It’s training camp season in the NFL, with all 32 teams steadily seeing rookies and veterans begin to report for work after a long summer break. It’s also an opportunity for teams to finalize contract extensions and bring in free agents on last-minute signings.
Per the latest public salary cap report from the NFL Players Association, the New Orleans Saints have over $11.7 million to work with. Specifically, the Saints are listed with $11,734,543, but also with 91 spots filled on a 90-man roster. That discrepancy is probably due to a delay in minor contracts with rookie free agents being processed, which is common this time of the year. Once any remaining moves are approved, the Saints’ number should see a slight bump of no more than $500,000.
This is important for New Orleans because contract talks with All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas are ongoing. The Saints have a self-imposed deadline of the start of training camp (veterans report on Thursday, July 25) to iron this out, and the additional salary cap space will go a long way towards accomplishing just that. Even if Thomas ends up signing a record-setting contract bringing in somewhere around $20 million per year, the Saints can structure his salary cap hits to avoid sacrificing too much future spending room.
They’ll also have the opportunity to add free agents off the street or players recently cut by their previous team, like now-former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Allen Hurns. The Saints can use this salary cap space later in the year at October’s trade deadline, allowing them to add impact players, as they did last year, with cornerback Eli Apple. Changes hit the NFL in a hurry, and it’s always good to be prepared by carrying some extra change in your back pocket.
