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Largest 2015 Cap Hits By Team: NFC East

June 24th, 2015 at 12:28pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier this month, I took a closer look at the top 2015 NFL cap hits by position, checking in on offensive players, defensive players, and special-teamers. Those lists revealed some interesting details about how teams around the NFL are delegating their spending for the 2015 season, with some clubs focusing heavily on certain sides of the ball or specific positions, while others spread out their cap room enough that they barely showed up on any of the top-10 positional lists.

Starting this week, we’ll shift our focus to those individual teams, examining each club’s top 10 cap commitments for the 2015 season. We’ll break it down by division, allowing us to make a few observations about each team’s largest cap numbers for the coming year.

First up? The NFC East. Let’s dive in….

Dallas Cowboys:

  1. Tony Romo, QB: $14,973,000
  2. Dez Bryant, WR: $12,823,000
  3. Brandon Carr, CB: $12,717,000
  4. Jason Witten, TE: $8,512,000
  5. Sean Lee, LB: $5,450,000
  6. Morris Claiborne, CB: $5,175,069
  7. Miles Austin, WR: $5,106,200 (dead money)
  8. Tyron Smith, LT: $5,039,000
  9. Orlando Scandrick, CB: $4,382,271
  10. Doug Free, RT: $3,980,000 (dead money)
    Total: $78,157,540

Of the four teams in the NFC East, only the Cowboys have multiple dead money charges within their top 10 cap hits for the coming year. Unlike Austin, Free is still on the roster, but his previous deal voided after the 2014 season, leaving some dead money on Dallas’ books while the club signed him to a new contract. If we take into account Free’s new contract, which has a $3MM cap number this year, he’s counting for nearly $7MM against the Cowboys’ cap.

Elsewhere on the list, the Cowboys devote significant cap room to the positions you’d expect — quarterback, wide receiver, left tackle, and cornerback. There are no Russell Wilson-esque bargains in the East, where three of the four teams have their quarterbacks at No. 1 on their list of 2015 cap commitments. As such, it makes sense that cornerbacks would be high on each club’s list as well. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, their two highest-paid CBs have either had trouble staying on the field or haven’t been as effective as anticipated, given their price tags.

Bryant’s and Carr’s cap charges could change before the regular season begins, if the former reaches a long-term agreement with the club or the latter agrees to rework his contract.

New York Giants:

  1. Eli Manning, QB: $19,750,000
  2. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE: $14,813,000
  3. Victor Cruz, WR: $8,125,000
  4. Will Beatty, LT: $8,050,000
  5. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB: $7,250,000
  6. Prince Amukamara, CB: $6,898,000
  7. Jon Beason, LB: $4,154,166
  8. Jameel McClain, LB: $3,400,000
  9. David Baas, C: $3,225,000 (dead money)
  10. Steve Weatherford, P: $3,075,000
    Total: $78,740,166

The total cost for the Giants’ top 10 cap hits is nearly $79MM, higher than any other team in the NFC East. That figure is largely impacted by Manning’s cap charge, which is approaching $20MM as he enters the final year of his contract. The club could ultimately reduce that figure if Manning signs an extension this year, but it’s not a necessity.

What’s interesting about the Giants’ list is how many question marks there are here — of course, the team won’t get anything out of Baas, whose cap hit is made up of dead money, but there may be concerns about other players here too. A torn pectoral figures to keep Beatty sidelined until November, and Beason, Amukamara, and Cruz are among the players who are coming off serious, season-ending injuries, though they’re expected to be ready to contribute this fall. The Giants’ success this year may hinge significantly on whether those high-priced players are fully recovered.

Also worth noting: New York is the only team in the NFC East with a special teams player in its top 10 cap hits for 2015, as Weatherford sneaks onto the list.

Philadelphia Eagles:

  1. Sam Bradford, QB: $12,985,000
  2. Jason Peters, LT: $9,050,000
  3. Byron Maxwell, CB: $8,700,000
  4. Connor Barwin, OLB: $7,000,000
  5. Brandon Graham, OLB: $6,000,000
  6. Malcolm Jenkins, S: $5,666,666
  7. Lane Johnson, RT: $5,225,974
  8. DeMarco Murray, RB: $5,000,000
  9. Brent Celek, TE: $4,800,000
  10. Riley Cooper, WR: $4,800,000
    Total: $69,227,640

One silver lining of the exodus of highly-paid veterans like DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy, Evan Mathis, and Jeremy Maclin? The total cost of the Eagles’ top 10 cap hits for 2015 is the lowest in their division, at just over $69MM, allowing the club to spread out moderate salaries to more players further down on the roster. While the Cowboys and Giants have multiple players with cap numbers exceeding $12MM, the Eagles’ second-largest hit barely surpasses $9MM.

