2009 NFL free agency: Teams with most and least cap space

by David Fucillo (Fooch) on Feb 26, 2009 1:23 PM PST in News Comment 15 comments

Adam Schefter posted the top and bottom five teams in terms of cap space as we head into free agency tonight at 9:01pm PST:

MOST
Tampa Bay — $61 million
Kansas City — $57 million
Philadelphia — $48 million
Denver — $37 million
Green Bay — $34 million

LEAST
Carolina — $1.9 million
New England — $3.2 million
Indianapolis — $6.6 million
Pittsburgh — $7.4 million
Washington — $8.1 million

The 49ers are at roughly $25 million under the cap, even before dealing with the Alex Smith and Jonas Jennings contracts. This does not factor in the $4 million in additional cap space mentioned yesterday. It sounds like they could clear close to another $10 million in cap room if they clear up the Jonas Jennings and Alex Smith situations.

Speaking of which, Scot McCloughan held a conference call earlier today. The primary issue is that Alex Smith and Jonas Jennings remain 49ers until they're not. Due to the existing cap space, there's no rush to clear that up, although I'd imagine it would happen sometime in March.

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How exactly are the Redskins going to sign Haynesworth?

I’m sure they could clear some room with some roster moves but still they’d have clear a lot of room.

Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.

by methodrampage on Feb 26, 2009 2:01 PM PST reply actions

Yeah.

While I don’t doubt the power that is Snyder, he’s got his work seriously cut out for him if he really is considering any reasonable length $100M deal for Haynesworth. Even at 8 years that’s $12.5M, which is already more than they supposedly have.

On the other hand, Haynesworth would be a pretty useful addition to most (if not all) of the five teams listed in the post as having the most money available.

by sfgfan on Feb 26, 2009 2:04 PM PST up reply actions

bonuses

I’d imagine an obscene signing bonus would be part of any deal since that gets spread over the court of a contract

by David Fucillo (Fooch) on Feb 26, 2009 2:20 PM PST up reply actions

But still...

With a $100M+ contract, the bonuses are going to be in the $30M+, and maybe even $40M+. That’s still quite a bit of money for a team that has just over $8M under the cap.

by sfgfan on Feb 26, 2009 2:44 PM PST up reply actions

But still...

They have to sign their draftees, one would think.

Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.

by methodrampage on Feb 26, 2009 3:22 PM PST up reply actions

Exactly.

Unless they go all opposite-Ricky-Williams trade and trade all their picks for Mr. Insignificant (or whatever they call the last pick of the draft)!

by sfgfan on Feb 26, 2009 3:27 PM PST up reply actions

I've seen a few things today

I’m jealous of the Bucs $61 million in cap space, what a great situation for a new HC. All the money in the world to burn.

I saw the Dolphins not only signed Gibril Wilson, but Yeremiah Bell too. Bell’s deal was 4 years, $20 million. In an earlier comment I made, I was hoping the Niners would get Sean Jones for a similar price.

Another thing to watch for now are the restricted tenders, more importantly, what the Falcons tender Tyson Clabo at (I haven’t seen any news about it yet). If the Falcons don’t tender Clabo, it would be a no brainer to go after him (mauling RT).

Seeing the Eagles with such a nice cap number makes it easy for them to land TJ, and Nate Washington, too. You would assume that would make Donovan happy.

by Andrew Davidson on Feb 26, 2009 4:17 PM PST reply actions

Sean Jones

4 years, 20 million for Jones? Remember that he’s a strong safety, so basically you’d be looking at $5M a year for a backup to Michael Lewis who has been quite solid as a strong safety for the 49ers.

And although the Bucs have all that cap room, they’ve got a decent number of roster spots to fill. All those guys they cut were either starters or important depth guys. So big holes to fill.

by David Fucillo (Fooch) on Feb 26, 2009 4:19 PM PST up reply actions

I think we’d move Jones to FS if we signed him, that’ s my presumption anyway. I definitely don’t think the Niners would sign him for depth purposes, but to start.

I’m not saying he’d be signed to replace Lewis, who is an adequate 5 LB indeed. Jones’ turnover ability makes him a likable candidate for the FS position, in my opinion anyway. I don’t think the transition would be difficult for either the team or Jones to embrace.

by Andrew Davidson on Feb 26, 2009 4:37 PM PST up reply actions

Im just excited

too see who we sign, or hopefully sign as soon as midnight strikes tonight….all we need are 1 or 2 more players, i doubt we get albert haynesworth, maybe TJ Housh, but what about Chris McAlister or Joey Galloway, maybe Derrick Brooks, guys that may be past their prime, but certainly they can help us

by Dub4lif3 on Feb 26, 2009 4:30 PM PST reply actions

I wouldn’t mind seeing Leigh Bodden get a prove it deal, so he can prove it was the Lions system that screwed up his game. Chris McAllister was a premier corner for a few seasons, and if we can get him cheap that’d be cool also.

If we are going to go after a speed guy for WR, why not make it Nate Washington or Devery Henderson instead of the aging Galloway. Not every old WR is going to be able to come here and put up Bruce’s stellar numbers/effort.

by Andrew Davidson on Feb 26, 2009 4:39 PM PST up reply actions

Buccaneers??

They just cut basically 4-5 starters, will that count as anything against their cap space or are the free of charge of all of those contracts? The only reason I ask this is because it seemed to me that the Niners were still paying players one to two years removed from their team, a few years ago before Nolan got in there and cleaned it up.

by JAKE85 on Feb 26, 2009 4:57 PM PST reply actions

The remaining signing bonuses would still count against the cap

But I doubt any of these guys had much in means of signing bonuses left to pay out on their contracts.

Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.

by methodrampage on Feb 27, 2009 7:44 AM PST up reply actions

besides seeing the niners go after TKO, who would you like the niners to go after at DE, Chris Canty, Igor Olshansky, Antonio Smith, or draft, how about at Tackle, Khalif barnes, Mark Tauscher, or draft, what about Safety, Brian Dawkins, Sean Jones, Mike Brown, Atari Bigby, or draft. What does the ninernation think?

by sundaysfinest on Feb 26, 2009 6:03 PM PST reply actions

I think OT should be addressed in the draft, simply because the FAs out there aren’t necessarily top notch. Marvel Smith is the only guy I think we’d benefit from, and he’s coming off back surgery.

The other guy I like is Tyson Clabo, but I just saw he’s been tendered at the second round tender by the Falcons, I don’t think the Niners would be willing to part with our second rounder to get him. I’d prefer if we got a RT and kept Staley at LT, instead of making Joe switch again, and Clabo had a pretty good year at RT for the Falcons.

As for the safeties, I’ve been gushing about Sean Jones, so I think we know where I stand here. If Mike Brown had have played a full season ever, I don’t think the Bears would’ve let him walk so easily.

And lastly, IGOR!!!!

by Andrew Davidson on Feb 26, 2009 6:24 PM PST up reply actions