2018 Cap Space

[BengalChris]

(06-04-2017, 01:53 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I know it's the offseason before the 2017 season and the Bengals still have ~$18 million in cap space left, but I think it's important to look at next year's cap space to get an idea of what will happen with the roster.

According to Spotrac, the estimated minimum cap for 2018 is expected to be $168 mill.
The Bengals have ~$150 mill already locked for 2018 and that's without any extension to Burfict, Eifert, Minter, Bodine, Hill, or Clarke.
That is very little to work with given about $10-12 mill will be reserved for the draft and injuries.

Spotrac has also calculated estimate contract averages for Eifert and Burfict based on similar contracts across the NFL:
Burfict - $10.1 million average
Eifert - $9.2 million average

With the amount of cap space available for 2018, it could be very difficult to extend both, even with some up-front money from the remaining 2017 cap.

However, it's worth noting the following big contracts for players entering their final year in 2018:
Brandon LaFell - $4 million, $0 dead cap (save $4 million if cut)
Adam Jones - $6.666 million, $666k dead cap (save $6 million if cut)
Darqueze Dennard - $8.5 million 5th year option (save that if cut before the option kicks in next offseason)
Michael Johnson - $6.125 million, $1.125 million dead cap (save $5 million if cut)

I think that we could see at least two of the four above dropped in order to free up some cap money for the upcoming 2018 FAs specifically Burfict.
I would predict LaFell and Jones as the highest chance based on the high draft picks from the previous two years.
I can also see MJ cut if Clarke and/or Willis really come on by the end of 2017.

Last, I think next year is a strong year for OL and we could see two OL selected within the first three rounds. Based on the performance of Ogbuehi/Fisher, that could be two interior OL or one OT and one G/C.

What do you think happens next year cap-wise?

That $18M can be rolled over to next year, which will easy this some. The team could front load a contract extension for Burfict or Eifert or both and use up some of the $18M from this year.

Michael Johnson and LaFell are the prime candidates to be cut if they end 2017 on the bench.