To the better armchair GMs/Capologists here:

[Gin and Juice]

I think when all of this happened, there was the assumption that Gross would return for a year. Maybe Gettleman thought he had it in the bag. But, either way, that created a large hole. Plus, I think a lot of it is "coach-speak". He's not going to come out and say "well, you know, we kinda are losing every key piece that we have, and may have to play Byron Bell at LT, but we got this!"

Ok, so he subtracts at RT to pay LT! We still need a viable RT and legit #1 WR.

For real tho, no way anyone can have faith in Bell at LT

[Gin and Juice]

I'm never one who gets overly concerned about the cap because it's seemingly always workable. Franchising Hardy buys us a year while only costing a couple million (if that) over what a long-term deal with Hardy probably would cost anyway.

This time next year? There will be more contracts that are workable as far as unloading. CJ's dead money alone takes a large drop off after next season if I'm not mistaken. Combine this, with the projected jump in salary cap, and we'll be fine. Sure, it would be nice to have more money to spend right now...but the doom and gloom is often overstated IMO with how easy it seems teams navigate cap trouble.

CJ's dead money? He is still on the team....there is no dead money charge! Jon Beason dead money is an issue tho!

Next year, the team deals with whatever situation surrounds Hardy, CJ makes even more, as does everyone else, and Cam comes up for contract.

Don't get me wrong, I know Gman will pull it off. Just baffles me as to how

[FattyFatFat]

We'll find a guy or two much like Mitchell and ginn that at first we 'll be like "oh he sucked there" or "who?" In free agency that we'll plug in and fill the rest with the draft. Maybe trade hardy now that he is tagged even though I don't know the repercussions or if it's possible. Lots of time left before opening kickoff.

[CarolinaNCSU]

CJ's dead money? He is still on the team....there is no dead money charge! Jon Beason dead money is an issue tho!

Next year, the team deals with whatever situation surrounds Hardy, CJ makes even more, as does everyone else, and Cam comes up for contract.

Don't get me wrong, I know Gman will pull it off. Just baffles me as to how

 

Dead money following next year...as in how much we would eat on the cap by cutting CJ if it came to that. In 2015, he makes 17 million and his dead money hit is 6 million. Prime potential cut candidate to save that 11 million, unless there's something in his contract to change those figures around. 

[LinvilleGorge]

I'm not sure why so many are acting like tagging Hardy guarantees he plays this season under the tag.  It simply protects us from him walking with us getting nothing.  With him tagged, we can continue to try to negotiate a long-term contract as well as entertain trade options.  Him playing under the tag this year is simply one of three options that we could potentially choose.

[Evengelion]

A great man once said, "we suck again!"

[2jakefansinva]

didn't the Seahags lose both starting OT's these past season ???

 

Our staff will figure something out..............keeping the faith.

[panthers55]

I misspoke on Kalil, forgetting he restructured! Was meaning does someone we least suspect get cut? Not sure what CJ does free up, but trading him and signing Tuck save us space? I think the cap increase just makes it easier to re-sign Cam, Luke, Star, and Short. All 4 will probably garner top dollars

Trading players under contract accelerates the dead money which in Johnson's case is 16 million which is what his cap is and why a trade or cut this year is not happening.  Next year his cap goes up to 17 million but his dead cap space is 6 million meaning he will either have to restructure, extend or he will be a prime candidate for being released unless he has a pro-bowl year this year.  CJ's contract going forward is a primary reason we are keeping Hardy. We can't let both go and no matter what the cost, Hardy will be cheaper than CJ at this point. 

[panthers55]

I'm not sure why so many are acting like tagging Hardy guarantees he plays this season under the tag.  It simply protects us from him walking with us getting nothing.  With him tagged, we can continue to try to negotiate a long-term contract as well as entertain trade options.  Him playing under the tag this year is simply one of three options that we could potentially choose.

He could get traded if someone wanted to give up significant compensation.  As you say if someone gave up 2 1s, Hardy is gone.  But I think we really want to keep him. Gettleman loves big strong guys like Hardy and they aren't exactly easy to replace.

[Gin and Juice]

My intent behind this thread wasn't meant to be chicken littleish! Wanted to create some discussion on Gmans options! We all know he will get it done!

1) we all know he has many FA to sign! Realistic targets?

2) ways to free up more cap space without creating havoc in the coming years? Viable restructuring options with dead money weighing in.

3) can we really go BPA in the draft?

[Gin and Juice]

Does extending CJ make more sense than restructuring?

[R0CKnR0LLA]

Just wing it....would be my approach.

 

so you've been studying at the Hurney school of GM I see

[PantherFeez]

Does extending CJ make more sense than restructuring?

 

My opinion on CJ is to not restructure if at all possible. If you can keep from doing that you can sit him down after this upcoming season and deal him a new contract/extension. You can do that because his cap hit is 17M and his dead$ is only 6M (these figures give DG leverage towards a new deal). If GH has a huge year without us signing him before July and CJ is out performed you could even move on from him and move forward with Kraken.

 

All sorts of things could happen, but if he restructures this year, we'll only gain $5M now and he'll have a 19M cap hit in 2015. You'd have to suck that up because he'd have a 19M cap hit with 11M in dead money (DG has no leverage here). So a new contract/extension is pushed back to 2016. And if you restructure him again in 2015 you're talking about another steep 2016 cap hit, but you could also see some voided years added in to push even more dead$ forward.

 

That's why I prefer not restructuring him this year (it might not be possible though, we need the $$$). The sooner we can get CJ into a new contract at the tune of maybe 9-11M/yr avg cap hit the better.