DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Denzel Ward signs extension

Then help us with your knowledge. If you have something to add to the conversation that explains how these cap numbers are wrong please enlighten us. Just making a post saying "that's not how the cap works" lends nothing to the conversation so please - Enlighten Us!

CAP
The NFL's salary cap has risen to $208.2 million per team for the 2022 season, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported. That's an increase of $25.7 million from the 2020 cap of $182.5 million and right in line with earlier projections from December 2021. Based on that upward trajectory, the cap is expected to approach pre-pandemic expectations — perhaps $220 million to $225 million — by 2023.

Brown's Cap Numbers 2023:
Garrett: 17.25M Base Salary, $11,926,120 Prorated Bonus (from kicking the can down the road), 2023 Cap Number $29,176,120
Watson: 40M Base Salary, $8,993,000 Prorated Bonus (from kicking the can down the road), 2023 Cap Number 54.993M
Chubb: 10.85M Base Salary, 4M Prorated Bonus (from kicking the can down the road), 2023 Cap Number 14.85M
Cooper: 20M Base Salary, 3.776M Prorated Bonus (from kicking the can down the road), 2023 Cap Number 23.776M
Teller: 12.5M Base Salary, $3,376,300 Prorated Bonus (from kicking the can down the road), 2023 Cap Number $15,876,300
Ward: exact breakdown totals not known but minimum would be 20.1M and likely higher, Estimated 2023 Cap Number 20.1M
Current Dead Cap for 2023: (Hooper - 7.5M)

6 players and dead cap = $166,271,420 minimum with not knowing Ward's Prorated Bonus Charge
$166,271,420 divided by 2023 projected cap of 225M = 73.898% of the total projected 2023 Cap before adding in Ward's Prorated Bonus charge. [carryover from 2022 would increase the total cap availability number but is unknown at this point]

When signing players to these huge deals, the player usually receives a huge payment in the first year after signing with a team. The team can pay the player the whole amount at once or spread the payments out over the length of the contract to reserve cap space. This is known as a “prorated bonus” and a team can spread the payment out over a maximum of five years.

In 2023, The Browns will have 28 players (previous said 29 -corrected) that have Prorated Bonuses that will be subtracted from the available Cap number whether the player remains on the team or not (dead cap). The Browns are sitting on $12,398,055 Dead Cap for 2022 not including Hooper's 3.75M 2022 charge that doesn't kick in until post 6/1 and/or any charge for Mayfield in 2022 or 2023.
Players with a 2023 Prorated Cap Charge:
1. Garrett $11,926,120
2. Conklin 3M
3. Watson 8.993M
4. John Johnson 3.75M
5. Bitonio 3.6M
6. Wills $2,972,348
7. Chubb 4M
8. Cooper 3.776M
9. Teller $2,926,300
10. Hill 1.875M
11. Newsome $1,657,955
12. Delpit $747,284
13. Grant $666,666
14. Walker $593,000
15. Bjorquez $555,000
16. JOK $592,495
17. Elliott $224,259
18. Phillips $208,073
19. Schwartz $224,186
20. Bryant $192,258
21. Hudson $198,104
22. Forbes $42,334
23. Togiai $169,286
24. Harris $78,662
25. Peoples-Jones $46,652
26. Fields $82,438
27. LeCounte $74,146
28. Felton $40,286

TOTAL PRORATED BONUSES TO BE APPLIED TO 2023 CAP = $53,211,762

The cap is not a concern. It can always be manipulated.

Watson will not carry a cap hit of $54.993M in 2023. His contract will be structured, greatly reducing this number. They'll likely restructure it again in 2024.

Ward will not have a cap hit of $20.1M in 2023. His contract structure will likely look closer to this...

Just follow Jack Duffin on Twitter. Go back and read his old Tweets and articles. He can explain the cap way better than anyone on here.

So part of the contract cancels out the 2022 fifth-year option??

Yup. We actually gained cap space this year because of the deal. And 2023’s cap number is a way below market $12 million. Then the cap hit increases as the cap will skyrocket.

And the last two years are team options. Pretty, pretty team-friendly.

Look at those nerds working the cap. Love it.

From PFF:

1. Signing bonus: $20.000 million.

2. 2022 base salary: $1.035 million, fully guaranteed.

3. 2023 option bonus: $18.4 million, fully guaranteed

4. 2023 base salary: $4.041 million, fully guaranteed.

5. 2023 per-game roster bonuses: $600,000 total.

6. 2024 base salary: $15.324 million, guaranteed for injury; $1.024 million is fully guaranteed at signing, and the rest becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2023 league year.

7. 2024 per-game roster bonuses: $600,000 total.

8. 2025 base salary: $13.476 million, guaranteed for injury; $12.45 million becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2024 league year.

9. 2025 per-game roster bonuses: $600,000 total.

10. 2026 roster bonus: $2.5 million, due on the third day of the 2026 league year.

11. 2026 base salary: $16.9 milion.

12. 2026 per-game roster bonuses: $600,000 total.

13. 2027 roster bonus: $2.5 million, due on the third day of the 2027 league year.

14. 2027 base salary: $17.4 million.

15. 2027 per-game roster bonuses: $600,000 total.

The $100.5 million extension has an annual new-money average of $20.1 million. Of that amount, $71.250 million is guaranteed for injury at signing, and $44.500 million becomes fully guaranteed at signing. Over the first three years, the fourth pick in the 2018 draft will earn $60 million.

The average, guarantees, and cash are the most ever for a cornerback. Also, the guarantees vest early. The first two years are fully guaranteed now. The third year becomes guaranteed by next March. By the third day of the 2024 league year, the injury guarantees through 2025 will be fully guaranteed.

