The New Orleans Saints swapped one linebacker on another, exchanging backup Vince Biegel for a potential starter in Miami Dolphins firebrand Kiko Alonso. Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Alonso agreed to modify his contract to help facilitate the trade, reducing his 2019 salary from $6.48 million to just $5 million. On top of that, the Saints will only have to pay out $4 million this year — the Dolphins will cover the remaining $1 million, helping squeeze Alonso’s contract underneath the salary cap.
Alonso is still due his $6.4 million in salary cap accounting in 2020, which is the final year of his contract. But he carries no dead money next season, so if things don’t work out in 2019 the Saints can release him next summer without financial penalty.
It’s a nice maneuver from all sides, with the Dolphins doing their part to help get an unwanted contract off their books and Alonso accepting a minor pay cut to join a better team. The Saints can use his help at a position hit hard recently by injuries, but his playmaking ability will be a welcome addition down the stretch even once Alex Anzalone and Craig Robertson are healthy.
