Washington Redskins 2014 Cap Situation

February 14, 2013

Washington Commanders Washington Redskins Salary Cap

Steve Shoup

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2014 Current Contract Commitments

Quarterbacks: $6.437

Robert Griffin: $ 5.749

Running backs: $2.008

Roy Helu Jr.: $ 0.762

Evan Royster: $ 0.645

Tight End: $0.690

Niles Paul: $0.690

Wide Receiver: $10.522

Aldrick Robinson: Exclusive Rights FA (note he isn’t factored into any of the totals)

Offensive Line: $ 21.481

Trent Williams: $11.000

Chris Chester: $4.300

Will Montgomery: $3.612

Maurice Hurt: $0.645

Josh LeRibeus: $0.734

Adam Gettis: $0.620

Tom Compton: $0.570

TOTAL: $41.138 for 15 players (plus Aldrick Robinson)

Defense:

Defensive Line: $21.727

Stephen Bowen: $6.000

Barry Cofield: $6.800

Adam Carriker: $6.750

Jarvis Jenkins: $1.521

Chris Nield: $0.656

Linebackers: $3.449

Ryan Kerrigan: $2.774

Keenan Robinson: $0.675

Cornerbacks: $9.586

DeAngelo Hall: $9.000

Richard Crawford: $0.586

Safety: $1.277

Jordan Bernstein: $0.585

DeJon Gomes: $0.692

Defensive Total: $36.039 for 11 players

Special Teams: $0.570

Total: $77.747 for 27 players

With the salary cap figuring to be around $123 million in 2014 the Redskins project to have $45 million available to spend next year. While that seems like quite a bit the Redskins might not want to plan their shopping spree just yet. They have to fit 24 salaried players under the Rule of 51 (top 51 contracts), and many of which are starters or significant contributors. Among the players currently under contract the Redskins are lacking the following positions:

Fullback
Top two Tight ends
Number two wide receiver
Slot receiver
Left guard
Right tackle
Inside linebacker
Right Outside Linebacker (i.e. premier pass rusher)
Starting Cornerback
Nickel Cornerback
Free Safety
Strong Safety
Punter
Long Snapper

Now it is true that some of these starting or significant contributing positions will be filled by current back-ups or draft picks over the next two years (which could cost a upwards of $9 million to have both of those classes under contract), but many of those other positions will need significant resources spent on them to be filled. Re-signing guys like Brian Orakpo, Perry Riley and Josh Wilson alone could account for between $15-20 million.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the Redskins will need to shift money from 2013 to 2014, in my most recent salary cap breakdown, I had the Redskins pushing $5.19 million into the 2014 cap year. Also I highlighted how extending guys like Josh Morgan, Santana Moss, Josh Wilson, and Brian Orakpo could save money in 2013. If those four players were all to be extended it would push an additional $3 million into 2014 before you even account for any of their actual salaries. The other issue is that I used a moderate restructuring approach, spreading out the money in a way that wouldn’t make any of those players cost prohibitive or force too much guaranteed money for any one player. I was able to do that based on a premise that the Redskins would get much of their cap savings from the release of CB DeAngelo Hall and Adam Carriker. If the Redskins were to keep one or both (even re-signing Hall at a reduced rate will make it tough), they would need to push additional money from either restructures or new contracts into 2014. On the other hand if they were to cut Hall and Carriker before the 2013 they would be in a far better position for 2014.

Combined Hall and Carriker are set to count for $15.75 million against the cap in 2014, meaning if the Redskins cut them this offseason, they drop their cap commitments to $61.997 (for 25 players). That money is almost like getting an additional cap penalty back (though this one was self inflicted with bad contracts). That would essentially give them half the salary cap to fill half the roster, which is far better than trying to fill basically half the roster with just 37% of the cap space remaining, like the Redskins situation currently sits. Another advantage with releasing these players this year is, it could allow the Redskins to not push so much money forward, or they could spend under the salary cap and have a cap credit applied to next season.

Summary:

The Redskins are poised to have some comfort under the cap in 2014, but if they need to push too much money forward and don’t release some of their bigger contracts, it won’t be a good situation. If the Redskins show fiscal responsibility in 2013 and don’t over-commit to future years, as well as cut some players with big contracts they could set the table to have a windfall in 2014 that allows them to add the pieces they need for a serious Super Bowl run.