IMO Thompson tends to overpay for the Packers own free agents (Hawk, Burnett, Jones) and that will lead to cap issues in the future as Rodgers and Matthews start to increase dramatically this season. This offseason Shields got way more money than some of the other CB on the market and the Neal deal wasn´t a bargain either.
As I´ve said repeatedly I think this team is headed toward some cap issues in the future although not a lot of people agree with me (though mostly because of what Thompson and Ball have done in the past, not taking future numbers into consideration).
Percentage wise, Rodgers will take up less cap space in future seasons than they do now.
Rodgers:
13.2% this season
12.6 to 13.0% in 2015 (cap $140-145 million)
12% in 2016.
Clay's will increase, but only slightly.
Clay:
8.2% this season
8.8 - 9.1 in 2015
8.6 in 2016
In reality, with the increasing cap, their cap numbers are either decreasing or only slightly increasing.
To compare if the contracts were not backloaded as you've suggested, Rodgers would have been 14.3 - 15.7% of last years cap and Clay would have been 8.9 - 11.2 of last years cap (using their 2014, 2015, and 2016 cap hits).
Plus, both contracts only have a significant jump for one season (this offseason, could be a reason why TT left so much space for this offseason) and then increase slowly the rest of the way, which can be accounted for.
Absolutely agree that injuries played a huge part in the defense not playing well in the second half of the season. The pass defense wasn´t great all year though.
I started this thread to point out that the team doesn´t have as much cap space as many of you think, there was no intention to make things look worse than they are, just to present some facts. IMO a lot of you guys make up their opinion because of things that happened in the past, trying to make things look better than they are while ignoring facts that are provided by someone else.
It's easy to look at a stat or two and say that a defense was good or bad at certain time. The bottom line is the month before Rodgers injury, the team was very good. They beat up three not good teams and beat the Ravens on the road. Rodgers alone does not attribute to how well the team was playing. You could argue that winning against the bad teams doesn't mean much, but good teams dominate those games, which is what the Packers did.
Also, are you trying to say we don't have as much money as we think or trying to say we will have cap issues? Seem to be switching.
I would agree if this quote would be about player evaluation, but understanding the salary cap isn´t that hard and it´s possible for fans to analyse a team´s current and future cap situation.
Well, so let me ask you a question. It´s a fact the Packers have $118 million in cap space already invested in the 2015 squad (without the Flynn deal as no details are currently known). According to some reports the cap is expected to go up to $140 million for next season. With the Packers being able to roll over approximately $5 million from this season they could start next offseason somewhere close to $27 million in cap space.
That sounds like a lot of money, but $10 million of it will go towards draft picks, practice squad guys and inury replacements, leaving the Packers with $17 million to work with. This means that re-signing Nelson, Cobb and Bulaga will eat up nearly all of the available cap space and the team would have to release some players (which normally doesn´t improve the team) if they want to go in a different direction during next offseason.
So, don´t you think this sounds like the cap situation could be more tense next season than it has been in years???
Other reports say a cap of $ 145 million Having $17 million to $25 million in space is not a problem, even with free agents to resign. Say they have $17 million and resign those three and use most of it, you've already accounted for everything they'd need in the $17 million. What else would they even need the money for?
Besides, as I've shown above, back loading a contract can work in favor of a team and they could do the same for Nelson, Cobb, and Bulaga and not use all $17 million.
Finally, it's also a fact that many of the guys who contribute to the $118 million will not make the team and be replaced with younger, cheaper guys. The money on the cap is for SIXTY EIGHT PLAYERS. More than a few of these of these guys won't make the team. With at least 9 more draft picks for a total of at least 77, even with IR and the practice squad, there are nowhere near enough room roster spots. Just bringing the team down to the required roster size will create more room.