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After reading dozens and dozens of posts from one of our board members, I thought the Browns were dead last in regards to the salary cap. Thus, I opened an article from PFF that was entitled Fixing the 5 NFL with the least salary cap space:... The Browns were not listed in the group, but I thought I would post this for people to see how teams can manipulate the cap.


Fixing the 5 NFL teams with the least salary cap space: Cuts, extensions, restructures and more

Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) is congratulated by wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) after catching a pass for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

By Brad Spielberger
Feb 23, 2023


• Another year, another New Orleans Saints cap struggle: The Saints would save around $20 million by adding a void year and restructuring the contracts of cornerback Marshon Lattimore and tackle Ryan Ramczyk.

• Los Angeles Chargers can save with restructures: The Chargers could recoup nearly $25 million in cap space by restructuring the contracts of edge defenders Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.

• Shaquill Griffin a potential cap casualty for the Jaguars: The Jaguars are currently projected to have -$22,753,686 in cap space, and releasing cornerback Shaquill Griffin already takes more than $13 million off the books.

ESTIMATED READING TIME: 7 MINS

Every offseason, a handful of NFL teams begin February projected to be well over the following year’s salary cap before they start to release players and restructure contracts. All 32 NFL teams must be compliant with the 2023 cap — recently set at $224.8 million — by Wednesday, March 15.

A few clubs have already started their cap purge — an annual tradition for the New Orleans Saints, who kicked things off with restructures for safety Marcus Maye and center Erik McCoy. We wanted to provide one potential path to get above water for the five teams currently projected to be most over the 2023 salary cap.



TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Current projected 2023 cap space: (-$56,531,921)

Restructure WR Chris Godwin (+$14,190,000)
Extend WR Mike Evans (+$9,335,000)
Designate OT Donovan Smith a post-June 1 release (+$15,250,000)
Restructure DI Vita Vea (+$8,565,000)
Designate TE Cameron Brate a post-June 1 release (+4,000,000)
Add two void years and restructure cornerback Carlton Davis (+$10,736,000)
End result 2023 cap space: $5,943,937

There are more levers to pull here for the Buccaneers, and they may ultimately need to do so to give themselves some breathing room with quarterback Tom Brady’s full $35,104,000 dead cap currently hitting the books in 2023. Typically, teams look to carry around $5 million to $10 million in cap space into the season to account for injured reserve replacements and other upward adjustments over the course of the year.

A restructure for center Ryan Jensen and a decision on edge defender Shaquil Barrett could be under consideration. However, avoiding pushing cap hits into the future on two players over 30 years old coming off significant injuries would be prudent. Lastly, moving on from wide receiver Russell Gage before $5 million more of his 2023 salary becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2023 league year in mid-March is a possibility.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Current projected 2023 cap space: (-$47,402,318)

Already restructured S Marcus Maye (+4,856,000)
Already restructured C Erik McCoy (+$8,000,000)
Add a void year and restructure CB Marshon Lattimore (+$10,736,000)
Add a void year and restructure OT Ryan Ramczyk (+$10,336,000)
Add a void year and restructure TE/QB Taysom Hill (+$7,056,000)
Add a void year and restructure S Tyrann Mathieu (+4,668,000)
Designate OG Andrus Peat a post-June 1 release (+$11,825,000)
Designate WR Michael Thomas a post-June 1 release (+$1,365,000)
Release QB Jameis Winston (+$4,400,000)
End result 2023 cap space: $2,983,682

A potentially looming suspension for running back Alvin Kamara would also provide the Saints with some salary cap relief, though we won’t know the extent of that for a while. Additionally, the Saints could come to terms on an extension with either edge defender Marcus Davenport or interior defender David Onyemata and avoid dead cap hits accelerating onto their 2023 books. They pushed back the void date on both of these players to March 15, buying both sides time to potentially work something out.

