Salary cap recap 11.26.18: Activation of Rex Burkhead, Duke Dawson creates more financial flexibility for Patriots

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



1. On Nov. 13, the Patriots activated cornerback Duke Dawson off injured reserve.

2. New England made room for Dawson by waiving running back Kenjon Barner. Waiving Barner created $259,412 ($630,000 divided by seventeen weeks times the seven remaining weeks) in cap space.

3. Also Nov. 13, the Patriots waived linebacker Nicholas Grigsby. Waiving Grigsby temporarily created $259,412 in cap space.

4. Why temporarily? Because the next day New England filled Grigsby's spot by signing linebacker Ramon Humber to their 53-man roster. Since Grigsby and Humber have the same salary, the switch to Humber from Grigsby did not have a net impact on the cap.

5. On Monday, the Patriots activated running back Rex Burkhead off IR.

6. New England made room for Burkhead by waiving offensive lineman Matt Tobin. Waiving Tobin created $185,295 ($630,000 divided by seventeen weeks times the five remaining weeks) in cap space.

7. The Patriots lost $31,250 in cap space when Chris Hogan earned a NLTBE 46-man active roster bonus. Hogan has been active eleven times this season after being active only nine times in 2017. His 46-man active roster bonus is $31,250. The Patriots will lose $156,250 in cap space if Hogan is active for all five of the remaining regular-season games.

8. The Patriots lost $31,250 in cap space when Marcus Cannon earned a NLTBE 46-man active roster bonus. Cannon has been active eight times this season after being active only seven times in 2017. His 46-man active roster bonus is $31,250 -- they will lose $156,250 in cap space if Cannon is active for all five of the remaining games.

9. The Patriots lost $25,000 in cap space when Matthew Slater earned a NLTBE 46-man active roster bonus. Slater has been active eleven times this season after being active only nine times in 2017. His 46-man active roster bonus is $25,000, which means they will lose $125,000 in cap space if Slater is active for all five of the remaining games.

10. The Patriots lost $31,250 in cap space as Julian Edelman earned another NLTBE 46-man active roster bonus after not being active at all in 2017. Edelman's 46-man active roster bonus is $31,250 -- they will lose $156,250 in cap space if Edelman is active for all five of the remaining games.

11. The Patriots lost $54,687.50 in cap space when Dont'a Hightower earned another NLTBE 46-man active roster bonus. Hightower has been active ten times this season after being active only five times in 2017. They will lose $273,437.50 in cap space if Hightower is active for all five of the remaining games.

In all, the Patriots will lose a total of $1,476,562.50 in cap space if the following players are all active the rest of the year:

Hightower: $273,437.50
Edelman: $156,250
Hogan: $156,250
Cannon: $156,250
Slater: $125,000
Nate Ebner: $125,000
LaAdrian Waddle: $112,500
Kyle Van Noy: $93,750
Stephon Gilmore: $93,750
James White: $62,500
David Andrews: $50,000
Brandon King: $46,875
John Simon: $25,000

The net effect of all of the above moves was to increase the Patriots salary cap space number to $4,583,137 with the 53-man roster and the practice squad being full.

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

Answering some logical follow-up questions:

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

Answer: Jordan Matthews - after Week 3. (Matthews is currently on Philadelphia's roster.)
Nate Theaker - after Week 4
Will Tye - after Week 7 . (Tye is now on the Eagles practice squad.)
Harvey Langi - after Week 7 . (Langi is now on the New York Jets' practice squad injured reserve.)
Luke Bowanko - after Week 9 . (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. LB Calvin Munson


7. DT Frank Herron


8. LB Ufomba Kamalu


9. OL Cole Croston


10. WR Damoun Patterson

1. Isaiah Wynn


2. Jeremy Hill


3. Ryan Izzo


4. Braxton Berrios


5. Christian Sam


6. Ulrick John


7. Ja'Whaun Bentley


8. Eric Rowe


9. Brian Schwenke