The work the Eagles did this past offseason is reflected heavily on this list, as major free agent signings like Maxwell and Murray show up here. Even Graham, who has spent his career with the Eagles, can be considered a free agent addition since he talked to other teams before returning to Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, I was a little surprised to see Celek and Cooper, a pair of steady but unspectacular veteran pass catchers, crack the top 10 here. Younger, cheaper players like Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor may end up producing better numbers, but if Bradford is going to succeed in Philadelphia, he’ll likely need the veterans to chip in as well.

Washington:

  1. Trent Williams, LT: $14,230,393
  2. Pierre Garcon, WR: $9,700,000
  3. Desean Jackson, WR: $9,250,000
  4. Ryan Kerrigan, OLB: $7,038,000
  5. Robert Griffin III, QB: $6,719,713
  6. Jason Hatcher, DT: $5,203,125
  7. DeAngelo Hall, CB: $4,812,500
  8. Kory Lichtensteiger, C: $4,300,000
  9. Chris Culliver, CB: $4,250,000
  10. Stephen Paea, DT: $4,250,000
    Total: $69,753,731

Like Philadelphia, Washington has some new additions show up on its list, and the money spent on Culliver and Paea reflects the team’s dedication to investing in and improving its defense. Still, the club’s top three cap numbers belong to offensive players, including a pair of wide receivers.

The fact that Washington is the only franchise in the NFC East without an expensive quarterback allows for a little more spending flexibility elsewhere, but the team’s QB situation is also arguably the shakiest in the division. One might wonder if it’s worth dedicating so much cap room to playmaking receivers like Garcon and Jackson, when it’s not clear which of Washington’s quarterbacks is capable of consistently getting them the ball.

As for the No. 1 player on this list, Williams is in the final year of his contract, so we could see his number reduced if he signs an extension. Either way, he’ll likely be much further down on next year’s top 10 list, if he’s on it at all.

Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post.

Antoine Cason Out For 2015 Season

June 24th, 2015 at 8:50am CST by Luke Adams

Veteran cornerback Antoine Cason is one of the more notable defensive backs left on the free agent market, but he won’t be joining an NFL team for the 2015 season. In an Instagram post, Cason revealed last night that he underwent surgery on Tuesday morning, and will be out for the year. The exact nature of the procedure is unknown, but Cason’s photo appears to show his right foot in heavy bandages.

“Had surgery this morning to fix an ongoing problem,” Cason wrote on Instagram. “Due to the surgery I will miss the 2015 season. … Tough decision but it was one that needed to be made and I am home and well!”

Cason, 28, started 11 of the Panthers’ first 12 games in 2014, but had plenty of ups and downs throughout the year. The former first-round pick was benched in Week 13 after allowing a touchdown to Vikings wideout Greg Jennings, and had an overall grade of -10.2 in Carolina, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required). Although he grabbed a pair of interceptions, Cason also allowed six touchdowns, a 122.2 passer rating, and an 80.3% completion rate on passes thrown into his coverage, per PFF.

The Panthers opted to part ways with Cason in early December, and a week later he was scooped up by the Ravens, whose secondary had been ravaged by injuries. Cason, who will turn 29 in July, only briefly saw the field for Baltimore, during the team’s Wild Card game in Pittsburgh.

Despite a down year, the Arizona product has 110 career NFL games, including 60 starts, on his NFL résumé, so he could draw some interest around the league in 2016, assuming he gets fully healthy.

Extra Points: Woodson, Wilson, Joseph

June 23rd, 2015 at 9:45pm CST by Zachary Links

Raiders veteran Charles Woodson is down to make whatever changes new head coach Jack Del Rio and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. want to, Tyler Moorehead of Raiders.com writes. “We need it,” Woodson said. “My take is that, the last couple of years that I’ve been here, it’s been three wins and four wins. Whatever different that comes in and feels good, you welcome it. We feel good about not only him, but all of the guys that they’ve brought in. They all have that fire. It’s been fun.” Here’s more from around the NFL..

  • Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times looked at the Seahawks‘ offense by position and the most pressing storyline for each group. When it comes to quarterback, the biggest question is whether Russell Wilson will play 2015 without a contract. Much was made of a radio interview Wilson gave recently in which he said he’s “been moved around before,’’ but Condotta largely chalks that up to a negotiating ploy more than anything. Meanwhile, the Seahawks also have to find their new starter at center following the trade of longtime starter Max Unger.
  • Johnathan Joseph can earn up to $15.5MM in the first two seasons of his extension, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Of that money, $11.5MM is fully guaranteed for the Texans cornerback.
  • Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is the last first-round draft pick left unsigned, but he told SiriusXM NFL Radio (on Twitter) that he’s “not worried about it at all” earlier today. “Obviously, it’s a business deal,” the No. 2 overall pick said. “It’s going to take some time. That’s why you hire your agent.” Recently, Titans GM Ruston Webster acknowledged that it’s possible that Mariota could miss a few days of training camp if the two sides can’t come to a deal.

Latest On Tom Brady’s Appeal

June 23rd, 2015 at 7:39pm CST by Luke Adams

As I detailed this morning, Tom Brady‘s appeal hearing finally got underway today, with Roger Goodell acting as arbitrator while Brady and the NFLPA make the case for the quarterback’s suspension to be reduced or removed. A handful of updates have trickled out in the hours since then, so let’s check in on the latest….

  • After ten hours, Brady hearing has drawn to a close, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. No further hearings are scheduled.
  • Brady’s appeal is ongoing and Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (on Twitter) guesses that both sides want to wrap things up today rather than have it drag into Thursday.
  • The NFLPA called upon Troy Vincent, Ted Wells, and a scientific expert as witnesses, Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports tweets.
  • Schefter clarifies his earlier report (outlined below), noting that a June 15 letter from Levy referenced a four-hour time limit for Brady’s defense team. However, in a June 22 letter, Levy added that if “good cause” was shown, he’d grant up to one additional hour for the defense. In a tweet, Schefter provides a copy of that June 15 letter.
  • According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (via Twitter), the NFL will get about two hours to give its own testimony, with today’s proceedings expected to end around 5:30pm eastern time.

Earlier updates:

  • Brady is testifying under oath during today’s session, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). That’s the sort of thing you generally hear in actual court cases, but as former Packers executive Andrew Brandt notes (via Twitter), Goodell – as the arbitrator – sets the rules for the hearing, and Ray Rice‘s appeal also featured sworn testimony.
  • Patriots owner Robert Kraft was unable to testify on behalf of Brady over the phone, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Instead, per Schefter (Twitter link), Kraft wrote an affidavit to be introduced during the appeal, supporting Brady’s character.
  • According to Schefter (via Twitter), Brady’s defense team was given four hours today to present its case, and the hearing is expected to wrap up today rather than continuing on Thursday. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello countered Schefter’s report, tweeting that there’s no strict four-hour time limit for Brady’s team, and their presentation is expected to go longer than that.
  • Alongside Goodell, CBA expert and outside counsel Gregg Levy is heavily involved in overseeing Brady’s hearing, tweets Rapoport.

East Notes: Marshall, Bills, Washington

June 23rd, 2015 at 7:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the latest from the AFC and NFC East as we await word on Tom Brady‘s appeal..

  • Every season, we see players ascend to the tier of superstar and some players fall back from that tier. It’s always hard to say who will end up where, but Dan Hanzus of NFL.com took his best guess at how things will play out in 2015. This year, he believes that wide receiver Brandon Marshall will take a sizable step back in productivity. While he’s overcome a number of obstacles throughout his career, Hanzus doesn’t believe that he can withstand playing for his new team, the Jets. The NFL.com scribe notes that the Jets haven’t had a wide receiver go to the Pro Bowl since Keyshawn Johnson many years ago.
  • Mike Rodak of ESPN.com looked at defensive end Michael Buchanan, who is on the Bills‘ roster bubble. In three games last season with the Pats, Buchanan recorded two tackles before being placed on IR in October. Today, Rodak handicaps his chances of making the roster at 50%. It helps Buchanan’s case that coach Rex Ryan has experience watching Buchanan in the AFC East over the last two seasons. Conversely, he is probably only being looked at as a situational pass rusher, which hurts his chances.
  • Lawyers for Native Americans who object to Washington‘s nickname believe that a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last week on the Confederate flag could strengthen their case, Matthew Barakat of The Associated Press writes. The high court ruled that Texas was not infringing on the free speech rights of a Confederate heritage group by rejecting a special interest license plate design that shows the Confederate flag. The team, meanwhile, has argued that losing its trademark protections infringes upon its free speech rights.

