NFL free agency 2021: 5 teams in biggest cap crunches
The 2021 offseason is here, and with NFL free agency beginning in exactly one month, these teams have major work ahead of them.
5. Chicago Bears (-$6.1 million)
We could have gone a lot of different ways here, as the Bears are only one of 12 teams projected to be over the $180 million cap in 2021. However, Chicago is interesting because it is rumored to be interested in trading for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (more on him and them below), and also would like to retain star receiver Allen Robinson. It’s not going to be easy, as the only obvious move for general manager Ryan Pace is cutting bait with tight end Jimmy Graham, saving $7 million.
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4. Los Angeles Rams (-$26.6 million)
The above number doesn’t factor in the trade for Matthew Stafford and jettisoning of Jared Goff, which doesn’t become official until the new league year on March 17. However, taking those numbers into account, the Rams save $12 million on Goff but take on Stafford and his $20 million hit. In essence, general manager Les Snead has to find a way to create $35 million to simply be cap compliant. Not easy.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (-$30.6 million)
Pittsburgh is not only $30.6 million over the projected threshold, but the Steelers have a litany of important free agents including left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, defensive tackle Tyson Alualu, edge rusher Bud Dupree, cornerbacks Mike Hilton and Cam Sutton and more. The easiest answer for Pittsburgh’s front office is to slash Ben Roethlisberger’s cap hit basically in half, saving roughly $20 million by moving money around. Still, the losses will be heavy.
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2. Philadelphia Eagles (-$49 million)
The Eagles are trying to trade Wentz as aforementioned, but his dead cap number will still come in at $33.8 million, which means Philadelphia saves only $1 million in 2021. The rest of the money is going to come from the release or trade of tight end Zach Ertz ($4.7M), edge rusher Derek Barnett ($10M), receiver Marquise Goodwin ($4.3M) and a host of other restructures and extensions. Philadelphia is going to be dealing with the pain of cap problems for awhile.
1. New Orleans Saints (-$69 million)
This one is bonkers, like all-time bonkers. The Saints will almost certainly extend right tackle Ryan Ramczyk and corner Marshon Lattimore to lower their camp hits, while releasing linebacker Kwon Alexander ($13M), cornerback Janoris Jenkins ($7M) and a bevy of other talents. General manager Mickey Loomis has no choice but to make big releasesin NFL free agency, a few large restructures hurting future years and more.
