What Does NFL’s $208M Salary Cap Ceiling for 2022 Mean for Cowboys?

MarcusRock · Jun 18, 2021

Corso said:
Lol. You don't know what a restructure is, do you?

It doesn't change their money, just how soon they get it.
Which is to their advantage, investing-wise.

Lol. Jealousy blinds.

acr731 · Jun 18, 2021

Corso said:
Lol. You don't know what a restructure is, do you?

It doesn't change their money, just how soon they get it.
Which is to their advantage, investing-wise.

I'm thinking along the line of a player who 'restructures' their contract to a lower amount in order to help their team. Yes, I admit I don't that stuff and really don't care to know.

My way of thinking is most likely wrong, but that is where I was going with my comment. Selfish players don't care about the team, and Dak and Zeke are the two worst on the roster.

Corso · Jun 18, 2021

acr731 said:
I'm thinking along the line of a player who 'restructures' their contract to a lower amount in order to help their team.

My way of thinking is most likely wrong, but that is where I was going with my comment. Selfish players don't care about the team, and Dak and Zeke are the two worst on the roster.

Right on. You're thinking a pay cut.
A restructure is definitely not a pay cut.

Edit: I think Doug Free is the last one to do that here.

fivetwos · Jun 18, 2021

acr731 said:
I'm thinking along the line of a player who 'restructures' their contract to a lower amount in order to help their team. Yes, I admit I don't that stuff and really don't care to know.

My way of thinking is most likely wrong, but that is where I was going with my comment. Selfish players don't care about the team, and Dak and Zeke are the two worst on the roster.

I actually think it's written into standard player contracts....or only the larger second ones anyway...where the team can advance the coming years salary and spread it over the life of the deal for cap purposes.

The player should never complain.....ever, when that happens.

But I see what you meant....no player is giving a cent back.

Corso · Jun 18, 2021

Big Stevie been watching Harold and Kumar while trying to figure out the team's cap:

Flamma · Jun 18, 2021

CowboysFaninHouston said:
very true. that's what all teams do. there are 4 or 5 contracts that can easily be redone and we will have 20M in salary cap...

Yeah, but sometimes there's a reason it's not done already. Take Lawrence for example. He's closer to the sidewalk than he is a restructure. He'll most likely be playing 2021 to be on the team in 2022.

ShortRound131 said:
You would think they'd project it higher with the extra game added

There's something else to consider too. Teams probably still owe more to the salary cap. They didn't take it all back in 2021.

Flamma · Jun 18, 2021

acr731 said:
No way in hell Dak or Zeke restructure their contracts. They have no desire to win, to them its all about how much money they can get out of Jerry.

A couple things here. I don't think they have a choice. Dak's contract was structured with exactly that in mind. Not only that, but it benefits Dak in every way possible. It gives him another sack filled with money up front, and it all but guarantees him an extension after 2 more years.

The only restructure Zeke is getting is probably to his locker.

Whirlwin · Jun 18, 2021

Doomsday101 said:
Yesterday the NFL and the NFLPA announced their agreement on a salary cap “ceiling’ for 2022 of $208.2 million. What does this figure, a potential major increase over previous projections, mean for the Dallas Cowboys now and next season?

You’ve probably already seen articles about Dallas having one of the worst cap situations in the league for 2022. Doom and gloom projections that showed the Cowboys anywhere from roughly $24-$34 million over the cap have cycled since QB Dak Prescott got his massive new deal last March.

Hopefully you’ve also seen the work of various Cowboys writers explaining that the team has several ways to deal with that problem. There is a lot of room in Dak’s contract, plus those of WR Amari Cooper, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, G Zack Martin, and others for restructuring and creating sufficient salary cap space to get back in the black in 2022.

Plus, if needed, the Cowboys can make some business decisions on the contracts of LB Jaylon Smith, CB Anthony Brown, and some other potential cap casualties next year.

All of this was before yesterday’s news about the $208.2 cap ceiling. The recent “cap hell” projections were based on a 2022 salary cap of around $192.5 million; a $10 million increase from the official 2021 figure of $182.5 million.

The NFL’s salary cap has generally gone up by about $10-$11 each year for a while now. 2021 saw it go down due to lost revenues in 2020 from the COVID-19 pandemic, and projections for 2022 were understandably conservative.

https://insidethestar.com/what-does-nfls-208m-salary-cap-ceiling-for-2022-mean-for-cowboys/

I’ve always said the salary cap is overrated. Yeah I know it’s necessary. But there’s always ways around it. I guess every little bit helps

Flamma · Jun 18, 2021

plymkr said:
So if Zeke continues his decline we can not cut him in 2022? If that's true than that sucks. Am I understanding that right?

That you are. His 2022 salary was guaranteed on the 5th league day of this year. They have to wait until 2023 where is dead cap is just under 7 million.

Flamma · Jun 18, 2021

Whirlwin said:
I’ve always said the salary cap is overrated. Yeah I know it’s necessary. But there’s always ways around it. I guess every little bit helps

It has a lot more impact than most think. Sure they can make some adjustments. But Gallup would be signed already if there was no cap. Quarterbacks have become way more important under the cap. Teams can no longer stack defenses to make up for it. The 2013 Seahawks was an aberration. They hit on later round draft picks.

Great teams like the '85 Bears, '86 Giants, and those 49ers teams are a thing of the past. Oh yeah, no way that 70s Steelers team gets paid today. The salary cap waters down the league dramatically. It also waters down rivalries because teams are rarely the same from year to year.