Community Tailgate: Jets QB Situation

June 23rd, 2015 at 5:23pm CST by Zachary Links

We’re still a few months away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. This week, we’ve launched a new series here at PFR that will be known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every weekday, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.

Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.

Today, we head to the swamps of Jersey (metaphorically, not literally – settle down) to discuss the Jets’ quarterback situation. As we all know, the Jets have been pining for stability under center for years now. In 2009, the Jets thought they had found their future franchise quarterback in USC product Mark Sanchez. Sanchez helped guide the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship game appearances in his first two NFL seasons, but a few down years and a butt fumble led to his exit from New York. So far, Geno Smith hasn’t had much luck as his successor and 2014’s fallback plan Michael Vick didn’t give the Jets the kind of insurance policy they were hoping for.

But, hope springs eternal, and the Jets are cautiously optimistic that they can get Smith to turn things around in his third year. However, the new regime isn’t simply giving the reins to Smith and hoping for the best. This year, their insurance policy is veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, a quarterback with 89 career starts to his credit. Right now, Smith is No. 1 on the depth chart, but the 32-year-old has made it clear that he’s ready to be Gang Green’s starter if called upon.

“A lot of my career has been not necessarily being the guy right away and having to step in and not having there be any sort of drop-off,” said Fitzpatrick, according to Newsday’s Kimberley A. Martin. “That’s something that I pride myself on, whether I’m the Day One starter or whether I’m the third-string guy. When I go in there I’m going to be ready and be able to execute.”

Ultimately, do you think Fitzpatrick will win over Jets coaches in training camp and secure the starting job? If not, could you see him leapfrogging Smith early in the season? Or, do you think Smith will remain as the Jets’ No. 1 QB from wire to wire? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!

Players On One-Year RFA Contracts

June 23rd, 2015 at 3:54pm CST by Luke Adams

Dozens of players with exactly three years of NFL experience were eligible for restricted free agency this offseason, but not all of those players received RFA tenders from their respective clubs. Any player eligible for restricted free agency who was non-tendered became an unrestricted free agent instead, free to sign with any team.

Of those players who did receive RFA tenders, some ultimately signed longer-term contracts with their clubs, and a couple – George Johnson and Sean Richardson – even inked offer sheets with rival suitors. Johnson’s offer sheet with the Buccaneers went unmatched by the Lions, who worked out an agreement to let the defensive end go to Tampa Bay, while the Packers matched Richardson’s offer sheet from the Raiders, bringing the safety back to Green Bay.

2015’s remaining restricted free agents ultimately signed their one-year tenders from their teams, though some players did so faster than others. Browns safety Tashaun Gipson became the last RFA to formally put pen to paper on his tender earlier this month, just days before the team gained the ability to reduce the amount of his one-year offer.

In total, by our count, 30 restricted free agents signed one-year tenders and will play out the 2015 season on those contracts, unless they reach longer-term deals at some point before the end of the year. These 30 players will subsequently be eligible for unrestricted free agency in March of 2016, assuming they’re not franchised or extended before then.

Here’s the complete list of RFAs who are currently set to play the season on one-year contracts and potentially become UFAs in 2016:

First-round tenders:

Any player who received a first-round tender, worth $3.354MM, would have cost a rival suitor a first-round pick had that team signed him away from his current club. However, no players were assigned this level of tender. Gipson may have been the best candidate — his brief holdout was reportedly due at least in part to his displeasure at receiving a second-round tender instead of a first-round offer.

Second-round tenders:

These offers function in the same way that first-round tenders do, as any team wanting to poach one of these players from his current club would have had to part with a second-round pick to do so. That steep price explains why we didn’t see anyone from this group attracting much outside interest in free agency. Players receiving second-round tenders will earn salaries of $2.356MM for 2015.

Original-round/ROFR tenders:

Most players eligible for restricted free agency were at one point undrafted free agents, since players selected in the draft sign four-year contracts, whereas RFAs only have three years of NFL service time. So while the lowest level of RFA tender, worth $1.542MM for 2015, is often referred to as an “original-round” tender, it usually just gives a team the right of first refusal on an offer sheet.

If a player was at one point a fifth-round pick, for instance, a suitor signing the player to an offer sheet would have to part with a fifth-rounder to land him. For undrafted players though, no draft pick compensation is required. Johnson and Richardson both received ROFR tenders, opening the door for the Bucs and Raiders to put together offer sheets.

