The New Orleans Saints are about $850,000 under the salary cap after their flurry of trades and free-agent moves. They’ll likely need about $2 million more to sign their draft picks, plus additional space if they plan to add any more free agents above the minimum salary.
Remember, only the top 51 salary-cap figures count against a team during the offseason (plus dead money).
Here is how the Saints are allocating their resources this year on offense, according to ESPN Stats & Information:
Quarterback
Number of players on roster: 3
Percentage of team’s salary-cap space: 21.2 percent
Total cap charge: $27.6 million
NFL average: $13.3 million
Biggest cap hit: Drew Brees, $26.4 million
Biggest bargains: Luke McCown, $665,000; Ryan Griffin, $520,000
Thoughts: Brees’ number is gigantic (the second biggest in the NFL behind Tony Romo). But remember that the Saints structured it this way on purpose when they signed him to a five-year, $100 million deal in 2012. They needed cap space in the early years of Brees' deal, and they had time to prepare for when the cap charges would balloon in 2015 and 2016.
I have no problem with that, especially since the NFL’s cap has been increasing rapidly over the past two years. Brees was well worth the total value of his deal -- which actually ranks fifth now in the NFL in average per year (behind Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco).
Running back/fullback
Number of players on roster: 8
Percentage of team’s salary-cap space: 6.0 percent
Total cap charge: $7.8 million
NFL average: $7.2 million
Biggest cap hit: (tie) Mark Ingram and C.J. Spiller, $2 million
Biggest bargain: Khiry Robinson, $585,334
Thoughts: The running back position has been devalued throughout the NFL -- and many teams take an even cheaper route than New Orleans. But the Saints apparently felt like that meant there were bargains to be had in free agency. They re-signed Ingram, then they also pounced on Spiller when they saw him lingering in free agency for a few days.
These two will become a big part of New Orleans’ offense now at a combined total of less than tight end Jimmy Graham was making per year. Whether the trade-off is worth it remains to be seen.
Wide receiver
Number of players on roster: 8
Percentage of team’s salary-cap space: 8.9 percent
Total cap charge: $11.6 million
NFL average: $13.9 million
Biggest cap hit: Marques Colston, $6.5 million
Biggest bargains: Brandin Cooks, $1.9 million; Nick Toon, $761,903
Thoughts: The Saints are spending below league average here, with only one veteran receiver in Colston, who agreed to cut his salary virtually in half this offseason. They have more question marks than usual with so much youth -- but a lot of intriguing potential. Cooks, especially, could evolve into a dynamic talent.
Tight end
Number of players on roster: 3
Percentage of team’s salary-cap space: 2.4 percent
Total cap charge: $3.1 million
NFL average: $7.3 million
Biggest cap hit: Benjamin Watson, $1.9 million
Biggest bargain: Josh Hill, $586,668
Thoughts: The Saints went from way above league average to way below by trading Graham. But they’re expecting to get great bang for their buck with a solid veteran in Watson and an intriguing youngster in Hill. Coach Sean Payton acknowledged they still need to add at least one tight end in free agency or the draft.
Offensive line
Number of players on roster: 10
Percentage of team’s salary-cap space: 17.7 percent
Total cap charge: $23 million
NFL average: $22.3 million
Biggest cap hit: Jahri Evans, $11 million
Biggest bargains: Terron Armstead, $769,359; Tim Lelito, $586,668
Thoughts: This is the second-most expensive position for the Saints by a wide margin, and they’re still paying below league average after trading away guard Ben Grubbs. Payton said the Saints also will figure out a way to reduce Evans' price tag with some sort of restructured deal, though none has been finalized yet.
If Armstead and Lelito continue to develop in their third NFL seasons, the Saints’ overall talent on the offensive line should be better than league average. But they’ll also need to draft and develop youngsters to eventually replace Evans and right tackle Zach Strief to keep that going in future years.