Team-by-team cap space as of July 15

**MileHighRaider** · 07-16-2012, 05:49 AM

Sans the Branch deal, we're sitting on $1.34M, according to PFT:

Team-by-team cap space as of July 15 | ProFootballTalk

A little wiggle room... but as Vic and RotoWorld have both said, don't be surprised if we hold off a bit before we see any signings...

Fantasy Football Breaking News - Rotoworld.com

The Raiders have been linked repeatedly to free agent Cedric Benson, but there's no obvious sense of urgency to sign a player drawing scant interest elsewhere on the market. Oakland could wait a week or two into camp, and Benson might still be available. We still expect this union to ultimately happen. Jul. 16 - 12:16 am et

**Raider Ran** · 07-16-2012, 07:06 AM

That number is a couple million too low I believe. We were at 1 million before signing Branch and it is being reported everywhere else we are around 3.3 million now why would we sign Branch to a contract to free up $340,000? This guy is as usual speculating. I am sure that RM will try to get him (Benson) at the best price and will hold off for a short time but if he wants Benson he is not going to wait until a couple weeks into camp when someone else might get injured and another team will over pay Benson. I just don't see this unless Benson's number is just too high right now.

**kinz** · 07-16-2012, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by Raider Ran

That number is a couple million too low I believe. We were at 1 million before signing Branch and it is being reported everywhere else we are around 3.3 million now why would we sign Branch to a contract to free up $340,000? This guy is as usual speculating. I am sure that RM will try to get him (Benson) at the best price and will hold off for a short time but if he wants Benson he is not going to wait until a couple weeks into camp when someone else might get injured and another team will over pay Benson. I just don't see this unless Benson's number is just too high right now.

If the 3.3 mil is right, how do the unsigned draft picks fit with this. Lets say they cost a mil. Does that leave us with 2.3 mil for FAs or is the draft pick money already accounted for?

**BVJ** · 07-16-2012, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by kinz

If the 3.3 mil is right, how do the unsigned draft picks fit with this. Lets say they cost a mil. Does that leave us with 2.3 mil for FAs or is the draft pick money already accounted for?

I think the draft picks don't count towards cap because it is higest 45 (guessing this number) towards cap. The unsigned picks have little wiggle room due to rookie cap, and other picjs in vacinity signed.

**DustInTheWind** · 07-16-2012, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by kinz

If the 3.3 mil is right, how do the unsigned draft picks fit with this. Lets say they cost a mil. Does that leave us with 2.3 mil for FAs or is the draft pick money already accounted for?

Our rookies won't be a problem as we have a rookie pool and also the 'Top 51 Rule' during the offseason.

AdamJT13: The NFL rookie pool and the salary cap

**coogi** · 07-16-2012, 07:59 AM

whatever the number is im not really worried..reggie knows who he wants to sign(if he wants to sign anyone at all) and how to get the cap space to sign them..ill assume reggie knows whats best until he proves that he doesnt

**Boostjunkie** · 07-16-2012, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by DustInTheWind

Our rookies won't be a problem as we have a rookie pool and also the 'Top 51 Rule' during the offseason.

AdamJT13: The NFL rookie pool and the salary cap

Man reading that made my eye's cross...

But good info nonetheless.

**MileHighRaider** · 07-16-2012, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by Raider Ran

That number is a couple million too low I believe. We were at 1 million before signing Branch and it is being reported everywhere else we are around 3.3 million now why would we sign Branch to a contract to free up $340,000? This guy is as usual speculating. I am sure that RM will try to get him (Benson) at the best price and will hold off for a short time but if he wants Benson he is not going to wait until a couple weeks into camp when someone else might get injured and another team will over pay Benson. I just don't see this unless Benson's number is just too high right now.

Yeah as mentioned, it's prior to the Branch signing (hence my "Sans the Branch deal" opener).

There were some conflicting reports about the amount we had prior to the signing... <$1M or ~$1.3M. The latter appears to be accurate according to PFT. Don't know exactly what we get from Branch but yeah, maybe another couple $million bringing the total to $3.3M approximately.

