State of the Skins and the 2010 Salary Cap

[Schneed10]

As our offensive line continues to look horrendous, we drop to 2-4, Zorn gets stripped of playcalling duties, and as we enter the rough part of our schedule, it makes sense to start looking towards the future. Even though we're only 6 games in.

Major changes are afoot; that much is certain, though we can't say in what form the change will come. But given performance of the offense this year, it makes sense to consider every offensive player as a potential former Redskin in 2010. So let's do so with an eye on the 2010 cap situation. To review said situation, click here for CC's detailed cap numbers by player.

However with the CBA situation cloudy, we can't be sure whether a salary cap will be in place or not.

The Uncapped Scenario

First, it should be noted that there is a very good chance there will be no salary cap in 2010. Slow labor negotiations between the Players and the owners lead to the likelihood of the current collective bargaining agreement expiring, making 2010 an uncapped season.

Goodell: Slow labor negotiations likely mean no salary cap in 2010

An explanation of free agency rules in an uncapped season.

In the event of an uncapped year, the Redskins would retain the exclusive rights to negotiate with both Jason Campbell and Carlos Rogers. That means they're not really free agents, they can only negotiate with us for a new contract. But with a salary cap out the window, we as fans no longer care about getting value for the money it takes to sign players. We simply want to know one thing: are there any better players available? So the fates of Campbell and Rogers as Redskins would depend upon the availability of superior players on the open market. While Campbell could be replaced by a Colt McCoy, Rogers is likely to be resigned simply because few superior CBs will be available on the open market.

The same forces working to keep Campbell and Rogers with the team will be at play all throughout the league, restricting the mobility of 4th and 5th year players whose contracts are due to expire. In an uncapped year, we should expect free agency to be thin. So while Dan Snyder would have his checkbook ready and willing to instantly improve the roster, he probably won't find many players worthy of a big payday. In an uncapped world, the draft takes on even greater importance.

The Capped Scenario

If a new CBA is reached keeping a salary cap in place, the Redskins should find themselves in good enough shape to make some important moves. Next year's cap is conservatively estimated at $136 million, and the Redskins currently have $109 million committed to its 2010 roster.

However the Redskins need to prepare for the very real possibility that Chris Samuels will be forced to retire due to spinal stenosis. This would cause an incremental $10 million hit to the 2010 cap. Additionally, the Redskins have only 36 players under contract for 2010, so additional space must be allocated to the 17 players who will fill out the 53 man roster.

Despite all this, the Redskins should have space required to make roster moves. Jason Campbell is up for contract next season, though it remains to be seen if the team wants him back. If they do, his performance doesn't warrant a giant contract, so it's reasonable to expect a relatively modest contract for him. Carlos Rogers and Rocky McIntosh are also up for contract.

Hunter Smith, Phillip Daniels, Lorenzo Alexander, Reed Doughty, Ethan Albright, Kedric Golston, and Chris Wilson are other contracts ready to expire. They would all require replacement or resigning.

There are also players we're likely stuck with in 2010, for better or worse, due to the way their contracts are structured. This is not to say it's impossible to release these players, after all the Redskins released Jon Jansen despite a large cap hit, but the Redskins are likely to live with the following players due to salary cap circumstances:

Albert Haynesworth
DeAngelo Hall
Andre Carter
Antwaan Randle El
Chris Cooley
Brian Orakpo

Chris Samuels and Randy Thomas are others who would cost the team more cap space if they weren't on the roster. But given their health situations, it's quite possible their time as Redskins is over regardless.

Releasing any other player on the roster would result in either a negligible cap hit, or would actually save the team cap space if they were no longer Redskins. Including Clinton Portis, Santana Moss, LaRon Landry, and London Fletcher.

So as usual, it's impossible to predict what course Dan Snyder will take with the team. But it says here that the Redskins have plenty of flexibility to make wholesale roster changes in the offseason. The salary cap situation will not be a constraint.

So buckle up for the bumpy ride that is the rest of the season, and the even bumpier ride that is likely to be the offseason.

[MTK]

The time has come for a shakeup of the roster, more so on the offensive side of the ball. Especially with a new HC I say look for some pretty wholesale changes. We're going to need a new QB, and the OL needs a lot of work, obviously.

[hail_2_da_skins]

The Redskins should completely rebuild their offense. The only keeper in my book is Chris Cooley, maybe Santana Moss if the contract is right. Everyone else is expendable. Clean house on defense as well. Smoot, Rodgers, Griffin, and Daniels are at the top of the list of expendables.

[SFREDSKIN]

I would resign:

Golston
Alexander
Wilson
Doughty
McIntosh

I would cut:

Daniels
Thomas
ARE (cap hit, who cares)

I would trade (if possible):

Moss
Portis
Landry

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

The time has come for a shakeup of the roster, more so on the offensive side of the ball. Especially with a new HC I say look for some pretty wholesale changes. We're going to need a new QB, and the OL needs a lot of work, obviously.

I think we'll need a new halfback, too.

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by Lotus

I think we'll need a new halfback, too.

This is correct. Portis should not be the highest paid runningback in the league. There are just too many cheap options that are available on a yearly basis.

[atomicnixon]

Is it easier to dump off under performing players with long contracts in an uncapped year (like no release fees or anything like that)?

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by atomicnixon

Is it easier to dump off under performing players with long contracts in an uncapped year (like no release fees or anything like that)?

Yes, that's why we dropped all of that dead weight.

Whoops, thought that I was in another thread haha