[keg in kc]

Okay, this is really tough to do before training camp, so I'm basically just going to randomly pick 53 names to reflect how the roster might look in September.

There's not much reason to argue over the backups and special teamers I chose, because they pretty much reflect the cost of any player to fill those roles - the $$$ are more important than the names, and a young inexperienced WR will cost the same as a LB, TE, DT, etc...

(note: this does not include bonus numbers for every player, only the bonuses that I have numbers for)

Offense:

3QB: Trent Green (2.4 mil), Bubby Brister (529K), Todd Collins (800K),
3RB: Priest Holmes (448K), Frank Moreau (298K), Derrick Blaylock (246K)
2FB: Tony Richardson (1.1 mil), George Layne (unsigned,most likely @ 310K)
6WR: Derrick Alexander (500K), Marvin Minnis (370K), Tony Horne (625K), Derrick Mayes (477K), J.J. Moses (209K), Dave Klemic (209K)
3TE: Tony Gonzalez (620K), Mikhael Ricks (500K), Billy Baber (248K)
3OT: John Tait (389K), Victor Riley (527K), Darnell Alford (298K)
3OG: Will Shields (1.7 mil), Marcus Spears (800K), Donald Willis (418K)
2C: Casey Wiegmann (833K), Brian Waters (298K)
PK: Todd Peterson (600K)

Total (26 players): 15.752 million

Defense

5DE: Eric Hicks (425K), Dwayne Clemons (1 mil), Rich Owens (925K), Derrick Ransom (512K), Monty Beisel (unsigned, most likely @310K)
5DT: Dan Williams (500K), John Browning (500K), Steve Martin (500K), Eric Downing (373K), Terdell Sands (undisclosed, probably @210K)
6LB: Donnie Edwards (500K), Marvcus Patton (500K), Lew Bush (500K), Mike Maslowski (389K), Glen Cadrez (500K), Gary Stills (389K)
6CB: Ray Crockett (917K), Eric Warfield (512K), William Bartee (298K), Pat Dennis (298K), Taje Allen (458K)
4S: Jerome Woods (500K), Greg Welsey (298K), Jason Belser (500K), Bracy Walker (560K)
P: Dan Stryzinski (700K)

Total (27 players): 13.074 million
Total (53 players): 28.862 million (55% offense, 45% defense)

Add the dead cap money: 19 million

We get a grand Total of 47.862

That leaves us about 20 million short of the actual salary cap (67.4 mil), and that's probably made up of bonus numbers that just aren't at my disposal, including:

10 players on offense: Frank Moreau, Derrick Alexander, Tony Gonzalez, John Tait, Victor Riley, Darnell Alford, Marcus Spears, Donald Willis, Brian Waters and Todd Peterson.

15 players on defense: Eric Hicks, Derrick Ransom, Dan Williams, John Browning, Steve Martin, Donnie Edwards, Marvcus Patton, Lew Bush, Gary Stills, Eric Warfield, William Bartee, Pat Dennis, Jerome Woods, Greg Wesley and Bracy Walker.

My guess would be that Derrick Alexander, Tony Gonzalez (1st round pick), John Tait (1st round pick) and Victor Riley (1st round pick) all have large bonus numbers, as well as and Dan Williams, Donnie Edwards and Jerome Woods.

So, based upon all that, I'd make a rough educated guess that our salary numbers break down something like this:

Dead Money: 19 million (28%)
Offensive position players: 27 million (40%)
Defensive position players: 21.5 million (32%)

I'll do this again at the end of training camp when the official roster/depth chart is available, so we'll get what should be a more accurate picture.