Each team in a given offseason can designate only two players as post-June 1 releases, and we chose Andrus Peat over Jameis Winston for the second slot along with Michael Thomas, who needs that spot unless he and the team agree to a new contract. In Thomas’ recently reworked contract, he has a $31.775 million roster bonus for 2024 that will become fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2023 league year. As a result, March 17 is a pseudo-deadline for a new deal to be reached or for Thomas to be designated a post-June 1 release.

There are still a few smaller moves available, but we again wanted to avoid pushing cap down the road on edge defender Cameron Jordan and linebacker Demario Davis, if possible. However, despite their age, the two have been remarkably durable and productive in recent years.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Current projected 2023 cap space: (-$24,424,174)

Extend QB Kirk Cousins (+$15,000,000)
Approximation without getting into the weeds of what an extension could look like
Extend TE T.J. Hockenson (+$5,250,000)
Restructure OT Brian O’Neill (+$10,065,000)
Negotiate pay cut with WR Adam Thielen (+$5,000,000)
Negotiate pay cut with LB Eric Kendricks (+$4,150,000)
Negotiate pay cut with S Harrison Smith (+$4,700,000)
End result 2023 cap space: $19,740,826

When you start to break down what the Vikings need to do this offseason, you realize just how old and bloated this roster currently is, and how much work new defensive coordinator Brian Flores has ahead of him. It’s very presumptuous to assume any player will willingly take a pay cut. It’s borderline delusional to assume all three of the above players will agree, but the trio of Thielen, Kendricks and Smith are lifers with the club and perhaps could be persuaded to run it back one more time at a reduced rate. Linebacker Jordan Hicks is a cut candidate, as well, and maybe that is how Minnesota chooses to save some money at off-ball linebacker.

Running back Dalvin Cook should probably be approached for a pay cut, too, much like Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones, who agreed to reduce his 2023 compensation by $5 million, but there are no assurances he’ll agree.

Coming off a highly productive and healthy 2022 campaign with 76 quarterback pressures and 10.5 sacks, edge defender Danielle Hunter almost certainly will not play in 2023 for $5.5 million in cash after looking for an extension the past few years. Extensions for Hunter, perhaps edge defender Za’Darius Smith after he proved he can still be a high-level edge rusher on a pseudo-prove-it deal and potentially superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson could all be in play, further eating into the cash budget available to improve this roster elsewhere.

Long story short, there is a path forward for this Minnesota team, but this roster could look dramatically different by 2024 if it doesn’t already in 2023.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Current projected 2023 cap space: (-$22,753,686)

Release CB Shaquill Griffin (+$13,147,059)
Extend EDGE Josh Allen (+$3,492,000)
Approximation without getting into the weeds of what an extension could look like
Extend DI Roy Robertson-Harris (+$3,300,000)
Approximation without getting into the weeds of what an extension could look like
Restructure WR Christian Kirk (+$10,946,667)
Restructure OT Cam Robinson (+$7,710,000)
End result 2023 cap space: $16,318,020

The Jaguars set records for offseason spending over the 2022 offseason but don’t have many regrets coming off an AFC South division title followed by a 27-point playoff comeback against the Los Angeles Chargers — the third-largest playoff comeback in NFL history. They don’t have to get too crazy here and could also look to restructure linebacker Foyesade Oluokun and/or guard Brandon Scherff.

Re-signing tight end Evan Engram and edge defender Arden Key appears to be their in-house priority, but neither should break the bank necessarily. After years of Jacksonville sitting atop the NFL in cap space, they’re near the bottom for a very good reason. Odds are they’ll be aggressive again this offseason entering the third year of quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s rookie contract. Once that bill comes due, they’ll have to reevaluate their roster construction and resource allocation.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Current projected 2023 cap space: (-$20,511,524)

Restructure EDGE Joey Bosa (+$15,223,333)
Release OL Matt Feiler (+$6,500,000)
Restructure EDGE Khalil Mack (+$10,867,500)
Restructure DI Sebastian Joseph-Day (+$2,710,000)
Extend RB Austin Ekeler (+$2,170,000)
Approximation without getting into the weeds of what an extension could look like
End result 2023 cap space: $17,959,310

The Chargers may have to make several more moves beyond these, with a major decision looming on wide receiver Keenan Allen, who is owed $19 million in 2023. Allen missed roughly half the season, breaking a streak of five straight years with at least 100 receptions (including playoffs), but he earned an 84.4 receiving grade and averaged nearly 10 targets, 7.5 receptions and 87 receiving yards from Week 11 through the end of the regular season once healthy.

