K less than OTC/Sportrac reported, not $5M.
"So, in double-checking cap numbers with people who know, the #Packers were $13M under as of yesterday. Remove about $5M for their draft picks and they're $8M under, not $5M as some have been led to believe. But do they have $$ reserved for someone else? Maybe Matthews? A safety?"
7:02 AM - 19 Mar 2019
jannesbjornson
March 19, 2019 at 02:21 pm
I believe we had the 13.2-13.5 M figure last week after the signings. The question of Tramon vs Breeland was answered on 3-15-19. Now it on to the mocks.
Dzehren
March 19, 2019 at 10:23 am
From Tom Silverstein
So, in double-checking cap numbers with people who know, the #Packers were $13M under as of yesterday. Remove about $5M for their draft picks and they're $8M under, not $5M as some have been led to believe.
Mojo
March 19, 2019 at 02:54 pm
It appears to me Silverstein misunderstood what his source was telling him and he wanted to get the news out (of how cap tight and screwed the Pack were) before checking the real numbers.
The vibe I get from JS staff is a general dissatisfaction with Murphy, his process of running things and anyone directly under him. Therefore, anything negative - run with it.
4zone
March 19, 2019 at 08:19 am
Man, story fodder is getting thin. And over a month left before the draft . . .
Coldworld
March 19, 2019 at 08:42 am
If true. Big problem, bigger issues not fake news at all
Thegreatreynoldo
March 19, 2019 at 08:56 am
Not everyone who reads CHTV gets notifications on their phone or computer, and some live outside the country and CHTV is how they get most or all of their Packer news.
Others want a place to discuss the possible reasons GB didn't re-sign Breeland and Wilkerson. I don't think the cap is a reason to hold up officially signing Allison, but then I don't know how much he actually got.
At any rate, Mr. Silverstein's tweet seemed worthy of a short article to inform those who may have missed the information.
PatrickGB
March 19, 2019 at 09:12 am
I remain confused. The cap numbers seem tricky based on reports but the official site has been of no help on this as well. Right now it seems the GBPs are done in FA.
TKWorldWide
March 19, 2019 at 06:02 pm
I say, keep doing what you do, TGR! You know what you’re doing AND you put things in a way an average slug like me can understand.
mrtundra
March 19, 2019 at 09:29 am
I find it hard to believe that Russ Ball could have screwed up the cap like this. The story has got to be wrong.
Thegreatreynoldo
March 20, 2019 at 01:18 am
Since '61 gives out the cookies, but I think you deserve one. Thumbs up from me!
4thand1
March 19, 2019 at 09:40 am
Looks like Gute is spending every penny, something Ted didn't do. Why go into a season with money left to spend? FA's cost money, apparently the Pack is willing to spend it now.
jeremyjjbrown
March 19, 2019 at 11:22 am
One reason to go into the season with some scratch is you can then extend guys a bit earlier for a bit cheaper. Especially after they see some teammate go out with a season ending injury.
Another is trades, if you want to trade for a player you have to take thier salary.
Dzehren
March 19, 2019 at 11:48 am
Agreed. As well as finding post draft & training camp cuts bring value as most can be signed for near league minimum deals.
jannesbjornson
March 19, 2019 at 02:33 pm
Clark will not take an in-season discount. He's the only must sign guy on
their list, but he's on a five year contract.
Skip greenBayless
March 19, 2019 at 11:38 am
Uncle Albert to his credit actually broke this bombshell story late last night. Only 5 million? Do we have anyone at 1265 with some fiscal constraint? Jeez!!
Dash
Samson
March 19, 2019 at 11:55 am
Wrong again, Dash 'ol boy. --- You really need to try more research.
Question: --- How can you tell Dash is wrong?
Answer: --- He makes a post.
Skip greenBayless
March 19, 2019 at 12:09 pm
What is wrong with the story Samson. I just read a headline by this James Reynolds that says Packers Reportedly Are Only $5 Million Under the Salary Cap Limit. Unless this James Reynolds is posting FAKE NEWS please tell me what he said that was wrong? I assume when people post a story like this that it's supposed to be true. What am I missing. I didn't read any of the article by the way, I just read the headline. Please tell us what is wrong with the story so we can get it straight. I have no desire to do "research".
Dash
4thand1
March 19, 2019 at 04:03 pm
"I have no desire to do research"? Then you should have no desire to criticize when you don't know facts dash.
dobber
March 19, 2019 at 04:32 pm
This is what's wrong with 95% of our society almost 100% of the time.
TKWorldWide
March 19, 2019 at 06:06 pm
I regret that by giving you 100% of my thumb’s up, your total only increases by one.
Working on it though.
Skip greenBayless
March 19, 2019 at 04:44 pm
So what exactly are the facts 4th and 1. You clearly did your research. Just tell me. I want to know what the truth is on this story. I am reading numbers all over the place on this.
Dash
Lare
March 19, 2019 at 07:34 pm
So this is the big bombshell story Rash promised everyone last night.
Fake news from a fake Dash. Seems appropriate.
Montana
March 19, 2019 at 11:38 am
Looks like this was a non story. Better to recheck the facts before running.....
.
sonomaca
March 19, 2019 at 11:46 am
The Pack don’t have many big deals to do next year. Fackrell, Martinez, and Clark, where they can use 5th year option if they don’t extend him.
They may let Fackrell and Martinez walk, and sign Clark to long-term deal.
Coldworld
March 19, 2019 at 12:03 pm
Isn’t Daniels up next year too?
Dzehren
March 20, 2019 at 03:56 pm
Yeah- Daniels and Bulaga will both be 30 years old and off the books. They need to be replaced in the draft. Hopefully in the 1st 3 rounds.
4thand1
March 20, 2019 at 09:04 am
Not worry, looks like Russ was on the ball after all.