DavidSeven":1ubm5qcw said:
2. With Harvin off the books, Seattle has more than enough cap to honor Marshawn's contract, for Russell's extension, and to make a splash in FA. Cap restraints shouldn't be an issue.
While "Harvin off the books" is true in the long term, I wouldn't overstate it too much for next year, as he'll still count 7.2 million in dead money.
As it stands the Hawks are projected to be about 24 million under the cap next year, but to that you have to likely factor in:
1) An extension for Wilson
2) An extension for Wagner
3) They're also 11 players short of filling a 53 man roster.
If you're backloading in year one let's say you give 3.5 to Wagner and 8.5 to Wilson, meaning you've got 12 million left and 11 roster spots to fill. Let's put about 5 million to the draft, from which seven at most will make the team, meaning you've got 5.5 million left to fill out four roster spots. From there let's give the vet minimum to three of those guys, while also leaving 2 million in room that teams like to have, meaning your "big splash" FA can get paid 3.5 million in his first year.
Even if you could do that, you really can't, because the real problem with the big FA signing isn't the first year, it's the year after that when Sherm, Bennett and Thomas' backloaded money kick in and Wilson and Wagner start making real coin on their contracts.
Basically, I think the Hawks are way too talented of a team to be big players at the top of the FA market. The cap just won't allow for it. They could do it in trade with Percy because Sherman, Thomas, Wilson, and Wagner weren't getting paid, but those days are likely over. They still might hit on a one year rental type a la Bennett's first season, but I wouldn't get my hopes up about bringing in a hot commodity from the outside anymore.
FWIW: Not catastrophizing or trying to be a downer. I'm a 9ers fan, and they're in the exact same boat.