While cornerback J.C. Jackson’s five-year contract provides a lot of flexibility, the Chargers may not want to push too much cap into the future given his injuries in 2022, with no guarantees beyond 2023. A massive extension for quarterback Justin Herbert should come this offseason and will require more room, and that's in addition to the draft class and any internal or external free agents the team wishes to bring aboard.


https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-fixing-teams-least-salary-cap-space-2023-free-agency

Nobody has said that the Browns couldn't generate cap space. What has been said is that they are creating that space by kicking the can down the road which will eventually have to show up as a cap charge. The number one issue the Browns face is that when pushing that money into prorated bonuses, they have zero opportunity to change that cost and when you do it like they have with players like Ward, they're pushing too much cap into the future given his injuries in 2022. You can sit with blinders on and say that 2023 is the only season that matters but before the Browns push any of that cost into the future, it should be known that by just giving Wills his 5th year option, the Browns will be sitting at a cap deficiency of ($24,171,171) for 2024 after the projected cap increase. This number is going to climb even higher once Berry starts making the moves he has to make to do anything this off season.

The ultimate goal is for the Browns to build a consistent winner and make it to a Super Bowl. That's not going to happen if the Browns have to start making cap cuts after 1 year of winning, assuming they are a winner in 2023. I remind you of the total disdain for some of the cap cuts made just last season. That will look like a walk in the park compared to what the Browns are setting themselves up for in the 2024 Jan - Mar cap adjustment period.

So... what you're saying is... we're just kicking the can down the road?

While I understand what you're saying, I'm not sure how his history has ever addressed a situation like this before. His specialty to this point has been trying to find bargain players and staying well under the cap. The finding bargain players part seemed to work for him in baseball but didn't seem to transfer well to the NFL. Actually storing cap space for future expenditures has been what he's known for thus far in the NFL.

I'm not saying he can't or won't be able to pull it off. Maybe he can. But I've seen nothing in his history that addresses being 14 million over budget and how he would or would not deal with that situation.

Of course, they are "just kicking the can down the road." Every team does it but not at the level the Browns are doing it. I posted that information earlier and received nothing but negative shots of its unimportance, but the Browns have more 10M plus per year contracts than any other team in the NFL and every one of those contracts have had salaries prorated by kicking the can down the road. You're already seeing that effect where the cap charge presently for 2023 is more than 86.5M more than last year's 2022 cap charge. Keep this in mind, the cap increased by 16.6M over 2022, one of the largest increases in the history of the NFL and the Browns had a carryover from 2022 of $28,271,248 (even after signing Conklin to his new deal) and they are still ($13,415,552) over the cap as we speak.

Now Berry will fix the cap this year by kicking that can down the road again, but that can is quickly turning into a drum and then he'll have no choice but to start cutting players, if he can. If you were pissed about Landry and JC Tretter last year (which by the way netted the Browns zero additional wins), wait until you see the cuts that are coming because of this Berry cap philosophy.

Sorry, I was speakimg of DePodesta who until recently was the person attributed with being the Browns salary cap czar. Lately that all seems to have changed.

Cutting players to save money is something new? Others did not know that? LMAO, stevie has it bad.

Which creates more holes to fill with lower paid players of lesser quality. It's all connected.

