We were over the 2018 salary cap prior to the trade

[panther4life]

According to spotrac even after dumping Benjamins 8.5 million salary next year we still only have 7.4 in space for next year. This ranks us 24th overall in cap space and 29th prior to the trade. 

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/2018/

To me this was the biggest driving factor in dumping Benjamin now. It was literally our last chance before his contract became fully guaranteed on the first day of the league year when the trade window opens back up.  At this point his value likely would have been even less than what we got from  Buffalo. 

Due to our cap situation he would have been a prime candidate to be cut to get us under the cap. In this case we would not be awarded a comp pick since we cut him vs him leaving via free agency. This also sort of answers the why didn't we try and trade for another WR question as unless we found another on a rookie contract it wouldn't make much sense financially.

Am I crazy for thinking this was likely the number 1 driving factor for us trading him, more than the in spite of Hurneys comments being about needing more speed on the field?

Throw in the fact that Hurney is locked in as the GM through the F.A and the draft next year it all makes sense. If he was truly going to be gone at the end of the season he likely would have let the next guy figure it out in the offseason and leave things as is.

[Ricky Spanish]

Hold the front door.

You mean we were over the Cap after Hurney took over the team and signed his vets to extensions?

I'm shocked.

SHOCKED.

Having said that I'd rather have Star/Norwell on the roster than Benji. Would be happy if either one or both were extended after trading him away. 

[Mr. Scot]

The theory of this being a factor only works if the trade was planned and initiated by us. 

It wasn't. 

If the Bills hadn't called us, Benjamin would still be here. 

[panther4life]

Just now, Cracka McNasty said:

Hold the front door.

You mean we were over the Cap after Hurney took over the team and signed his vets to extensions?

I'm shocked.

SHOCKED.

Having said that I'd rather have Star/Norwell on the roster than Benji. Would be happy if either one or both were extended after trading him away. 

Hurney did not cause this. What extensions are you speaking of? Olsen got an incentived deal, which he obviously won't hit this year, Davis never got one and the Turner blueprint was done before Hurney got here. 

 

[Harbingers]

Just now, Cracka McNasty said:

Hold the front door.

You mean we were over the Cap after Hurney took over the team and signed his vets to extensions?

I'm shocked.

SHOCKED.

Having said that I'd rather have Star/Norwell on the roster than Benji. Would be happy if either one or both were extended after trading him away. 

So Gettleman spent 5 seasons getting us out of cap hell. Hurney spend less than half a season and we already started looking like the saints and Dallas. 

When will JR learn loyalty doesn’t mean tyranny. 

[*FreeFua*]

Cutting Ryan Kalil will save us another 8 I believe but you know, the whole loyalty thing may cost us here.

 

[panther4life]

2 minutes ago, Harbingers said:

So Gettleman spent 5 seasons getting us out of cap hell. Hurney spend less than half a season and we already started looking like the saints and Dallas. 

When will JR learn loyalty doesn’t mean tyranny. 

Hurney did nothing to affect our cap negatively since he's returned. Not 1 thing. Turner deal was all but finalized before he got here. 

 

[Ricky Spanish]

2 minutes ago, panther4life said:

Hurney did not cause this. What extensions are you speaking of? Olsen got an incentived deal, which he obviously won't hit this year, Davis never got one and the Turner blueprint was done before Hurney got here. 

 

I'm being half sarcastic. The Turner deal was fair and I know Getts is the one who did the leg work.

And TD did get an extension https://www.sbnation.com/2017/8/15/16065986/thomas-davis-panthers-extension-2017

Also I wouldn't be surprised if Olsen's incentive deal included escalators like "Breath air for 1+ Mil. this year" or "Wear a beanie in 95 degree heat for another 500k". We don't know what it was or what it entailed until the offseason. 

[Harbingers]

Just now, panther4life said:

Hurney did nothing to affect our cap negatively since he's returned. Not 1 thing. Turner deal was all but finalized before he got here. 

 

Than why are we already back in cap hell? 

[KDawg004]

I hope Hurney really did learn from being “too loyal” and Ryan Kalil and JStew are shown the door in the offseason. Joke of an organization.

[Ricky Spanish]

1 minute ago, panther4life said:

Hurney did nothing to affect our cap negatively since he's returned. Not 1 thing. Turner deal was all but finalized before he got here. 

 

Ehhh, he also Kept Graham Gano over Butker who is substantially cheaper and doing just as good.

That's a negative in the cap department in my book. 

[Growl]

I'm sure this is exactly what Beane told Hurney to seal the deal 

People who are out of their depth do tend to waiver from one extreme to the other in their approach.

[Mr. Scot]

Just now, panther4life said:

Hurney did nothing to affect our cap negatively since he's returned. Not 1 thing. Turner deal was all but finalized before he got here. 

 

I'm not sure if you were around for Hurney's previous tenure, but lemme give you a quick tip. 

Hurney doesn't plan for future salary cap numbers. He never has, and this is well known. 

Hurney makes moves year by year on the fly. It's one of the reasons we wound up in cap hell before. 

And no, there's no evidence that's changed. 

 

[Harbingers]

1 minute ago, Cracka McNasty said:

Ehhh, he also Kept Graham Gano over Butker who is substantially cheaper and doing just as good.

That's a negative in the cap department in my book. 

He also cut Andy Lee, leaving a poo ton of dead money that wouldn’t exist if he waited till after the season. With a much better punter.