Chicago Bears

Currently, an estimated $26M in projected Salary Cap space for 2015 (per Overthecap.com)

Notable Free Agents: Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman, DJ Williams, Brian De la Puente, Jimmy Clausen

Potential Salary Cap Casualties, Candidates for Re-structure, and/or Extensions: WR Brandon Marshall can be cut prior to 6/1 to clear $4M in space on a $10M cap figure or post 6/1 to clear $7M in cap space, RB Matt Forte is in the final year of his contract and $8M of $9M cap figure could be cleared if he were to be cut (we expect a possible extension, but at 29, Chicago may let him play this year out or consider trade offers), DT Jay Ratliff’s whole cap figure for nearly $2M can be cleared by cutting him.

Notes: As mentioned, at 29, in the last year of his contract we wonder if the Bears will consider trade offers for Matt Forte if they can’t negotiate a favorable contract extension. If Brandon Marshall goes, as some expect, maybe the team decides to go for the your movement and also ship Forte out. With little salary cap incentive to cut Jay Cutler and a fairly reasonable salary for the foreseeable future- we believe the Marlboro Man will almost certainly be back in Chicago. The team will need to do everything possible this offseason to upgrade the defensive side of the ball.

Detroit Lions

Currently, an estimated $15M in projected Salary Cap space for 2015

Notable Free Agents: Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, Dominic Raiola, Rashean Mathis, Kellen Moore (RFA)

Potential Salary Cap Casualties, Candidates for Re-structure, and/or Extensions: WR Calvin Johnson hits the salary cap for $65M over the next three years including a $20M cap hit in 2015 he obviously won’t be cut but that’s way too much for anyone other than an elite QB in his prime- if Megatron wants to be on a winning team he’ll need to re-do his deal, RB Reggie Bush can be cut after 6/1 to clear $3.5M in space which the team may desperately need to sign their rookies if they’re able to tie up Suh in free agency, S Glover Quinn and TE Brandon Pettigrew may suffer the same fate as Bush.

Notes: It will be interesting to watch what happens with DT Nick Fairley, a beast when he’s right, he will come at a much cheaper price tag than his line-mate Suh. It seems like Reggie Bush’s days should be numbered unless he takes a massive pay cut. Joique Bell and Theo Riddick only account for about 4M in 2015 which is a relative bargain. The Lions will almost certainly take a crack at RB value in this year’s NFL Draft.

Green Bay Packers

Currently, projected at over $23M in projected Salary Cap space for 2015

Notable Free Agents: Randall Cobb, Tramon Williams, BJ Raji, Bryan Bulaga, John Kuhn, Matt Flynn, Jarrett Boykin

Potential Salary Cap Casualties, Candidates for Re-structure, and/or Extensions: DE/OLB Julius Peppers at $12M for 2015 with a $9M cap savings available in a post 6/1 cut is very likely candidate to restructure if he wants to stay with a team that gives him a chance to win a Lombardi Trophy, LB AJ Hawk at $5M isn’t unreasonable but Teddy knows he can find young LBs for cheap in the draft and could opt to spend this money elsewhere.

Notes: Ted Thompson at it again, he has one of the best teams in the league while managing a favorable salary cap situation.The Packers first priority will be re-signing their own free agents. Their second priority will be continuing to upgrade the defense. That could come at the expense of Randall Cobb, considering the massive offers he’s expected to get in Free Agency as well as the relative depth of the slot WR position in this year’s incoming rookie class- along with the emergence of Davante Adams and his $900K salary. We like Tyler Lockett out of K-State as a potential rookie replacement, although Percy Harvin may be an interesting option.

Minnesota Vikings

Currently, projected at $16M in Salary Cap space for 2015

Notable Free Agents: Christian Ponder, Corey Wootton, Jasper Brinkley, Matt Asiata

Potential Salary Cap Casualties, Candidates for Re-structure, and/or Extensions: RB Adrian Peterson at $15M is just too much for a middling team who can clear $13M in cap space by cutting the aging superstar- the team will first ask AP to take a pay-cut something we can’t imagine he would do for any team that’s not in Super Bowl contention, Greg Jennings and his $11M cap figure will be taking hike or a massive reduction in pay- Minnesota can clear $9M in cap space by cutting him after 6/1, LB Chad Greenway with nearly a $9M cap figure and vey little dead money associated, LB Brian Robison has a reasonable cap number at under $6M – however the team could clear almost $5M in a post 6/1 cut, FB Jerome Felton may also see his $2.5M salary eviscerated.

Notes: The writing is all over the wall, Adrian Peterson is going to be traded this offseason. He’s not taking less money to play for a team that can’t even win it’s division. Jerry says welcome to Dallas AP, unless another bottom feeding team (hello Oakland) is willing to pony up draft picks and big cash in order to become relevant again. Kyle Rudolph’s contract sucks at $6M/year, but he will tell GM Rick Spielman to eat cardboard this offseason if approached to re-structure. Due to the terms of his contract, the injury-prone Rudolph is locked in to the Vikings roster and there is nothing the team can do about it. Hopefully, for Minnesota’s sake he can stay healthy and become the safety blanket that youngster Teddy Bridgewater desperately needs.