.

[Luvnit2]

(01-20-2021, 05:18 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: Here is the current projections for team cap space.  https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/2021/

One very important thing that I think is often overlooked is players under contract, or in this link  the "signed" column.  You can't only go by dollars available, as the amount of players you need to sign with those dollars is equally important.

As an example, if you just look at space you might assume we can only spend slightly more than a team like Tampa Bay, who is right behind us. (Cin at 35, Tampa at 29).  But if you look closer they only have 30 players under contract for 2021.  They need to fill 18 more spots than we currently do.

Another thing to consider, the top 51 players on your payroll is what counts towards your cap. (This may be going up to 53, but I can't remember).  So if you see teams with a huge amount of players signed (Colts at 61) it does not necessarily mean they're much better off.  It gets very confusing with dead money players still accounted for, waived players, practice squad, etc.  Just know that at 48 players signed we're not doing terribly bad in spots to fill (Pretty much average)

You said the key thing, the top 51 count towards the cap figure. The cash spend which I think is over 4 years average has to be a certain percent considers all players salaries including practice squad, cuts (dead money) and any player salary paid over that 4 year period.

Again, I agree I am no expert and this is all very confusing. But I do know the top 51 count towards the cap each year.