Me personally, I would move forward with restructure on Witten...he will be here at least this year and next so the cap change is pretty minimal. We pick up 3m.
I would redo Austin's deal and the deadline would be like noon tomorrow, dropping his salary the next couple years to 3m or less. Maybe guarantee it this year. Saves 2.5m. If he doesn't agree, bye bye as a June 1st cut. Heck, maybe I even take the full hit this year to open up a lot of money next year.
I would redo Ware's deal with the same deadline as Austin, dropping his salary the next two years to 9m or less. Guarantee two years of salary. Saves at least 3.25m this year and 4.75m next. If not, bye-bye and pick up about 7m in cap space this year. And around 17m next year. In this scenario, I am using the money saved this year to get a pass rusher to replace Ware and probably a DT as well. You can fit a big contract around a first year 3.5m cap hit.
I would make Orton commit....he has been wishy washy. I'd take the cut....can be done either way....immediate or June 1st. This would be coupled with a draft pick and a vet signing.
Finally, Brandon Carr. I would save him for last. He is our final card....if there is someone out there we really want, he is the ace in the hole. From redoing his deal to lower salaries, to restructuring to a June 1st cut. He gives us many options.
At a minimum, if Ware and Austin accept the lower salaries and we restructure Witten, we pick up at least 8.75m to work with. I'd target 2 bigger signings. Could be higher especially if we cut Ware more.
If Ware and Austin balk, then we have at least 10m immediately along with the Witten deal. We either gain a chunk in June on Austin or a huge chunk next year. The problem here is you are going to have to replace the production of Ware out of that money. To truly improve the team, you would have to get three free agent first year hits into that 10m.
I don't like Orton, I would get rid of him either way.
Heck we could do all these moves this year to clear cap space, save the money and carry it forward and have a buttload of cap room next year and still have most if not all of these guys on the team assuming they have good years. If not, they get the ax next year.
We have a ton of options, only limited by Jerry and Stephen's creativity.
