Notebook: Saints salary restructure and free agency targets

Cleaning my desk off, I uncovered what the Saints offseason moves may be, who they maybe targeting, what a franchise tag represents to a player tagged, which school has had the most players picked in NFL draft and which NFL players have accumulated the most money.

Deep breath. Ahh, that’s a lot. So let’s get started.

NFL free agency opens March 16. What does it look like for the Black and Gold?

The Saints, despite restructuring Michael Thomas, Ryan Ramczyk and Andrus Peat recently, are still more than $42 million over the 2022 salary cap. Other players Mickey Loomis may target for restructure include Taysom Hill ($7.7 million salary), Cam Jordan ($10.9 million) and Marshon Lattimore ($18.5 million with a $27,453,800 cap hit).

A few who could be outright released or restructured are Mark Ingram ($2.2 million), Bradley Roby ($9.5 million salary with a $10,169,475 cap hit) and Malcolm Jenkins ($6,750,00 base with an overall $11.7 cap hit). Defensive tackle David Onyemata is worth a lot to the franchise and holds a $9,490,000 base and $26 million cap hit. Somehow they will find a way to keep him.

In fact, most of the Saints contracts are built with restructuring in mind. New Orleans will end up with breathing room.

A few familiar Who Dat names could find a new residence for 2022 in the NFL. Jameis Winston will most likely command a long term deal elsewhere, along with more immediate cash than the money-strapped Saints can afford. He guided the team to a 5-2 record prior to suffering a significant knee injury in week 8.

Has Winston demonstrated enough around the league to warrant major interest? I think so, considering the list of QB needy teams is longer than the list of available veteran candidates.

On that note, I feel confident that the Saints will spend a draft pick on a QB this spring. It may not be a first rounder but some names to keep in mond are Bailey Zappe (Western Kentucky), Cole Kelley (Southeastern La.) and Skylar Thompson (Kansas State) in the mid rounds.

Left tackle Terron Armstead will turn 31 years old in July. He has been a rock up front for the Saints when healthy and a great locker room presence, but the constant injuries are likely only to increase with age.

The former Saints thirrd round pick in 2013 has earned $68 million during his nine seasons in Saints colors. He pulled down $11 million last season, playing only in eight games. Armstead has missed 25 contests the past four years.

Left tackles of his magnitude are difficult to find. At this time in his career, he might have an opportunity to hit one final jackpot which could be a little too rich for the Saints’ tastes. The Dolphins ($61 million under the cap), the Jaguars ($56 million) are in need of bolstering at the position along with Bengals, Rams, Bears and Colts. His market value could lie somewhere in the range of four-years, $96 million with $55 million guaranteed.

Free safety Marcus Williams (6-1, 202) is a former second round selection in 2017 who has accumulated 318 tackles, 15 interceptions and 38 passes broken up with New Orleans. He will only be 26 in September. Williams is someone that the organization highly covets, but so do many other NFL teams.

A franchise tag designation by the Saints would set the team back $13,544,000 for 2022. The New York Jets, who are $42 million under the cap, are said to have targeted Williams. His projected value is in the neighborhood of $15 million per annum. One would guess the Saints will cough up a long term deal.

It will be interesting to see how the whole saga with Alvin Kamara unfolds. He has a $5.5 base salary with a $6 million roster bonus for ’22. Tack on a $3 million pro-rated signing bonus, and his number jumps to $14.5 million. Next season, it will stand at $14 million, followed by $14.8 million in 2024 and $25 million in 2025.

If Kamara were to be released this offseason, there would be $20.5 million in dead money. His recent arrest could complicate things with his overall contract.

Kamara has produced 4,234 rushing yards on a 4.6/carry average with 47 touchdowns. He has added 373 catches for 3,263 yards and another 20 scores. The former Tennessee standout will be 27 during the 2022 season, his sixth in the league. He is invaluable to the organization. His arrest may draw a suspension but it would be a very bitter pill for the Saints to part with a player with his value.

How many great seasons does Kaamra still have left? Two? Three? The team is not looking to trade him, but everyone has a price.

Who will the Saints be looking at in free agency?

-TE Mike Gesicki (6-6, 250) Dolphins, listed among the top 3 TE’s in the NFL in 2021, Since 2020 he has grabbed 126 passes for 1,483 yards and 8 touchdowns. He is thought to be seeking in the $7- $8 million range per year. Only 26 years old.

