The Baltimore Ravens’ decision to part company with safety Earl Thomas will have a serious impact on the team, both on and off the field. But where the Ravens might feel it the most immediately is on their 2020 salary cap.
Baltimore officially released Thomas for “personal conduct that has adversely affected the Baltimore Ravens,” which likely means they intend to file a grievance and recoup the $10 million in guaranteed money he had on his contract for 2020. While that decision will ultimately change how the move impacts the Ravens’ salary cap, for right now the move will hit Baltimore’s cap hard.
Thomas had a guaranteed salary of $10 million for 2020, which in concert with the $5 million prorated signing bonus meant he was set to cost the Ravens $15 million on the 2020 salary cap. Just releasing Thomas doesn’t make that charge disappear — quite the contrary.
By releasing Thomas after June 1, Baltimore will still eat all of his $10 million guaranteed money for this year and $5 million for the prorated signing bonus, according to Over The Cap. Furthermore, the Ravens will have the $10 million in remaining prorated signing bonus on their dead cap next year as well. That means, before any grievances are filed and decided, Baltimore would have paid Thomas $32 million for a single year — $22 million if they win the grievance and recoup the $10 million in guaranteed money for this season.
Prior to releasing Thomas, the Ravens had $7.428 million in available salary cap. As it stands right now, Baltimore will still have that same amount of money until a grievance is filed and decided.
