Denver Broncos

Currently, projected at $26M in Salary Cap space for 2015

Notable Free Agents: Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Terrance Knighton, Julius Thomas, Jacob Tamme, Virgil Green

Potential Salary Cap Casualties, Candidates for Re-structures, and/or Extenions: Whispers are already begun from Denver that Frankenstein-necked QB Peyton Manning will likely be asked to reduced his $21.5M cap number to give the team its best chance at another Super Bowl run. LB Von Miller enters that final year of his contract at his biggest cap number yet, $9M, all of which is clearable versus the cap. WR Andre Caldwell is likely gone in order to clear almost all of his $1.5M figure from the cap, RB Ronnie Hillman is a relative bargain at $940K but the team could live without him to clear most of that space if necessary while RB CJ Anderson is a steal at $589K and should be considered for an extension.

Notes:
The biggest stories are Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas. Most expect Demaryius back. We expect Julius to be gone. He doesn’t love football and he foolishly turned down $8M to stay in Denver. By all accounts, TE Virgil Green is a player to keep an eye on. However, he is also a free agent as is Jacob Tamme – putting the whole TE corps in flux. It will be interesting to see if Von Miller gets an extension to create some cap room for 2015. GM John Elway was noncommittal this time last year about Andre Caldwell. We expect he’s gone this offseason in favor of the youngster Cody Latimer. Could this be the year Ronnie Hillman is finally out? Lord, we hope so. He finally flashed this season, but he’s been ineffective or unhealthy far too often. Especially, with CJ Anderson on the books for $600K.

Oakland Raiders

Currently, projected at $52M in Salary Cap space for 2015

Notable Free Agents: Tarell Brown, Carlos Rogers, Darren McFadden, Pat Sims, Stefen Wisniewski, Vincent Brown, Andre Holmes, Denarius Moore, Rod Streater (RFA)

Potential Salary Cap Casualties, Candidates for Re-structures, and/or Extenions: S Tyvon Branch at almost $10M is too high for a good player that has been far too injury-prone – he could be cut post 6/1 to clear over $6M and there’s not a huge advantage to waiting until next season to do it. Predictably, as we screamed and screamed at the time to much hate from Raider Nation on Twitter, QB Matt Schaub was a disaster signing. If he’s not released this offseason to clear the entirety of his $5.5M figure off the books, the St. Bernard Reggie McKenzie should be immediately euthanized. LB Lamarr Woodley is in the final year of his deal at $5M with no dead money associated. DE Justin Tuck is in the exact same situation as Woodley – except he played better in 2014. Nothing may change with his situation. DT Antonio Smith should be axed to clear his $4M and create room for younger players – Oakland isn’t ready to win now.

Notes:
Once again, the Oakland Raiders have tons of cap space. Slow golf clap for Reggie. However, the St. Bernard’s roster is nowhere near top dog in the AFC West. In fact, the Raiders are still more like the runt of the litter in that division. Khalil Mack and Derek Carr saved Mckenzie’s job. Slow Golf Clap. A K9 could have drafted those two – who fell like ribeye steaks into Reggie’s food bowl. The problem is, Mckenzie has blown too many other draft picks. He has to follow up with an encore in 2015 to make up for the garbage he’d drafted pre-2014. And, he’s got to stop running in place in free agency. Constantly cutting young talent only to have to try and replace those very same positions instead of developing the rest of the roster. We cannot forget about the trade blunder known as Matt Schaub. He shouldn’t even be a candidate to stay on the roster at the veteran minimum as the third string quarterback. Don’t get us started on Matt Flynn.

Signing Donald Penn after blundering contract negotiations with young stud Jared Veldheer may prove just to be the kind of dumb luck Reggie needed after his top choice to replace Veldheer, Rodger Saffold, was kicked to the curb by chili-bowled owner Mark Davis after he found out that Reggie wanted Saffold even knowing he was damaged goods who had failed physicals. Penn, who has been historically a very good player, graded out as Pro Football Focus’s No. 7 overall offensive tackle in 2014. Much like last year’s veteran signings of Justin Tuck, Lamar Woodley, and Antonio Smith – Penn was brought in on basically a one-year deal with a salary-cap-flexible option for second year. It will be interesting to see if Reggie extends Penn rather than let him play out his deal as most expect like Tuck or Smith, or even Woodley who could easily be cut.

