New Orleans Saints

Currently estimated at $23M over the 2015 Salary Cap, per overthecap.com

Notable Free Agents: Mark Ingram, Robert Meachem, Travaris Cadet, Jonathan Goodwin, Patrick Robinson

Possible Salary Cap Casualties, Candidates Re-structures, and/or Extenions: QB Drew Brees $26M cap number with $15M in dead money, RG Jahri Evans $11M cap number w/$5M dead and $6M in cap room if cut before 6/1 ($7.5M after 6/1), WR Marques Colston $9.7M cap number $5M dead and $4M in available cap space if cut prior to 6/1 ($7M after 6/1), LG Ben Grubbs $9.6M cap number w/ $6M dead and $3.6M in savings available if cut prior to 6/1 (#7M after 6/1), LB Curtis Lofton $9.2M on books $5M dead / $4M savings if cut before 6/1 ($7.25M after 6/1), DE Cameron Jordan can be cut to save the full amount of his $7M cap number, DT Brodrick Bunkley $6M cap number w/$3M dead and $3M available in space if cut, Can clear almost $2M by cutting RB Pierre Thomas, $1.5M can be cleared by cutting TE Ben Watson, Nick Toon could be cut for another $700K in clearable space after 6/1.

Notes: After reviewing the Saints 2015 Salary Cap situation, 2014 may not have been a blip on the radar. It may have been the beginning of the end. New Orleans has a ton of work to do in free agency and the draft.

Atlanta Falcons

Currently estimated at $23M in available cap space for 2015

Notable Free Agents: Osi Umenyiora, Sean Weatherspoon, Antone Smith, Jacquizz Rodgers, Kroy Biermann

Possible Salary Cap Casualties, Candidates Re-structures, and/or Extenions: WR Julio Jones $10M no dead at this point, RB Steven Jackson can be cut to clear $4M in cap space, WR Harry Douglas can be cut to save $3.5M in cap space (his $4.4M salary is too much), Devin Hester at $3.7M can be cut to clear $2M in cap space.

Notes: As poor as GM Thomas Dimitroff has been at evaluating talent and making personnel decisions, we have to give him credit for the way he’s managed the salary cap. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are the corps of this team and will be paid accordingly. Thankfully, there isn’t much money tied up elsewhere and the rest of the roster is free to be rebuilt. Roddy White at $5.5M in 2015 is a solid deal for Atlanta. The Falcons are shaping up as a sleeper candidate to pursue / land Ndamukong Suh.

Carolina Panthers

Currently projected at $11.8M in available salary cap space for 2015

Notable Free Agents: Greg Hardy, Byron Bell, Chase Blackburn, Ed Dickson

Possible Salary Cap Casualties, Candidates Re-structures, and/or Extenions: DE Charles Johnson $20M cap number $14M dead (pre-6/1) ($10M in cap space available in a post 6/1 cut), QB Cam Newton is in the final year of his contract at $14.6M w/ no dead money associated, RB Jonathan Stewart at $8.3M w/ $13.6 dead (pre 6/1), RB DeAngelo $6M w/ $6.6M dead (pre 6/1) ($4M dead in savings available post 6/1), RB Mike Tolbert $3.4M cap number w/ $2.4M available if cut, Jerricho Cotchery can be cut to clear $1.5M post-6/1 (we think they keep him at that number).

Notes: $18M alone tied up in the RB position is crazy, and always has been especially since none of them are that good. Cutting Mike Tolbert seems like a formality, but cutting DeAngelo Williams doesn’t clear as much space as you may think, only $2M on a $6M cap number. Carolina could be a sleeper team to go after Victor Cruz in a trade offer.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Currently $25.6M in available salary cap space for 2015

Notable Free Agents: Adrian Clayborn, Mike Jenkins, Da’Quan Bowers, Bobby Rainey (RFA), Leonard Johnson (RFA)

Possible Salary Cap Casualties, Candidates Re-structures, and/or Extenions: DT Gerald McCoy $15M cap number with $5M in associated dead money makes a 10M savings available in a pre-6/1 cut or $11M in space available if cut after 6/1 (McCoy won’t be cut but could be re-structured), WR Vincent Jackson has a $12M cap figure and can be cut to clear $7M prior to 6/1 or $10M after 6/1, S Dashon Goldson has an $8M cap figure and may be cut to clear $4M before 6/1, OL Logan Mankins can be cut to clear his full $7M cap figure prior to 6/1, QB Josh McCown can be cut to clear the entrety of his $5M cap figure in a pre 6/1 move, CB Alterraun Verner can be cut to clear $4M, and RB Doug Martin could be cut to clear half of his $2M cap figure for 2015 (we think he stays at that number)

Notes: Lavonte David is only scheduled to make 1M in 2015 the final year of his contract- he’s about to get PAID. The Bucs will have to think twice before jettisoning Mike Glennon at only $846K. Possibly Losing 3 cheap ILBs to Free Agency, Lovie will be targeting value at all levels of the defense, offensive line, and quarterback in the draft.