-DB Sidney Jones (6-0, 186, 4.47) Seahawks, 25 years old, 11 starts in Seattle last season. Improved his tackling. In his final four contests in ’21, the safety allowed a paltry 58.3% completion rate and no touchdowns. A $2.2 million offer may secure him.

-DB Jayvon Kearse (6-4, 222) Dallas, totaled 101 tackles, 10 PBU and 2 interceptions in ’21, two touchdowns allowed. Also added 11 pressures in blitz packages. 28 years old. Extremely reliable tackler as a safety. Earned $1.1 million last season. Seeking $4- $5 million per year.

-TE Robert Tonyan (6-5, 237) Packers, 27 years old. Played in 51 games in Green Bay with 84 catches, 967 yards and 15 TD’s. In 2020, he had 11 scoring catches. Coming off an injury, he could be had for $5.5 million.

– QB Marcus Mariota (6-4,222) 28 year old former 2014 Heisman winner. He was 36-5 as starter for Oregon Ducks. Second overall pick by Titans in ’15. Has been used similar to Taysom Hill by the Raiders the past two seasons. Has 61 NFL starts. He is the first player in NFL history to pass for 250 yards and three touchdowns, while running for 100 yards in the same game. He is likely looking for a fresh start. I estimate he’ll make in the $5-$8 million

-RB James Connor (6-1, 233) Cardinals, 26 years old, was third round pick of Steelers in 2017. Two-time Pro Bowler has accumulated 3,054 rushing yards and 37 TD’s during his five seasons. He adds 161 catches for 1,338 yards and seven scores as receiver. He is drawing interest from Cardinals, Steelers, Seahawks, Bears, Dolphins and Jaguars. He signed a $1,750,000 deal last season.

– OLB Hassan Reddick (6-1, 235), Cardinals, 28 years old. He is one of just five players to have recorded 10 sacks in each of past two seasons. He totaled 23.5 sacks past 2 years. He is seeking a four-year, $68 million with $33.5 million guaranteed.

-RB Darrel Williams (5-11, 225) Chiefs, 26 years old. Former John Ehret and LSU star. During his caree, he has tallied 912 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns plus 83 grabs, 762 yards and four more scores. Could be interested in a $2 million deal.

-DB Tyrann Mathieu, now 30 years old, the Honey Badger enters his 10 campaign with 610 tackles and 26 interceptions. He earned $14.5 million last season in Kansas City. He is seeking in the neighborhood of a three-year, $45 million contract with $28 million guaranteed. The Saints may be willing to kick the tires.

Which positions are most coveted by NFL teams? Look at the franchise tag amounts. The list tells the story.

1-QB $28,598,000
2-DE $20,186,000
3-WR $19,127,000
4-LB $17,417,000
5-CB $17,295,000
6-DT $16,888,000
7-OL $16,698,000
8-Safety $13,544,000
9-RB $12,536,000
10-TE $10,834,000
11-Special teams $5,469,000

According to Pro Football Focus, the schools with the most players drafted since 2000 are as follows:

Ohio State-151, Alabama-137, LSU-133, Florida-125, Georgia-124, Miami-123, USC-117, Florida State-113, Oklahoma-106 and Michigan-101.

Spotrac recently listed the top 50 wage earners (total sum accumulated) of NFL players during their careers. A few have local ties:

1-Tom Brady (2000-2021) $293 million
2-Drew Brees (2001-2020) $269.7
3-Ben Roethlisberger (2004-2021) $267.3 million
4-Matt Ryan (2008-2021) $267 million
5-Aaron Rodgers (2005-2021) $263.3 million.
6-Eli Manning (2004-2019) $252.3 million
7-Peyton Manning (1998-2015) $248.7 million
9-Matthew Stafford (2009-2021) $239.3 million
11-Russell Wilson (2012-2021) 181.4 million
13-Carson Palmer (2004-2017) $174.1 million
16-Julius Peppers (2002-2018) $165 million
22-Brett Favre (1991-2010) $137.8 million
23-Cam Newton (2011-2021) $133.5 million
26-Tony Romo (2004-2016) $127,4 million
46-Andrew Whitworth (2005-2021) $107.4 million
50-Patrick Peterson (2011-2012) $102.76 million

Finally, who is the fastest player in this year’s NFL draft? It’s Baylor cornerback Kalon Barnes (6-0, 186), a former Texas prep sprint champion who turned a 10.22 time in the 100 meters.