Dead cap space

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(05-29-2022, 03:59 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I knew the Bengals did not have a lot of dead cap space this year, but when I looked at the league-wide numbers I was shocked by a few things.

First of all I was correct about the Bengals not being in bad shape with dead cap space.  We are 11th (lowest) with just $9.6 million.  Jets have the least with just $2 million.  Only 4 teams have less than $7 million.

What shocked me were the numbers on the other end of the scale.  Tha Falcons will have $63 million in dead cap space this year, and 2 other teams (Bears, Texans) have over $50 million.  I just don't see how any team can field a competitive roster when between a third and a quarter of their salary cap is useless.

I have always known that "dead cap space" was a bad thing, but I never imagined how bad it was for so many teams.

The cost of moving big cap players in trades.

Matt Ryan is $40.5m dead on the Falcons. 
Khalil Mack is $24m dead on the Bears.
Deshaun Watson is $16.2m dead on the Texans. (Plus I think they're still trying to fix all the shit Bill O'Brien messed up.)
Russell Wilson is $26m dead on the Seahawks.

That's your top 4 in dead cap space. None are expecting to win this year. Doesn't mean you can't, though... the Rams had the 4th most dead cap space in 2021 with $49.4m and they won the Super Bowl. 6 of the 12 with the most dead cap space in 2021 made the playoffs.