Denver's Cap Space?

[KB_fan]

I know a lot of us have been focused on New Orleans' cap woes, since they're a division rival, and it's fun to bemoan their troubles.

I was looking up something just now at Spotrac and decided to check out each team's relative cap space.  We're in good shape (11th most cap) with about 18.5 mil (top 51 and not incl draft pool).   Denver is very low on the list, with only 2.8 mil.  But what shocked me was to then look at the number of players under contract.  Denver has only 54???  (We have 70 signed players). 

How the heck is Denver gonna get to 90 players with only 2.8 million in cap space and 36 players to sign?!

WOW. 

[KB_fan]

Looking at Over the Cap, for comparison,

Denver is listed as having only 1.6 mil in cap space, but as having 59 players signed.  Still the lowest in the NFL on both counts.

[thefuzz]

They went all in for one more run, and it worked out.  Had we played our game, probably would have backfired.

They have a couple options to create space, although the cuts would hurt.

 

Clady

Sanders

Colquitt

Ward

 

Not sure they want to cut any of them, but doing Clady, Sanders, and Colquitt would make about 17M or so I think, while deading only 3M or so.

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

in before it doesn't matter they won the super bowl

[G()AT]

it doesn't matter they won the super bowl

[rayzor]

Funny even going all in they still couldn't have done it without the refs help. It will be nice to go back in with a team who can still keep on winning and win the game with integrity. 

[KB_fan]

10 minutes ago, thefuzz said:

They went all in for one more run, and it worked out.

Yup.  Sadly true.

But I hadn't quite realized at what a cost that win came.  Looks like they've severely mortgaged their future.  They lost Osweiller.  Now it looks like they could struggle to pay Von.  Sure they have 72 mil in cap space showing for next year, but that's with only 23 signed players, and a disaster of a mess at QB.  (By contrast we have 70 mil in cap space with 30 signed players for 2017).

But I'm not laughing at the Broncos so much as taking this as a cautionary tale.  We've got our own challenges ahead with some emerging stars coming due for contracts soon.  KK and Josh, Kony, Turner, Norwell, Oher, ..

Thank God we've got a frugal genius as our GM.

I'd much rather be a contender for 10 years than blow everything on 1 or 2 great seasons and then be in the basement for years.

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

that said we'll take emmanuel sanders off your hands denver

[thefuzz]

1 minute ago, KB_fan said:

Yup.  Sadly true.

But I hadn't quite realized at what a cost that win came.  Looks like they've severely mortgaged their future.  They lost Osweiller.  Now it looks like they could struggle to pay Von.  Sure they have 72 mil in cap space showing for next year, but that's with only 23 signed players.  (By contrast we have 70 mil in cap space with 30 signed players for 2017).

But I'm not laughing at the Broncos so much as taking this as a cautionary tale.  We've got our own challenges ahead with some emerging stars coming due for contracts soon.  KK and Josh, Kony, Turner, Norwell, Oher, ..

Thank God we've got a frugal genius as our GM.

I'd much rather be a contender for 10 years than blow everything on 1 or 2 great seasons and then be in the basement for years.

Yup.  The Saints tried it, and now you see where they are.  And we will try it in the later years of Cam's career, you can almost guarantee it.  Next up will be the Steelers, Giants (they are trying it this year), the Chargers, the Cardinals (kinda trying it now), etc...

When you have a top flight QB, it's a pretty good idea in the waning years of their career...the only team that hasn't really gone "all in" with an older great QB...the Pats, and they just keep on winning either way.

As to the frugal GM thing and the consistent winning, those for sure go hand in hand.  It's why I get so frustrated on this board when the idiots want to go after WR Bigname Freeagent, and think he will put us over the top.  We have about 8 more years of great QB play from Cam, maybe 6 if injuries start to pile up....let's try to make the dance every year, and get lucky, not put all our eggs in this and next years basket.

[ctrcat]

^ The Pats have been far more aggressive than normal this offseason.  

We beat the Broncos 7 or 8 of 10 last year and if there's any justice we open in Denver and deliver the Biblical snack down.

I'd also compensate them for TJ Ward which would "help" their cap situation.

 

[Jangler]

15 minutes ago, thefuzz said:

When you have a top flight QB, it's a pretty good idea in the waning years of their career...the only team that hasn't really gone "all in" with an older great QB...the Pats, and they just keep on winning either way.

 

not put all our eggs in this and next years basket.

We are following the way NE builds a team. Keep a core and build through the draft, (NE doesn't do that tho..) and sigh capable but relatively cheap FAs. NE doesn't really do that either...

Nevermind.

 

Blah, year old eggs.

[thefuzz]

7 minutes ago, ctrcat said:

^ The Pats have been far more aggressive than normal this offseason.  

We beat the Broncos 7 or 8 of 10 last year and if there's any justice we open in Denver and deliver the Biblical snack down.

I'd also compensate them for TJ Ward which would "help" their cap situation.

 

As to the Pats...a little aggressive, but still dealt one of their best defenders so they wouldn't have to pay him big money...exact opposite of going "all in"...IMO.

[jdpanther5]

1 hour ago, KB_fan said:

 

How the heck is Denver gonna get to 90 players with only 2.8 million in cap space and 36 players to sign?!

WOW. 

Most players signed at this point will do so for minimum deals. Those won't count toward the top 51 so that helps. Per the NFLPA numbers the Jets and Chiefs have under $1M.

[uscgamecocks]

No cap space and no QB on the roster.  And Miller wants to be paid like a QB...good luck