Actual Cap Money Left Rankings

[Luvnit2]

(06-14-2021, 10:19 AM)BoomerFan Wrote: I understand there is something of a 4 year cycle with cap money averages and we're back on year 1 of said cycle, so if we spend less now we can spend more in the future. That said, I agree, we should either extend Bates or pick up another FA (though I suppose the best potential signings are all gone at this point). 

I think we will be surprised by the quality players getting cut at the deadline prior to the start of the year. NFL starters who were due a lot of money may get cut.

As far as 4 year cycle, that is separate from yearly cap. Yearly cap is a set number and team can't exceed it in any given year. Cash spend is an average over 4 years and they have to spend a certain % of the overall cap. I could be wrong, but Bengals roll over 100% of extra cap each year so they are spending beyond the minimum 4 year cap spend so they should be in great shape. You can spend any amount of money each year (bonuses may be paid now and then for cap purposes spread over of of contract). So team can give a 10 million dollar bonus as part of 5 year contract, pay all 10 million in now (cash spend), but then allocate only 2 million in 2021 and the other 8 million over the last 4 years of the contract to lessen the cap hit.