duncan_idaho |
02-14-2021 04:40 PM |
Restructures can be hampering IF the deal that's being restructured came with an initial big signing bonus. Because you have leftover prorated bonus as well as the new prorated bonus to account for.
But WHEN you plan for flexibility in restructuring - like the Chiefs clearly did with Jones and Mahomes, it just becomes a new feature of the contract.
Yes, restructuring Mahomes' 21 roster bonus moves cap dollars from 21 down the road, and yes, eventually you're going to have some really large cap hits with him.
But the whole point of that deal was to give the team flexibility year to year. In a year where they're in good shape against the cap, they can eat a bigger hit from him. In years where they need more, they can restructure his roster bonus and push it.
That's the beauty of the initial deal WITHOUT the signing bonus.
Same thing with Jones, except you're not pushing things as far down the line. He has practically no signing bonus, so if you restructure $20M of his base salary, you create $13M of cap room in 2021.
Between restructuring those $40M of roster bonuses into signing bonuses, the Chiefs are already under a projected $185M cap, with enough room to sign their rookie class. If the cap stays flat, they're in even better shape.
Extensions to Mathieu and Hill, even at rough market value, can create another $20M in room. An extension or injury settlement with Fisher would create room. If Schwartz retires, that creates room.
The Chiefs situation is not that of the Eagles and Saints, who were going to be in trouble against the cap BEFORE COVID, and who don't have a lot of flexibility.
The only thing I see that's an easy chunk for the Saints is cutting Kwon Alexander... but that only deals with like 1/4 of their cap issue (just to get under, let alone to sign rookies). They're going to have to do a lot of extensions on their big guys to try to move that money around.
Good luck.
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