Is this team in position to cut CJ this off-season? ?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I always thought it was a foregone conclusion that he was going to reconstructure.

I don't see any other option.

[FuFuLamePoo]

They aren't proven enough to be starters or depended on carrying a defense that is based on having a pass rush..

ding ding ding

[KendrickPanther]

The way CJ structured his deal the media has speculated there is an extension that will keep him here until retirement in the works. Basically he would spread out his cap hit for the security of being on this roster until he's ready to retire. We have no official word on that but media feels like that is logical given the way Gettleman restructured him. I've always been a big CJ fan. He never had Peppers gifts but he always produced. Was he overpaid? Maybe, but I am glad he's been sacking Matt Ryan the last 4 years. Because he would probably be sacking Cam Newton if we didn't pay him.

 

Frank, Kony, Mario, and Wes benefit from CJs demeanor. He has credibility. Hardy had hype and production but he wasn't a leader.

[IamSoClutch]

We need CJ without hardy. I don't want to be one of those teams with no pass rush. CJ well help Ealy develop faster. We need him. Period.

I do wish to keep hardy if this trial hurts his market.

[AU-panther]

Couple of options for CJ

Keep him as is: 2015 cap hit $20m. 2016 cap hit $15m

Release him (June 1st): 2015 dead money cap hit $10m. 2016 cap hit $4m. Basically we would have an extra $10-11m in cap space to replace him with and/or spend elsewhere in each of the next two years.

Restructure: Since he only has two years left on his contract a simple restructure would only save about $5m in 2015. This would cause his 2016 cap hit to go up by about the same amount.

Extension: If you added a few years to his contract you might could get his cap hit down around $11-13m a year. You would probably have to increase his dead money by a considerable amount.

http://overthecap.com/calculator/carolina-panthers/ Has a calculator that you can use to run all of these numbers.

[KendrickPanther]

Frank Alexander is scheduled to be a UFA in 2016 but he lost this season to suspension. I think that will cause him to be a RFA which means we could keep him for peanuts until the end of the 2016 season. Of course he has to stay eligible and produce.

 

Gettleman signed Mario Addison to a frugal deal through 2016. Kony Ealy is signed through 2017. Wes Horton through 2015. So we have young rotation guys in place but I wouldn't say any of them are ready to be the Alpha dog of an Alpha line.

[ed bell]

With CJ suddenly and unexpectedly emerging as a vocal leader in the locker room as well as returning to expected form on the field, we can't afford to let him go.

[TN05]

Yeah, let's cut our best end and erase all the progress we've made. Brilliant idea!

[Snake]

We will be freeing up 13 mill in the DE department that's about it. Maybe Hardy stays around and maybe he does not but I really doubt CJ gets cut either way.

[Kuech the Sneak]

I'll be furious if they cut CJ

[PhillyB]

hurney needs to be drawn and quartered for giving a defensive end a contract that gives him the cap hit of a top five quarterback. 20m in 2015 is absolutely unforgivable if that's true.

[Ruff]

sign JPP and cut CJ.

That's what I feel like is going to happen. CJ has a massive cap hit... Like, an absurd amount. And Gettleman is very familiar with JPP, and potentially, what it could take to sign him. For me, the two add up easily.

[KendrickPanther]

That's what I feel like is going to happen. CJ has a massive cap hit... Like, an absurd amount. And Gettleman is very familiar with JPP, and potentially, what it could take to sign him. For me, the two add up easily.

 

Add up? What would the Cap math look like on that?

[PantherPhann89]

We would simply be transferring the pass rush from this year to next year. I would try to keep the tandem. But if forced to choose, I'd go with Hardy.