Some good and unexpected news might be coming soon in what is going to be a crucial offseason for the Eagles.
The NFL informed teams on Thursday morning that the salary cap will be no lower than $180 million, which is $5 million more than the previous floor of $175 million.
The good news is that it could end up being higher. According to a previous NFL Network report, the NFL and NFLPA have started to negotiate the salary cap for the 2021 season — and it is going to be higher than expected.
"The NFL and NFLPA began preliminary negotiations last month on the 2021 salary cap. Some team officials believe (and surely hope) the cap will ultimately land closer to $185 million per club -- if not a little higher -- than the $175 million minimum the sides agreed to last summer as they braced for empty and mostly empty stadiums"
The cap coming in at $180 million or even higher would obviously be huge for the Eagles.
The Eagles currently have, according to Over The Cap, $251 million in salaries (for the top 51 players) committed for the 2021 season. They ended the 2020 season with around $21 million in salary cap space, which means that cap space will roll over into the 2021 cap.
If the cap comes in at $180 million, and you add in the $21 million in rolled over space, the Eagles' cap would be at around $201 million. If it comes in even higher — like around the $198 million it was this season — the Eagles' cap would be $219 million.
It is comes in at $180 million, the Eagles would be about $50 million over the salary cap. If the cap comes in at $185 million, the Eagles would be about $45 million over the salary cap. If it comes in at $198 million, the Eagles would be about $32 million over the cap.
In an ideal world where the cap stays at the $198 million it was this season, which is unlikely but should't be ruled out, the Eagles could get back to even on the salary cap pretty easily:
Cut Wide Receiver Alshon Jeffery: Saves $7.9 million, leaves $10.5 million in dead cap
Cut Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson: Saves $5.1 million, leaves $5.8 million in dead cap
Cut Wide Receiver Marquise Goodwin: Saves $4.8 million, leaves $0 in dead cap
Cut Defensive End Derek Barnett: Saves $10 million, leaves $0 in dead cap (could also re-negotiate)
Tight End Zach Ertz: Saves $4.7 million, leaves $7.6 million in dead cap *Cap hits for a trade*
Total Saved: $32.5 million
Total in Dead Cap: $23.9 million
There is no doubt the dead-money cap hit this year for the Eagles will be huge — especially if they trade Wentz. But in what is clearly a rebuilding year, that might not matter. It is also very possible the Eagles make some of those players a post-June 1st cut, which would minimize the dead cap.
Overall, however, the fact the cap is being discussed as not only being over $175 million, but considerably higher, is great news for the Eagles.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