To get the deal, Ward had to commit for six full years. The cap will go up in the interim. The market at the position likely will, too. If he keeps playing at a high level, he could be looking for a new deal after the first three years of the current one. With teams more willing than ever to rip up outdated deals, it’s a sensible gamble — especially since it gives Ward significant financial protections.

Truly remarkable.

$1m base salary for 2022. Berry must expect Ward is going to be suspended.

So....

What it seems like you are saying is:

"You have no ideas what we are talking about. But, I have no clue why."

No what I’m saying is that I don’t have the time or want to to type out a long post on here when I can point people in the direction of someone who has already done it way better than I can.

Andrew Berry has been working the cap since age 10!

Cap analyist Alfred E Newman says

"WHAT ME WORRY?"

j/c

Just analyze what has happened the past few years with this FO. First, I want to say no one is perfect. So I don’t expect the FO to be perfect with everything.

But I do want to say, look at their transactions, their drafting and so on. Almost every move you could understand what their intention to be. Even if you don’t like/agree with the move, you can still understand why they did it.

This applies to the cap, this applies to the other “fun” topic going on. It doesn’t mean you can’t question them, but damn at least have a little faith in them.

*This isn’t directed at anyone specific.

Another great job by the FO!

Thanks Bone, I didn’t have time at work to look it up. I couldn’t remember if AB was an economics or business major.

Happy the deal got done. Ward is a keeper, and I hope he and Newsome are able to be a tag-team threat for many years to come.

Hey Turk.......would you mind popping over to the draft forum and giving us your take on the Georgia guys? I know you love UGA and they had a ton of good to great players this year. I'd love to hear your opinions because I know you watched closely and you know your football.

Sorry for temporarily hijacking this thread. I'll try to think of something else to post to get it back on track.

I think the Browns are sitting pretty w/their corners. Ward, Newsome, Greedy, Hill, and Green. Corners are so important in today's NFL and the rule changes over the years have made it such a hard position to play. We have an excellent group.

Great news!

Yes, but we can't be complacent, because Greedy and Hill are probably hitting FA next season.

Ward extension could lead to Williams, Hill last years in Cleveland
Jared Mueller
Tue, April 19, 2022, 8:43 AM

The Cleveland Browns have done a great job of locking up a majority of their key young players. Going into the last offseason, four players were considered vital to get a deal done. Andrew Berry has gotten three of them signed in Nick Chubb, Wyatt Teller and, now, Denzel Ward. The fourth player, Baker Mayfield, has been replaced by Deshaun Watson and his huge contract.

As noted, the salary cap could become an issue for the Browns but they are acting like all teams in their competitive window. Spending to keep top players can lead to losing other players from lower tiers. While teams can always figure out a way to sign their top guys, not a ton of players can be considered top guys.

With Ward locked up and Greg Newsome II playing well as a rookie after being the team’s first-round draft pick in 2021, it seems likely we will be seeing the last of Greedy Williams and Troy Hill as Browns. Both players are set for free agency after the year but face different reasons that they may not remain.

For Williams, his career has been a struggle of injuries, inconsistent play and fighting an uphill battle for playing time. As a second-round pick with upside, the former LSU cornerback played well in 2021. With Ward and Newsome having so many resources devoted to them, Williams will be likely to seek an opportunity to shine as a starting outside corner.

Whether it is for a lucrative multi-year deal after a good 2022 season or a one-year deal to prove his value for the future, Williams’ time in Cleveland is closer to its end than the beginning.

Hill is on the other end of the spectrum. After the 2022 season, the team’s slot cornerback will be 32 years old. Whether he is on the team or not, due to void years in his free-agent contract, the former Oregon product will cost the team over $5 million, total, in salary-cap space between 2023 and 2024. Bringing him back would just add to that cost. THUS THE PROBLEM WITH "KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD"

Williams is an example of a player not in the top tier who will leave a competitive team for a chance to make more money and/or play a bigger role. Hill is an example of an aging player not in the top tier who is often replaced by a much cheaper player on a rookie contract.

For 2022, the Browns should have all four corners along with A.J. Green and special teamer Herb Miller. That group should make sure that the team’s pass coverage continues to be top-notch. After this season, Berry may look to Green, Miller or draft picks to step up into important roles to replace Williams and Hill.

Drafting Newsome and his subsequent performance probably has more bearing on Greedy Williams' time here than Ward's contract.

And the emergence of AJ Green.

Hopefully, we can keep them all. Greedy has talent. He has the ability to blossom into an excellent corner. It's been said many times, but you can't have too many good corners.

Greedy had some really nice games last year. There were also a couple of games where he seemed to be giving a lot of cushion. Basically conceding a first down whenever he was targeted. Not sure what it was.

Didn't Greedy re-injure the same shoulder down the stretch last year? Can't really recall the impact or severity...

Yeah, he went out in the second Steeler game w/an injury to the same shoulder that had nerve damage. I am not positive, but I think he played the next week against the Bengals.

The downside to having players you want to pay and keep is there are others to which you have to say good-by. You can't always get what you want.

I think there is a song in there.

And if we cut Ward and kept others, those people would complain about not keeping the really good player. Some people can't get any satisfaction.

Some just need to Let it Be. it’s Tricky (Tricky) Tricky (Tricky).

But if you try sometimes, well, you might find, you get what you need.

Ward has proven to be a top tier CB. If you look at his numbers against Chase, Jefferson, etc he’s the best of the best.

Gotta just stay on the field.