Patscap's 2018 Salary Cap Outlook: How do things look at start of free agency?

A couple of BSJ subscribers have asked for a Patriots' 2018 salary cap preview. Moving forward, New England will have to make several decisions this year about which players to retain. Unlike the 2017 season when the Patriots entered the offseason with the most cap space during their history, this time around, they'll be somewhat limited in their moves. Here's how things set up:



Background Information

Patriots 2018 cap space number:

League cap: $177,200,000
Prior year carryover: $3,012,602
Adjustment: (-$87,613)
Patriots adjusted cap: $180,124,789
2018 cap commitment: $158,929,681 with 62 signed players
2018 CAP SPACE: $21,195,108

As of March 13, the Patriots have 62 players signed for the 2018 season.

Defense: 28

• Cornerback: 5


• Defensive End: 6


• Defensive Tackle: 6


• Linebacker: 5


• Safety: 6

• Center: 3


• Fullback: 1


• Guard: 5


• Offensive Tackle: 3


• Quarterback: 2


• Running Back: 2


• Tight End: 4


• Wide Receiver: 8

• Kicker: 1


• Long Snapper: 1


• Punter: 1


• Special Teams: 3

1. 1st round (No. 31): their original assigned pick


2. 2nd round (No. 43): From the 49ers as part of the Jimmy Garoppolo trade


3. 2nd round (No. 63): their original assigned pick


4. 3rd round (No. 95): their original assigned pick


5. 4th round (No. 136): Compensatory pick for Jabaal Sheard


6. 5th round (No. 159): From the Browns as part of the Danny Shelton trade


7. 6th round (No. 205): their original assigned pick

• Releasing Dwayne Allen, who has a $5 million 2018 cap charge.


• Releasing Mike Gillislee, who has a $2,181,250 cap charge.


• Releasing Shea McClellin, who has a $3,183,334 cap charge and is due $2.35 million in cash.


• Extending Tom Brady's current deal.

1. Sign the 2018 draft class sometime in May or June: That should take around $2.5 million in cap space.


2. Pay for players 52 and 53: $960,000.


3. Pay for the 10-man practice squad ($7,600 times seventeen weeks times ten players) = $1,292,000: For purposes of this exercise, we will round up to $2,000,000, since the Patriots typically pay some practice squad players more than the minimum, and the Patriots have cut players after Tuesday at 4 p.m. when the player has earned that week's salary.


4. Have a cushion for the NLTBE 46-man active roster bonuses that could be earned by David Andrews, Kenny Britt, Marcus Cannon, Brandon King, Julian Edelman, Stephon Gilmore, Rob Gronkowski, Dont'a Hightower, Chris Hogan, Kyle Van Noy and James White. If all eleven players play in all sixteen games in 2018, the Patriots will then lose $2.4 million in cap space.


5. Have a cushion to replace injured players during preseason and regular season: $3 million to $6 million.


6. Have a cushion to extend players during regular season: $1.5 million to $3 million.