So, if and when the Browns cut Chubb next year because of his 16.2M contract (much like the Cowboys are considering with Elliott's 16.72M contract because they can get Pollard on a franchise tag for 6M less) and Cooper because of his 23.77M contract, you'll be perfectly fine with moving on from Chubb and Cooper with no questions asked to get under the cap? Hang on to your hat because it's a coming baby!

Once again, you are celebrating bad news for the Browns. What a sad, little man.

Chubb? How did you not know that I have already said that I think Chubb is gone in 2024 numerous times. He might make it through that year, but I doubt it. You reply to me all the time. How could you have missed me saying that several times?

I really had no idea that you thought you were breaking news to all of us about the Cap and that it was far worse than it actually is. Tough decisions have to be made. You have to plan ahead and decide your long range plan and act accordingly. We see teams make tough cuts every freaking year. It's not anything new. We all know what it's about.

The time to build your roster is when your QB is on his rookie contract. You add as many pieces as you can while that qb is not making much. Tough cuts will be made down the road, but the idea is to accumulate a lot of talent and you hope that the rookie qb can be the guy to lead you to success for a decade or more. Unfortunately, our rookie #1 overall pick was not very good and we had to move on from him. That sucks, but the Browns made the right move by not giving him a new contract and dumping him. They rightly identified they needed an elite qb and somehow they pulled it off when I thought they had no chance of acquiring a QB of Watson's stature either through a trade or the draft. That kind of talent really never makes it to free agency.

I believe the Browns under Berry value certain positions more than others and that is going to affect how they manage the cap moving forward.

I think they value QB, CB, the OL, and DE. I expect that the Browns continue to pay those positions.

I don't think they value S, WR, RB*, and DT as much. I suspect this group will be the cap casualties, although I wonder if they will change their perspective on WRs? Also, perhaps Schwartz might influence them to reconsider how they view DTs?

Not quite sure about TEs, but I am leaning that they think it is a valuable position. I say that because they paid Njoku last year.

Who knows if they will be successful or not, but personally I find it hard to believe that all these intelligent men are not going to be able to make the right moves financially. I also think that people who claim they are clueless are out of touch w/reality.

*I want to add this about how I think they feel about RBs. I believe they value them on the field, but like pretty much every other team out there, they realize that it is the easiest position [along w/SSs] to add really great talent at a minimal cost.

Btw----I'd like to see some feedback on which positions the Browns value over others and how that might affect how they allocate their allotted dollars.

Browns, WR/KR Jakeem Grant agree to a renegotiated deal to his reduce cap hit

Cory Kinnan
February 25, 2023 10:38 am ET

As the Cleveland Browns are just at the beginning of clearing cap space to give them some big-time money to spend in free agency (yes, they will clear quite a bit of cap space), they have made their first move. The Browns and wide receiver/kick returner Jakeem Grant have agreed to renegotiate his contract, dropping his cap hit by $1.765 million this season. The full terms of the new deal have not been released yet.

Look for the Browns and quarterback Deshaun Watson to restructure their deal as well, which will clear a great deal of cap space in 2022. Safety John Johnson III will likely be a post-June 1 cut designation, which would clear about $10 million as well.


https://brownswire.usatoday.com/202...medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

Who'd a thunk it?

People need to realize the cap is kinda like a seatbelt in an airplane.. sure it looks like it has a purpose, but in reality doesn't stop much. Good teams know how to manipulate it.. Look at the Rams this year.. sure it didn't help them but they added a ton in the offseason.

True and they are cutting players this off season. How'd that work out for them last year? Teams all across the NFL do it. I have the knowledge to understand that thought process due to dealing with finances my entire career. However, when you have the most players in the NFL that you are restructuring, either you're the all-time genius in cap manipulation or you're heading for a major crash. I've stated my opinion on it and will continue to do so.

That's fair.

Who? ... WHO?? ... no really and I know who he is, but, WHO?? They renegotiatied Grant, the guy with about 2 career returns and that's it. Oh, did he catch a pass in a preseason game? Well, ... they locked him up, he's staying a Brown.

