2023 Official Roster Build Thread - The Initial 53 / Practice Squad

[SAY OW 55]

I’m going to pick up Carson Wentz for backup Quarterback. Not a position of need. But would be an upgrade at Backup Quarterback.

[Fouts2herbert]

TV money alone accounts for over $300M/per team per year for the next 10 years. It's the team's management that needs to allocate the funds properly. The money is there.

I'm not sure but gzubeck might be referring to the league rule that requires owners to put all guaranteed monies into an escrow account…if herbert signs for 250 over 5 years fully guaranteed like in my scenario, dean cuts him a 45 million dollar check but then has to put the rest of it (all 205million) into an escrow account for herbert. There is no way around it…it’s the NFLs way of making sure that owners have the liquid assets to fulfill their obligations to the players…with all the issues we’ve heard that Spanos has been borrowing from one bank to pay the other it could be an issue, we’ll see…

[blueman]

TT has a love of potential especially with his late round picks. He needs to lose that, draft high floor/low ceiling types and can step up and play if need be. Cuz you know those guys sometimes develop too.

[gzubeck]

TT has a love of potential especially with his late round picks. He needs to lose that, draft high floor/low ceiling types and can step up and play if need be. Cuz you know those guys sometimes develop too.

Actually, he's been doing better in rounds 5-7. It's the 3rd-4th rounds where he's been whiffing badly.

[charger1_sj]

I'm not sure but gzubeck might be referring to the league rule that requires owners to put all guaranteed monies into an escrow account…if herbert signs for 250 over 5 years fully guaranteed like in my scenario, dean cuts him a 45 million dollar check but then has to put the rest of it (all 205million) into an escrow account for herbert. There is no way around it…it’s the NFLs way of making sure that owners have the liquid assets to fulfill their obligations to the players…with all the issues we’ve heard that Spanos has been borrowing from one bank to pay the other it could be an issue, we’ll see…

I doubt it will be $250M fully guaranteed. But it could be $150M. Most likely about $50M up front leaving $100M. I don't think the rule of putting money into escrow is going to stop a 6 year $150M deal from happening. But $250M for a single player is probably a problem.

Total revenues for NFL teams is over $500M/yr on average. Dallas' revenues are expected to be over $1B. You can subtract $400M in various expenses
and that still leaves a boat load of cash.

[Boltnut]

So since you have looked at the numbers - how much cap are you willing to take from the future based on the current salary cap for next year and Herbert is coming due next year? And are you taking from both Allen and Mack this year to release next year

Me personally --around $20m based on how I look at the numbers but I am not taking from Allen or Mack this year if I am planning on releasing next year.

I would re-structure Joey and Mike Williams (both are younger and have more guaranteed money for 2024).
I would cut Keenan and Mack at the end of 2023 (both of their contracts are structured with small dead cap hits in 2024). Cutting both after 2023 frees up $46 million in 2024. Money that can be used to re-sign Herbert (and a number of others).

Keenan's dead cap is "only" $2.7 million against the 2024 cap. And Mack's dead cap is "only" $4.5 million against the 2024 cap.

Even after re-structuring Bosa and Williams... there is $34 million in cap space for 2024. Cutting Keenan and Mack gives you another $46 million. That's $80 million of cap space for 2024.

Other things to do:
Cut Hopkins and Feiler (since you already have their replacements in Salyer and Dicker).
Re-sign: ERFA Dicker, JK Scott (have to have a punter)
And your roster is up to 53.

Cap space:
2023 = $7.8 million
2024 = $39.9 million (with an additional $46 million available when you cut KA and KM)

The 7 draft picks will inevitably take the spots of the bottom 7 on the existing 53-man roster. I think Cmplxgal said this would cost about $3.5 million. That brings 2023's cap down to $4.3 million. TT probably wants a little more room than that. But an extension to Vato (and his $9.4 cap hit) could easily take care of that. If you extend Vato, it probably saves you $4 million on 2023's cap... but costs you $6 million on 2024's cap.

All said and done... $8.3 million space in 2023 (after draft class is signed), 53 on the roster. $79 million in cap space in 2024... without KA and Mack (but extended Vato) would bring the roster up to 33 after draft class. You could re-sign Herbert ($30 million in 2024)... roster up to 34 and still have $49 million left on your 2024 cap.

The other thing you have to consider when letting Pipkins, Callahan, Tranquill, and Fox walk away via FA... is you're going to get comp picks for those departures.

[Berserker76]

TT has a love of potential especially with his late round picks. He needs to lose that, draft high floor/low ceiling types and can step up and play if need be. Cuz you know those guys sometimes develop too.

Exactly this. We don't need more "projects". Pip finally turned out good but now we can't afford him.

[SAY OW 55]

Are we in the running for Jalen Ramsey?

[Topcat]

TT has a love of potential especially with his late round picks. He needs to lose that, draft high floor/low ceiling types and can step up and play if need be. Cuz you know those guys sometimes develop too.

Yep...and remember, TT not only likes projects in the late rounds, but ANY round for that matter...agree...tired of projects like Pip who take YEARS to develop, then by the time they finally get coached up, they're FA's...or projects like Tuerk, Reed or Mager who NEVER DID develop...ugh...

[Topcat]

Are we in the running for Jalen Ramsey?

We need to REDUCE our cap load...not ADD to it...

[beachcomber]

re: Keenan.... don't think there's a receiver in this draft that can hold a candle to him, and.... not sure there is a Pro Bowl receiver in the bunch ??

will volunteer that eye suspect Keenan still has not one, not two, but three Pro Bowls in him and yet to come....

also did some cursory research on WR longevity, and there are a coupla few name wideouts that fell off before 35, but the most of 'em did just fine 'til then, and a fair bit of 'em actually had some of their best years in their early 30s.... moving on from Keenan would be a really poor football decision.

[gzubeck]

Exactly this. We don't need more "projects". Pip finally turned out good but now we can't afford him.

Complete head scratcher for me here. Why even let him walk if you can sign him for 3 years with $16 mil guaranteed. The only way you let him walk is if he wants $10 mil per year with $30 mil guaranteed.