The Raiders have restructured the contract of linebacker Cory Littleton in order to create more than $8MM in cap space, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The move will give Las Vegas, who had been projected to be over the cap, some financial breathing room.
Per Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, the Raiders appeared to have converted $10.09MM of Littleton’s 2020 base salary into a signing bonus while adding two void years to the end of his contract. In sum, Las Vegas reduced Fitzgerald’s 2020 cap charge by $8.072MM but added $2.018MM in each remaining season of his contract.
Restructures nearly always benefit the player in question. Not only does Littleton get more money up front in the form of a new signing bonus, but he’s now more difficult to release in future years. Indeed, many contracts simply have a restructure clause built in, so the team doesn’t even have to ask the player before making the move. However, it’s rare to see a newly-signed player like Littleton get a restructure before he ever plays a down for his new club.
Littleon, 27, spent four years with the Rams before inking a three-year, $35.25MM pact with Las Vegas earlier this year. An exceptional coverage linebacker, Littleton joined Nick Kwiatkoski as new additions to the Raiders’ linebacking unit.
Reduced Fitzgerald’s cap hit? What did I miss?
I think he mispoke meant to say Littleton
Good. ‘Cause I thought the guy who wrote the article for “Over The Cap” got a ton of new money.
Restructuring a contract before even playing a game. Sounds about Gruden.
The original contract was probably structured to look great for the media and get the Littleton some headlines, which did happen. The re-structure was probably planned and a way to guarantee the money. Given that The Raiders signed Cory while in Oakland and he restructured money up front in Vegas. Huge tax savings for Littleton,