This is difficult to understand, but the point of why I posted the article was highlighted in green and that Browns have avenues to manipulate the salary cap and it isn't quite as dire as urkel makes it out to be.

There it is - can always count on you hijacking the thread with your constant name calling and attacks. You being you!

unless you draft really well... with the new pay structures rookie contracts don't hurt a team too badly... which also means if you can draft really well you can load up on some cheap talent...

edit: of course historically we haven't drafted really, really well and we don't have first rounders the next couple of years

Exactly.

If you really want to see a team manipulate the salary cap, take a look at the KCC and how they structured Mahomes 450M contract. Only 3 years of base salary over 20M and those are all the last 3 years of the contract. Prorated bonus money never goes higher than 6.2M and no prorated bonus after 2025. The vast majority of Mahomes contract is sitting in yearly roster bonuses and the Chiefs can walk away from the contract anytime after 2024 with little to no cost (4.3M in 2024, zero dollars every year after that - 7 years). Mahomes is signed through 2031 but the Chiefs have an out every year from 2024 on.

That's a great article outlining potential options.

And none of them look good at this point except to kick the can down the road.

Thanks for the article, it is appreciated. I hope you read it also because it states exactly what I have been saying. Creating cap this year can certainly be done by playing with Watson's salary, but it plays havoc in future years. 1) do nothing, have no cap availability and have the highest cost QB in the NFL 2) restructure, have cap for this year, create the highest cost QB by more than 20M more than any other NFL team for the years 2024, 25, and 26 or 3) start adding void years which will eventually make Watson unaffordable by year 4 or 5 and never being able to afford an extension.

I know nobody here wants to hear the story but deferring costs like the Browns are doing has consequences. Right now, 3/2/2023 @ 10:55, the Browns are committed to $68,311,563 in prorated bonuses to their players and another $11,566,064 in dead money for players not even on the Browns any more for a total of $79,877,627 in deferred costs the Browns must have count against the cap this year. Just an FYI, that's 35.53% of the 2023 NFL team cap.

Once the Browns restructure Watson and start signing FA's this number is going to spike for 2023 but will be minor considering what they will be looking at next year.

AS of today, teams with most prorated bonus and dead cap money for 2023 (highlighted teams missed 2022 playoffs)

1. New Orleans - $96,510,369 prorated bonuses - $5,038,479 dead money = $101,548,848 or 45.17% of NFL cap
2. Green Bay - $75,658,592 prorated bonuses - $16,952,198 dead money = $92,610,790 or 41.19% of NFL cap
3. Cleveland - $68,311,563 prorated bonuses - $11,566,064 dead money = $79,877,627 or 35.53% of NFL cap
4. LA Rams - $68,617,623 prorated bonuses - $4,423,395 dead money = $73,041,018 or 32.49% of NFL cap
5. Dallas - $63,555,391 prorated bonuses - $8,642,623 dead money = $72,198,014 or 32.12% of NFL cap
6. Buffalo - $68,632,293 prorated bonuses - $1,663,000 dead money = $70,295,293 or 31.27% of NFL cap
7. San Francisco - $50,831,871 prorated bonuses - $17,085,988 dead money = $67,917,859 or 30.21% of NFL cap
8. Tampa Bay - $58,813,399 prorated bonuses - $7,942,466 dead money = $66,755,865 or 29,69% of NFL cap
9. Arizona - $55,705,305 prorated bonuses - $9,229,638 dead money = $64,934,943 or 28.88% of NFL cap
10. Detroit - $50,150,226 prorated bonuses - $10,256,219 dead money = $60,406,445 or 26.87% of NFL cap
11. Minnesota - $51,822,822 prorated bonuses - $3,818,911 dead money = $55,614,733 or 24.73% of NFL cap
12. Denver - $53,116,837 prorated bonuses - $1,585,866 dead money = $54,702,703 or 24.33% of NFL cap
13. Kansas City - $45,119,831 prorated bonuses - $98,428 dead money = $45,218,259 or 20.1% of NFL cap

This is a tad hyperbolic.