Stadium Updates: Tuesday

June 23rd, 2015 at 2:59pm CST by Luke Adams

PFR’s Zach Links passed along the latest updates last night on stadium talks for the Raiders and Chargers, two candidates to relocate to Los Angeles in 2016. While things have been quiet – at least by comparison – on the St. Louis front recently, Oakland and San Diego remain in the news today. Let’s check in on today’s stadium-related items:

  • Today’s meeting between NFL officials and San Diego’s top stadium negotiator – detailed below – went well, with the two sides planning on scheduling a follow-up meeting for late July, Garrick writes for the Union-Tribune. Per Garrick, the conversation today was a more general discussion about the city’s stadium proposal, rather than focusing on getting the Chargers back to the negotiating table.

Earlier updates:

  • Real estate developer Floyd Kephart met Monday’s deadline to send details of his plan for a new Raiders stadium to the city of Oakland and Alameda County, and now officials will have 20 business days to accept, reject, or ask Kephart for clarifications on his proposal. As Bill Williamson of ESPN.com writes, Kephart feels good about the plan, and hopes to get feedback by next week. Land, infrastructure cost, and debt-transfer issues are the biggest potential roadblocks to overcome for the project, says Williamson.
  • Kephart on his stadium plan, via Williamson: “I think we delivered a good product. If we can get a little bit of movement from the city and county at this stage and a little bit of movement from the Raiders at the next stage, we can get a deal. It’s not nearly as complicated as what’s going on in San Diego.”
  • Speaking of San Diego, mayor Kevin Faulconer spoke to commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday about his city’s efforts to build a new Chargers stadium, according to David Garrick of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Faulconer spokesman Matt Awbrey indicated that the conversation lasted 45 minutes, adding that the city’s top negotiator, Chris Melvin, is scheduled to meet with NFL officials today to explain San Diego’s position on environmental approvals and a public vote.

NFC Notes: Martin, 49ers, Saints, Bears

June 23rd, 2015 at 2:17pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s round up a few Tuesday notes from around the NFC….

  • Having struggled since his massive rookie season, Buccaneers running back Doug Martin had his best offseason in three years, writes Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. The upswing in Martin’s play couldn’t come at a better time for the running back, who had his 2016 option declined in the spring, meaning he’s eligible for free agency at season’s end.
  • The 49ers expect to lose some players due to free agency this year, but several early retirements have left San Francisco’s roster more depleted than anticipated. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com takes a look at how those retirements will affect the franchise going forward.
  • The Saints‘ “walk on a salary cap tightrope” caught up to them this offseason, says Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap in a piece for The Sporting News. The team began confronting its cap issues by trading and releasing some high-priced players, and renegotiating multiple contract, but more moves will be necessary to get New Orleans’ cap into better shape, according to Fitzgerald.
  • With the Bears transitioning from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 look under a new coaching staff, the club made a handful of changes on the defensive line over the last few months. John Mullin of CSNChicago.com takes stock of the results, examining what the Bears’ reworked line will look like this season.

Extra Points: Bradshaw, QBs, Jennings

June 23rd, 2015 at 11:40am CST by Luke Adams

A day after word broke that free agent running back Ahmad Bradshaw will face a one-game suspension to open the 2015 season, agent Drew Rosenhaus tweets that his client is “back to full health and totally cleared” after fracturing his ankle last season. Bradshaw’s injury history and his suspension will diminish his market, but he has continued to be effective when he’s played, averaging 4.6 yards per rush on 352 carries from 2012 to 2014.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NFL:

  • It’s no surprise that Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers show up in Jason Fitzgerald’s piece at OverTheCap.com identifying the three most team-friendly veteran quarterback contracts in the NFL. However, Fitzgerald’s third choice, a certain Bengals signal-caller, is somewhat unexpected.
  • Getting a headstart on 2016’s draft, Mel Kiper of ESPN.com (Insider-only link) identifies his top 10 quarterback prospects for next year. Kiper names Michigan State’s Connor Cook as the top senior QB and California’s Jared Goff as the No. 1 underclassman.
  • Admitting that the comments he made after leaving the Packers for Minnesota were “very unprofessional,” veteran wideout Greg Jennings suggests to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com that that experience helped him better deal with being released by the Vikings this offseason.
  • Former National Sports Agency rep Kevin Omell is headed to Relativity Sports to work with his longtime friend Ben Dogra, according to a SportsBusiness Journal report.
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