Whirlwin · Jun 18, 2021

Flamma said:
It has a lot more impact than most think. Sure they can make some adjustments. But Gallup would be signed already if there was no cap. Quarterbacks have become way more important under the cap. Teams can no longer stack defenses to make up for it. The 2013 Seahawks was an aberration. They hit on later round draft picks.

Great teams like the '85 Bears, '86 Giants, and those 49ers teams are a thing of the past. Oh yeah, no way that 70s Steelers team gets paid today. The salary cap waters down the league dramatically.

I’m not sure if Gallup would already be signed. I would like to think so. The Cowboys not like that. They don’t pay unless they have to

Flamma · Jun 18, 2021

Whirlwin said:
I’m not sure if Gallup would already be signed. I would like to think so. The Cowboys not like that. They don’t pay unless they have to

Even if true, there is a completely different mindset when considering giving a player an extension when there's a cap as opposed to not. No, cap, your only concern is if the player is worth what he is asking. That's it. Even if he isn't, what he's being paid doesn't hurt the team.

Whirlwin · Jun 18, 2021

Flamma said:
It has a lot more impact than most think. Sure they can make some adjustments. But Gallup would be signed already if there was no cap. Quarterbacks have become way more important under the cap. Teams can no longer stack defenses to make up for it. The 2013 Seahawks was an aberration. They hit on later round draft picks.

Great teams like the '85 Bears, '86 Giants, and those 49ers teams are a thing of the past. Oh yeah, no way that 70s Steelers team gets paid today. The salary cap waters down the league dramatically. It also waters down rivalries because teams are rarely the same from year to year.

I’m trying to remember. One cowboy player asked another Steeler. Are you really getting that much money. Because tex said No way players get paid that much.

Creeper · Jun 18, 2021

$24 million over the CAP is a lot and it is not going to get resolved with a few contract restructures. And btw, restructuring only delays the inevitable. Restructuring Lawrence just means they have to keep him longer, no matter how poorly he plays and how much CAP space he eats up. Restructuring Dak just puts the Cowboys in a worse negotiating position in 4 years. They have to carry his bonus money for two years after his deal is up and that includes and restructuring bonus they give him. It means Dak can dictate his terms when his deal is up. The better option is to trade Lawrence, get a draft pick or two and save $8 million in CAP room. Trading Amari Cooper saves another $16 million. Cutting Jaylon Smith save $5 million. So that is $31 million. Cutting Anthony Brown saves another $5 million. But they still have Gallup, Gregory, Connor Williams and LVE hitting free agency. Those are key players. Imagine having to let them all go because there is no CAP space to sign them?

Restructuring aging players is the wrong answer.

Flamma · Jun 18, 2021

Whirlwin said:
I’m trying to remember. One cowboy player asked another Steeler. Are you really getting that much money. Because tex said No way players get paid that much.

Oh yeah, he was allegedly notorious for paying players the least possible. You mentioned one of many examples. I forget who it was, but one of the Cowboys running backs asked a star player on the Cowboys how much he was making. He couldn't believe it was so little. There's more too. But Tex is no longer here.

Flamma · Jun 18, 2021

Creeper said:
$24 million over the CAP is a lot and it is not going to get resolved with a few contract restructures. And btw, restructuring only delays the inevitable. Restructuring Lawrence just means they have to keep him longer, no matter how poorly he plays and how much CAP space he eats up. Restructuring Dak just puts the Cowboys in a worse negotiating position in 4 years. They have to carry his bonus money for two years after his deal is up and that includes and restructuring bonus they give him. It means Dak can dictate his terms when his deal is up. The better option is to trade Lawrence, get a draft pick or two and save $8 million in CAP room. Trading Amari Cooper saves another $16 million. Cutting Jaylon Smith save $5 million. So that is $31 million. Cutting Anthony Brown saves another $5 million. But they still have Gallup, Gregory, Connor Williams and LVE hitting free agency. Those are key players. Imagine having to let them all go because there is no CAP space to sign them?

Restructuring aging players is the wrong answer.

I agree. I don't see restructures for Lawrence or Zeke. But barring an absolute terrible season by Dak, he'll be restructured after this season and given an extension the season after that. Like Dak or not, fans need to be hoping he plays very well. Or we'll be in the basement for years to come.

jnday · Jun 18, 2021

I have read the posts from the salary cap know-it -alls on this board that say the cap means nothing and Dallas can sign anybody they want without and cap problems. All of these big contracts means nothing to the cap and Dallas can keep right on overpaying their players and signing new ones. I was also told that cap he’ll was a myth.

plymkr · Jun 18, 2021

Flamma said:
That you are. His 2022 salary was guaranteed on the 5th league day of this year. They have to wait until 2023 where is dead cap is just under 7 million.

Wow. That sucks

CowboysFaninHouston · Jun 19, 2021

acr731 said:
No way in hell Dak or Zeke restructure their contracts. They have no desire to win, to them its all about how much money they can get out of Jerry.

Jarntt · Jun 19, 2021

They need to get rid of some contracts to ensure cap health and not just Jaylon. Restructuring guys just kicks the can down the road and makes a short term problem a long term problem. Plus, looking at next year you don't see the contracts of any of our 2022 FAs (LVE, Gallup, Gregory, etc) or potential free agent signings (obviously). All teams get the bump and all teams can restructure players. You need to compare the Cowboys to the other teams to see what shape they are in. Whatever you do in 2022 negatively effects 2023. Here is how the Cowboys compare to other teams in 2023 ($70M away from the next closest team). Ignoring this issue is just burying your head in the sand. Restructuring in 2022 will just make 2023 even worse.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/2023/

What Does NFL’s $208M Salary Cap Ceiling for 2022 Mean for Cowboys?

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