NFL Advises Clubs of Potential Salary Cap Increase For 2020
Per Ian Rapoport @ the Rap Sheet, the NFL advised NFL teams that the salary cap for the 2020 league year could rise to between $196.8 million and $201.2 million based on league projections. The midpoint for the high and low estimate would be $199 million.
The League therefore expects the salary cap to increase by somewhere between $8.6 million and $13 million. The exact salary cap limit usually is not set until late February or early March. For those who keep an eye on team salary cap space, Overthecap uses an estimate of $200 million and Sportrac uses an estimate of $199 million to project each team's cap space for 2020.
A big increase in the salary cap limit would help General Manager Gutekunst retain some key free agents. If it turns out to be large enough, perhaps the Packers could even acquire a free agent. If the increase is on the smaller side, Packer fans can take some consolation in knowing that two of the Packers' divisional rivals, Minnesota and Chicago, are even more strapped for salary cap space than the Packers are.
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Comments (10)
marpag1
December 12, 2019 at 10:53 am
Picture caption: "Hey Jerrruh, get a load of this giant booger...."
Thegreatreynoldo
December 13, 2019 at 01:45 am
I deny any particular ulterior motive as to my selection of this particular photo. I admit that I thought it was open to various interpretations, some of which could be amusing.
Lare
December 12, 2019 at 12:50 pm
Including the 2019 carryover, using Spotrac's numbers it looks like the Packers would be around $26 million under the cap. They could add another $13 million or so to that if they cut Graham and Taylor.
Turophile
December 13, 2019 at 07:52 am
As far as I can see the Packers have five positions that need at least one more starter-level player (ie either from veteran free agency or with one of the higher draft picks).
The five positions are OT, DL, WR, ILB, TE. You can target three of those positions fairly early in the draft (the first three picks).
My guess is that OT (specifically RT) is dealt with by extending Bulaga. It's a risk hoping his body will hold up (age is less of a concern than his injury history), but i think it is worth taking given the level he still plays at. It allows the Packers to fill other big needs and pushes an early OT pick into next year if they wish. My WAG is that they give him a three year deal at $10m pa, one that includes some kind of bonus for the amount of playing time over the season.
I also believe that because 2020 is said to be a poor year for TEs, that position is better being bolstered by a veteran free agent, someone at the level of Cook, who we acquired a few years back and then lost. The reason they will need someone here is that two TEs, Lewis and Graham, are unlikely to play for the Packers next year.
That allows the Packers to draft the three most pressing needs that remain, and do it early enough to have hope that they get starter-level guys. Personally I'd go DL in round one, WR in round two and ILB in round three.
DL because Kenny Clark needs better guys alongside him, WR because the Packers need a legitimate no.2 and no-one is playing at that level on the team right now. Also, if there is a decent vet WR available, the Packers may well show interest - because they could start in 2020, whereas a rookie might need until his third year to do so. ILB because Martinez could really do with a good coverage linebacker alongside him - Josh Jones (hybrid S/ILB) and Oren Burks were not the answer to that, so the Packers have to look again.
I was interested to hear that the Bears and Vikings are more cash-strapped than the Packers, with the Bears additionally being without the high picks that the Mack trade cost them. I don't expect the Packers to be such big players in vet FA in 2020, as they were in 2019, when they got Amos, Turner, P.Smith and Z.Smith. Even one starter level vet at TE or WR could really help this team draft their other key needs very nicely.
jannesbjornson
December 13, 2019 at 04:00 pm
This draft is rich in OTs with 5-6 going in the first round. The Pack should get one of them no later than round two.
ILBs and WRs are represented well, but I would bag a veteran in free agency and the same for ILB. The personnel dept has a pathetic track record trying to secure the inside. Another CB would not hurt either with Tramon most likely moving on.
Turophile
December 13, 2019 at 05:41 pm
But..........get an OT, lose out elsewhere, that is the problem. I tried to find a way to fill all the big needs as best I could. Add a RT early in the draft and you lose out elsewhere, whereas if you keep Bulaga, you can avoid RT as an early pick - that is my thinking.
I don't disagree that it is an above average year for OTs, not stellar, like the WR group, but above average.
I also agree that there will be a need for a CB as you can expect Josh Jackson to disappear and Tramon to retire. It's a need for sure, but not quite as pressing as some other positions due to overdrafting the DB position for the past 5+ years, at the expense of some other position groups..
Turophile
December 13, 2019 at 05:42 pm
double post
Guam
December 12, 2019 at 05:04 pm
Between the increase in cap and offloading some deadwood (spot on comment Lare and I might even add Twill just due to age) the Packers could be in pretty good shape not only to retain their free agents but get one higher priced or two mid priced free agents. Gute will have some room to work.
jannesbjornson
December 13, 2019 at 04:02 pm
And a veteran backup QB.
Since'61
December 13, 2019 at 09:14 am
Good article TGR. The Packers are going to need all the cash they can put together. Thanks, Since '61