**DustInTheWind** · 07-16-2012, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by coogi

whatever the number is im not really worried..reggie knows who he wants to sign(if he wants to sign anyone at all) and how to get the cap space to sign them..ill assume reggie knows whats best until he proves that he doesnt

He's bound to sign two FAs as we still have two empty spots heading into training camp.

Hopefully people don't crucify the man when he does make a mistake. Reggie is human like the rest of us and will make mistakes in some form or another before his time as the GM for the Oakland Raiders is done.

That wasn't all directed at you coogi, just food for thought as this new age of the Oakland Raiders rolls on.

Originally Posted by Boostjunkie

Man reading that made my eye's cross...

But good info nonetheless.

No kidding. Best breakdown of the new system I've found and still a rough read.

**MadBomber24** · 07-16-2012, 08:36 AM

Looking ahead John Clayton had article on ESPN.com I saw this weekend about teams that have some decisions to make the next two years in FA and the Raiders were one of them of course but he also mentioned the Raiders will have some cap room next year (he didnt explain so Im not completely sure where its coming from) so they will have to decide between signing their own FAs (DMAC and others) or going after other players.

**MileHighRaider** · 07-16-2012, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by MadBomber24

Looking ahead John Clayton had article on ESPN.com I saw this weekend about teams that have some decisions to make the next two years in FA and the Raiders were one of them of course but he also mentioned the Raiders will have some cap room next year (he didnt explain so Im not completely sure where its coming from) so they will have to decide between signing their own FAs (DMAC and others) or going after other players.

Yeah I read that article too... Seymour was the poster child for us. I believe he listed Reece and Branch as well...

**BVJ** · 07-16-2012, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by MadBomber24

Looking ahead John Clayton had article on ESPN.com I saw this weekend about teams that have some decisions to make the next two years in FA and the Raiders were one of them of course but he also mentioned the Raiders will have some cap room next year (he didnt explain so Im not completely sure where its coming from) so they will have to decide between signing their own FAs (DMAC and others) or going after other players.

I think some room comes from wimbley and routt?

**kinz** · 07-16-2012, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by BVJ

I think some room comes from wimbley and routt?

As a rough guess, I would say that the money we save on Routt and Wimbley next year will be slightly more than the increase in Palmer's cap hit. Palmer's cap hit this year is 4.7 mil. Next year it is 16.9 mil. However, next year it becomes very possible to lose some contracts like Kelly, Seymour, or McFadden. Also Shane's contract is up, and I doubt will will be resigning him for 5 mil a year. I am not saying these players should or shouldn't be cut, just looking at the financial possibilities.

We will slowly get out from under this. My hope, and guess, is that the money gets directed to the younger players who show promise, and the vets are sent packing.

**BVJ** · 07-16-2012, 09:16 AM

Agreed, I think youth will be looked at.. and next year we will have a first round pick, so I can bbq thurs instead of sat lol

**djh_raider** · 07-16-2012, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by BVJ

I think some room comes from wimbley and routt?

Yes. The Raiders have some salary cap "dead money" this year. The players concerned are:
Kamerion Wimbley - $6.5 million
Standford Routt - $5million
Bruce Campbell - $261k

As kinz mentins this is basically negated by the cap hit increase for Carson Palmer in 2013. That said, there is nothing to stop Palmer's deal being re-worked again next off-season.

High contract players off contract in 2013 (with 2012 cap hit) are:
Darren McFadden - $6.716,667. McFadden is under contract for 2013 for a $6,922,617 cap hit but this is voidable.
Shane Lechler - $5.65 million
Desmond Bryant - $1.927 million

Mike Mitchell, Matt Shaughnessy and Louis Murphy are all off contracts in 2013 but their cap hits for 2012 are below $1 million.

The cap hit for Richard Seymour is $925,000 less is 2013 than in 2012. As an aside Tommy Kelly's cap hit is greater than Seymour's in 2013. The Raiders could save around $4 million in cap space and $13 million in salary owed for the last 2 years of his contract if the cut Kelly after this season. This can be looked at as a contract year for him. When Al did that deal with Kelly, it was generally assumed that he would not play under the terms of the last 2 years of the deal, unless he becomes elite.