Updated Washington Redskins Cap Situation:

While there will be plenty of time to get into the nuts and bolts of the offseason, I thought now might be a good time for a quick review of the Redskins cap situation for 2013 (assuming the penalty remains in place). I previous wrote about the Redskins cap situation  and potential savings from cutting players  back in November, while some of the information has changed it can be considered a good primer for salaries and savings. The most updated information regarding the salary cap comes from John Clayton’s latest mailbag. Clayton has the Redskins $4.2 million under the cap for 2012, which carries over into 2013. Even after that carryover the Redskins are $4 million over the cap for next season.

On the surface that $4 million doesn’t seem like a significant amount of money for the Skins next offseason, particularly since it comes from before the Redskins cut anyone, there is a lot more to it than that. That cap number doesn’t reflect players not under contract, including restricted free agents. It also doesn’t allow for the $1-2 million needed to be free so the Redskins can draft players in April.

The Washington Redskins currently don’t have under contract their starting right tackle Tyler Polumbus, left guard Kory Lichtensteiger, free safety Madieu Williams, nickel corner Cedric Griffin, and punter Sav Rocca as well as key reserves DL Kedric Golston, QB Rex Grossman, LB Lorenzo Alexander, DL Chris Baker and OL Jordan Black. Also restricted free agents are not included which includes FB Darrel Young, TE Logan Paulsen and top reserve OLB Rob Jackson. If the Redskins were to re-sign all of these guys to very moderate deals, it would be an additional $8-12 million against the cap. This means the Redskins would need to clear at least $12 million from the payroll, even if they don’t upgrade a single position (outside the draft).

The Redskins will have a number of tough decisions to make in the coming weeks on how they can get under the salary cap and resign their own players, not to mention potentially trying to free up room to upgrade a spot or two. It won’t be impossible to free up the necessary money, though any cuts would create new holes on the roster as well.

What are your thoughts on where the Redskins stand in relation to the cap?