Look, its deferring money no matter how anyone looks at it and it has been done for decades in the NFL. What feels somewhat new to me, but maybe it is not, are these void years becoming more and more popular. Teams eat contracts all the time and it goes on the books for the season. However, it seems like many teams are ok with paying players in multiple years when no longer on the contract. I don't think it is as bad as people claim it to be at this point, and the ongoing, increasing future cap projections are likely the reason why, but a team or GM could let it get out of control.

One thing I keep in mind is $15M (arbitrary figure) on the books in a current cap year is not the same as $15M in a future cap year(s). Meaning, the percentage of that figure on your books will be lower as the cap, almost undoubtedly will increase. And if there is a void year of $15M five years from now, thinking of the valuation of that amount/contract as "havoc" relative to your potential spend seems wildly premature. This particularly holds true to a QB like Watson who you traded for in the hopes he is your QB for the next decade....and if so, then he is on your roster far longer than the void year and you renegotiate around that. If he's not, there are other issues and the void year paying him is somewhat mitigated by the QB you just drafted on his first year rookie deal.

In addition, this is absolutely the time to be pushing the 'salary cap envelope' figuratively speaking. It's the reason the Browns saved all the cap space and would roll it over from year to year when they were not truly in a window to contend. The Browns have positioned themselves well for this point in time. They ate a bunch of ramen noodles and PB&Js for years, it's ok to order the steak and lobster now without worrying you'll go bankrupt.

Berry and DePo have already plotted the salary cap out for not only next year but three and five years down the road. Will the Browns lose some good players due to salary cap constraints in the future? Of course. This is not a new phenomenon in the NFL, it's just not something we have experienced because the team has never been in a contending position since the return.

Great post - very well thought out. Rest assured however, that my opinion on the Browns cap situation has taken most if not all of your considerations into account. The figures I posted are reference to only this year and are based on previous moves coming to roost in 2023.

To put this in perspective:

The cap increased 7.97% (as predicted) for 2023 and the Browns had a carryover of $28,271,248 which as of this moment, not only has the increase and carryover been spent but their cap is actually ($11,650,552) more spent than available. I am perfectly aware that Berry is going to address this shortfall.

Now today, before Berry makes any moves at all, the Browns prorated bonus spend for 2023 is $68,311,563 for the top 51 players. This number cannot go down through restructure and only can go up depending how many restructures he does with current players, FA's, and draftees and or cuts this off season.

For 2024, the Browns prorated bonus number is already at $65,262,030 for 35 players under contract and the Browns are currently predicted to be ($5,611,171) over the 2024 projected cap. What the Browns do to free up money for 2023 will increase this prorated bonus number. What the Browns do with the 2023 contract structure with FA's and draftees will only increase this number.

At this point, purely conjecture, the 2024 prorated bonus number will be a minimum 12% higher than this year's number and that's with only restructuring Watson in 2023. The NFL cap increase was only 7.97% in 2023 so if it stays pat at that level of yearly increase, the Browns prorated bonus increase is significantly higher than the projected cap increase. That is a plan to fail. Add to that thought, the Browns will not be carrying the 28M plus carryover they are carrying this year either unless Berry's plan is to only spend about 4M-5M total on this year's FA's and draft class after restructuring Watson.

As you can see, I have taken into account the increases and the valuation drop. My opinion of the cap presenting "havoc" is thus not wildly premature. In fact, financially, it could be considered more as "slighting the problem" on the immediate horizon.

I would be much more comfortable being/getting on the edge of cap purgatory IF we were there because we had/have a playoff winning team...the problem is that we didn't/don't. We need 2-3 new starters on the DL...another starter or 2 at LB...a starting FS...and a REAL #2 WR...with salary cap issues and no #1 pick on the way.

How do you get to a point with so many needs and having already spent a bunch of money?

