Salary cap recap 12.19.18: More roster bonuses means less financial flexibility for Patriots

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



1. On Dec. 18, the Jets signed offensive tackle Eric Smith off the Patriots practice squad, creating $40,000 in cap space -- the Patriots are now no longer responsible for paying Smith's $20,000 salary. Smith will go from earning $20,000 a week while with the Patriots to making $32,647 weekly with the Jets, while passing up earning any postseason money.

2. On Dec. 19, New England signed offensive tackle Toby Weathersby to the practice squad. I'm presuming Weathersby will be paid the minimum ($7,600 a week), so this signing will take up $15,200 in cap space.

3. The Patriots lost $75,000 in cap space when Nate Ebner earned three more NLTBE 46-man active roster bonuses. Ebner has been active 13 times this season after being active nine times in 2017. His 46-man active roster bonus is $25,000, which means New England will lose $50,000 in cap space if Ebner is active for the two remaining games.

4. The Patriots lost $31,250 in cap space when Stephon Gilmore earned a NLTBE 46-man active roster bonus. Gilmore has been active 14 times this season after being active 13 times in 2017. His 46-man active roster bonus is $31,250, which means they'll lose $62,500 in cap space if Gilmore is active for the two remaining games.

5. The Patriots lost $56,250 in cap space when LaAdrian Waddle earned two NLTBE 46-man active roster bonuses. Waddle has been active 14 times this season after being active 12 times in 2017. His 46-man active roster bonus is $28,125, which means they will lose $56,250 in cap space if Waddle is active for the two remaining games

6. The Patriots lost $31,250 in cap space when Kyle Van Noy earned a NLTBE 46-man active roster bonus. Van Noy has been active 14 times this season after being active 13 times in 2017. His 46-man active roster bonus is $31,250, which means they will lose $62,500 in cap space if Van Noy is active for the two remaining games.

7. The Patriots lost $96,750 in cap space when Chris Hogan earned three more NLTBE 46-man active roster bonuses. Hogan has been active 14 times this season after being active nine times in 2017. His 46-man active roster bonus is $31,250. The Patriots will lose $62,500 in cap space if Hogan is active for the two remaining regular-season games.

8. The Patriots lost $96,750 in cap space when Marcus Cannon earned three more NLTBE 46-man active roster bonuses. Cannon has been active 11 times this season after being active seven times in 2017. His 46-man active roster bonus is $31,250 -- they will lose $62,500 in cap space if Cannon is active for the two remaining games.

9. The Patriots lost $75,000 in cap space when Matthew Slater earned three more NLTBE 46-man active roster bonuses. Slater has been active 14 this season after being active nine times in 2017. His 46-man active roster bonus is $25,000, which means they will lose $50,000 in cap space if Slater is active for the two remaining games.

10. The Patriots lost $96,750 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 $31,250 -- they will lose $62,500 in cap space if Edelman is active for the two remaining games.

11. The Patriots lost $164,062.50 in cap space when Dont'a Hightower earned three more 46-man active roster bonus. Hightower has been active thirteen times this season after being active five times in 2017. The Patriots will lose $109,375 in cap space if Hightower is active for the two remaining games.

12. The Patriots lost $15,625 in cap space when Brandon King earned a NLTBE 46-man active roster bonus. King has been active 14 times this season after being active 13 times in 2017. His 46-man active roster bonus is $15,625, which means they will lose $31,250 in cap space if King is active for the two remaining games.

In all, the Patriots will lose a total of $746,875 in cap space if the following players are all active the rest of the year:

Hightower: $109,375
Edelman: $62,500
Hogan: $62,500
Cannon: $62,500
Van Noy: $62,500
Gilmore: $62,500
James White: $62,500
Waddle: $56,250
Slater: $50,000
Ebner: $50,000
David Andrews: $50,000
King: $31,250
John Simon: $25,000

The net effect of all of the above moves was to increase the Patriots salary cap space number to $3,878,250 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 Eagles' 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 Jets' practice squad injured reserve.)
Luke Bowanko - after Week 9 . (Bowanko is now currently on the Redskins 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. TE Stephen Anderson


5. LB Calvin Munson


6. DT Frank Herron


7. LB Ufomba Kamalu


8. OL Cole Croston


9. WR Damoun Patterson


10. OL Toby Weathersby

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