Thankfully, MJD is about to get the Steven Jackson / Dwayne Bowe treatment. Thankfully. Without the guarantee of Leonard Williams being available at No. 4 overall in the upcoming NFL Draft (and maybe even if he is)- Oakland should move all of the chips into the middle of the table in an effort secure the long-term services of DT Ndamukong Suh. He’s the perfect Raider, and would only magnify the abilities of young OLB Khalil Mack who is set to be a superstar. An interior pass rush is kryptonite for division rivals Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers. Oakland also has the money, and the need, to spend big free-agent dollars on a WR and/or RB. We’d prefer to see the money spent on a big-time WR, and maybe somebody affordable like Shane Vereen at RB. Both positions can also easily be bolstered in what promised to be another talent-rich NFL Draft at the WR/RB positions. Obviously- DL, DB, and OL will still also be priorities this offseason.

Kansas City Chiefs

Currently, projected at a $1.5M Salary Cap deficit for 2015

Notable Free Agents: Justin Houston, Mike McGlynn, Kevin Vickerson, Jeff Linkenbach, Rodney Hudson, Jason Avant

Potential Salary Cap Casualties, Candidates for Re-structures, and/or Extenions: WR Dwayne Bowe can be cut post 6/1 to clear $11M of his $14M figure from the cap and he should be looking for work on June 2nd as his skill set has no place in the new KC offense. OLB Tamba Hali at 31 years old can be released to clear $9M of his $12M cap figure at anytime. CB Sean Smith enters the final year of his contract at $7.75M with only about $2M in dead money associated, TE Anthony Fasano is almost sure to be cut or take a pay cut with the emergence of Travis Kelce – Fasano can be cut to clear $3M of his $4M cap figure post-6/1.

Notes: Finally, Dwayne Bowe should be out in Kansas City. Chiefs fans, NFL fans and Fantasy Football players around the world will rejoice together. Kansas City will definitely be in the wide receiver market during the NFL Draft, looking for another talented player who’ll flounder in mediocrity with Alex Smith manning the squirt gun. Tamba Hali is potentially a very interesting situation to monitor. He’s still playing at a high level, but the Chiefs are going to have a fit signing much younger bookend Justin Houston. Remember, John Dorsey selected OLB Dee Ford early last year in preparation for this year. Andy Reid is always in the quarterback market. The Chiefs could be a sleeper for Marcus Mariota if he falls. The health of S Eric Berry is also a big story to follow as he battles cancer in what was supposed to be the final year of his contract. Will the Chiefs keep backup QB Chase Daniel instead of clearing $4M off the cap in an attempt to keep their pass rushers? we think not…if they draft Marcus Mariota. Then, what about defensive cornerstone Derrick Johnson coming off of a torn achilles heading into his mid 30’s? It looks like John Dorsey has a busy offseason ahead.

San Diego Chargers

Currently, projected at $25M in Salary Cap space for 2015

Notable Free Agents: Ryan Mathews, Eddie Royal, Brandon Flowers, Dwight Freeney, King Dunlap, Ronnie Brown, Marcus Gilchrist

Potential Salary Cap Casualties, Candidates for Re-structures, and/or Extenions: QB Philip Rivers is in the final year of his contract at $17M coming off of a great season when healthy. S Eric Weddle enters the final year of his contract at $10M and can be release at any time to clear $7.5M off of the cap, TE Antonio Gates was reborn in ’14 but enters the final year of his deal at almost $10M at what will be age 35 once the season starts. OLB Jarret Johnson enters the final year of his deal at 33 yr old at $7.M, $5M of which can be cleared by a release. DE Corey Liuget enters the final year of his deal at $7M, WR Malcom Floyd was reborn similar to Antonio Gates in 2014 but is 33 entering the final year of his contract at $4M almost all of which can be cleared by a roster cut at any time, RB Donald Brown can be cut to clear $3M out of his $4M after 6/1.

Notes: Chargers GM Tom Telesco has managed Salary Cap flexibility, but he also has a bunch of veteran guys in the last year of their deals. Is the plan to mortgage the future and make another run or two, or is it time for big turnover in San Diego? Ryan Mathews, Eddie Royal, and Ronnie Brown are all free agents, while Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd enter the final seasons of their contracts in their mid 30’s. How different will this offense look in 2015? Branden Oliver is nice insurance at $500K, but with Donald Brown expendable and Ryan Mathews a free agent, the Chargers are a team that could be in play for a running back early in the draft. We got the impression in Mobile, Al. that the Chargers scouts were very intrigued with David Cobb of Minnesota.