But not necessarily in full in 2024. I'm not saying that is good or bad, but it's important to point out as you refer to the $65M prorated stuff. And again it could be in the form of a void year 3-5 season from now where who knows the cap ceiling at that point (again this is something more attributable to Watson's deal or someone like Myles who we know isn't going anywhere anytime soon).

I'm not disagreeing with you for the fact I think everything is sunshine and rainbows in managing the cap. And anyone that's remembered by comments on contracts in the past, I think we've wildly overpaid for players or have taken on player via a trade when I believe it wasn't worth it. That isn't directly correlated to void years or prorated bonus structures, but just poor spending mgmt.

And I've shared my concerns about Berry putting a lot of contracts on the proverbial team credit card- there is no questions about it (A. Walker, Clowney, and Johnson come to mind). Void years and such are used by all teams and it seems like we are opting to pay far less annually by spreading it over multiple years in those particular situations.

But it seems to me the $65M prorated bonus dollars, which looks correct based on spotrac numbers so I don't dispute that, is allocated in most part, for 2024 starters - -Watson, Njoku, Garrett, Bitonio, Conklin, Cooper, Teller, Chubb, etc., so it's not like this money is dead on the roster and it's going to be filled with new high dollar contracts for starters like we are paying fired coaches in the past. I think that added context is important when talking about the future of cap management and that $65M number, and even the 2025 prorated number. Further, as it relates to some of the players' overall contract in that $65M number, I believe you even gain cap space in 2024 by cutting some. Teller ($9M) comes to mind as does Chubb ($12M), which people have assumed are prospects to be discussed next year as cuts and it has nothing to do with prorated bonus structures reeking havoc.

I'm just not at the sky is falling stage when there are SO MANY variables and don't think it's a reasonable position (yet).

Clicking the link is a better option because of a tweet and a video of Berry speaking can be viewed, but here is the text.

‘The rules are flexible’ to help Browns to create salary cap space, GM says

Fans and media seem more concerned than Andrew Berry

By JaredMueller@JaredKMueller Feb 28, 2023, 3:02pm EST 15 Comments / 15 New


The addition of QB Deshaun Watson had numerous tentacles of concern for fans of the Cleveland Browns. The off-the-field issues that led to Watson being available will linger for many fans. For some fans, the acquisition became a full stop to their support of the team.

The addition of Watson cost the Browns significant draft capital which has minimized fan interest in the NFL draft and created concern about the team’s ability to add enough talent around their quarterback.

The other limitation that has been focused on by both media and fans is the salary cap ramifications of Watson’s huge contract to go along with an expensive offensive line, extensions for Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward and Nick Chubb and Amari Cooper’s contract. Currently, Cleveland is projected to be $11 million over the salary cap.

GM Andrew Berry is not too worried about the cap, noting that it is an accounting tool that has multiple ways around it:


According to the cap expert at The OBR, Jack Duffin, Berry can create significant cap space pretty easily including waiting long enough to make the Baltimore Ravens pay more money in a franchise tag:


Duffin’s article has information on Jakeem Grant’s new contract and more details but its clear from just the information in the above tweet that Berry’s comfort is based in easy accounting moves.

As the Browns GM noted in the above video, creating cap space just to create cap space isn’t required (beyond getting below the current cap). While they can easily create space, Berry will only need to in order to make specific moves if they become available.

While fans and media may be concerned about the salary cap, Cleveland’s front office seems much less concerned.

https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2023/...ace-deshaun-watson-andrew-berry-flexible

I get what you are saying and many here feel the same way. I'm ok with that thought process, part of being a fan. I will point out that the huge difference with other teams in the NFL is they have an out from their QB's contract. Some outs are better than others, some can even be called suspect. The Browns have no way out - zero - none - except for a trade but with another similar restructure, the Browns would be looking at 50M to 60M in dead cap if they traded Watson. Like I posted in an earlier thread, KCC can move on from Mahomes starting in 2025 and for the next 7 years with no dead money. That's a huge difference, especially when that's the team you're chasing.