We learned Thursday Julian Edelman may be suspended for four games this season. Greg Bedard and Chris Price have written about the possible on-field impact. But will the move had any effect on New England's cap situation?
Let's start with his 2018 salary of $2,000,000. If his suspension stands, Edelman will lose out on earning 4/17ths of his salary, or $470,588. His 2018 salary was fully guaranteed. If his suspension stands, his salary guarantee voids making it even easier cap-wise to cut Edelman if the Patriots chose to do so.
Why easier? When a team cuts a player with a fully guaranteed salary, that salary remains on their cap. With a fully guaranteed salary the Patriots would lose cap space by releasing Edelman since his cap number would remain the same while New England would have to pay his replacement. Without a fully guaranteed salary, the Patriots could create over $1 million in cap space by releasing Edelman.
Because his suspension would be related to drug use, part of his $5,000,000 signing bonus has to be forfeited, per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). There is $3,333,334 of remaining signing bonus proration, and there are 34 weeks remaining on his 2017 extension. Divide $3,333,334 by 34 weeks. Then multiply that result ($98,039.24) by four, and we will get $392,156.94.
Edelman can earn $31,250 for each game he is active for. If his suspension stands, he will therefore not have the opportunity to earn $125,000 in 46-man active roster bonuses.
So the suspension will cost Edelman at least $987,745
--$470,588 in lost salary
--$392,157 in signing bonus forfeiture
--$125,000 in lost 46-man active roster bonuses.
If the suspension stands, Edelman's chances to earn his $500,000 incentives becomes that much more difficult (by a third).
He has four separate ways to earn his incentive. They are:
- 1,057 receiving yards
- 70 receptions plus seven TDs
- 80 receptions plus 13 wins
- 80 receptions plus a Super Bowl appearance