Salary cap recap 11.06.18: Space decreases again as more land on IR

Measuring the moves the Patriots made the last couple of days and their impact on the salary cap:



1. On Oct. 30, they placed cornerback Eric Rowe on Injured Reserve (IR). This move did not change his 2018 cap number of $1,107,531.

2. To fill Rowe's spot on the 53-man roster, they promoted offensive lineman James Ferentz from the practice squad. Ferentz's cap number is $333,529 ($555,000 divided by seventeen weeks times the eight remaining weeks). Ferentz went from making $7,600 a week while on the practice squad to making $32,647.06 weekly while on the 53-man roster.

3. On Tuesday, the Patriots filled Ferentz's spot on the practice squad by signing linebacker Ufomba Kamalu. His cap number is $60,800.

4. On Tuesday, they also released Kenneth Farrow from the practice squad.

5. On Tuesday, the Patriots waived offensive lineman Cole Croston from the 53-man roster. Croston has practice-squad eligibility.

6. On Tuesday, New England signed safety Obi Melifonwu to the 53-man roster. Since Croston and Melifonwu have the same $555,000 salary, replacing Cole with Melifonwu has no impact on the salary cap.

7. On Tuesday, the Patriots waived defensive lineman Geneo Grissom from the 53-man roster. Grissom does not have practice-squad eligibility because he has three accrued seasons (6 games on the 53-man roster, IR, or PUP).

8. On Tuesday, linebacker Albert McClellan was added to the 53-man roster. McClellan's cap number is $371,765 ($790,000 divided by seventeen weeks times the eight remaining weeks).

9. The Patriots placed offensive lineman Brian Schwenke on IR Tuesday. Because his deal contains the split salary provision -- which lowers his salary if placed on IR -- Schwenke's weekly salary will drop from $37,058.82 to $26,941.18. Schwenke's cap number decreased from $655,000 to $574,059.

10. The Patriots lost $93,750 in cap space as Julian Edelman earned three more NLTBE 46-man active roster bonuses after not being active at all in 2017. Edelman's 46-man active roster bonus is $54,687.50.

11. The Patriots lost $109,375 in cap space when Dont'a Hightower earned two more NLTBNE 46-man active roster bonuses. Hightower has been active eight times this season after being active only five times in 2017. His 46-man active roster bonus is $54,687.50.

The net effect of all of these moves was to lower the Patriots salary cap space number to $4,787,114 with one open spot on both the 53-man roster and the practice squad.

We're still waiting to learn the amount of Malcolm Mitchell's grievance settlement -- his grievance amount of $252,000 remains on the Patriots cap. The Boston Herald's Kevin Duffy tweeted in late September that Mitchell's grievance had been settled.

Answering some logical follow-up questions:

Question: When can the eligible players on IR play again with the Patriots?

Answer: Duke Dawson could have played in the Week 9 game against the Packers while Rex Burkhead can play in the Week 14 game against the Vikings on Dec. 2. Per a bylaws change, this year they have to miss eight games, not eight weeks.

Question: When can the players who have previously reached injury settlements re-sign with the Patriots?

Answer: Jordan Matthews - after Week 3. Please note that Matthews is currently on the Eagles roster.
Nate Theaker - after Week 4
Will Tye - after Week 7
Harvey Langi - after Week 7 . Please note that Langi is now on the Jets practice squad injured reserve.
Luke Bowanko - after Week 9 . Please note that Bowanko is now currently on the Washington roster.

Question: Who are the current members of the Patriots practice squad?

Answer:

1. QB Danny Etling


2. CB Jomal Wiltz


3. DE Trent Harris


4. OL Eric Smith


5. TE Stephen Anderson


6. S David Jones


7. LB Calvin Munson


8. DT Frank Herron


9. LB Ufomba Kamalu

1. Isaiah Wynn


2. Jeremy Hill - Eligible to be designated for return


3. Duke Dawson - Designated for return on Oct. 24. The deadline to activate him is November 14


4. Ryan Izzo


5. Braxton Berrios


6. Christian Sam


7. Ulrick John


8. Rex Burkhead - Eligible to be designated for return


9. Ja'Whaun Bentley - Eligible to be designated for return


10. Eric Rowe - Eligible to be designated for return


11. Brian Schwenke - Eligible to be designated for return