Measuring the moves the Patriots made the last couple of weeks and their impact on the salary cap:
1. On Dec. 24, they released offensive tackle Toby Weathersby from the practice squad, creating $7,600 in cap space -- the Pats only had nine practice squad players for Week 17.
2. They lost $109,375 in cap space when Dont'a Hightower earned two more 46-man active roster bonus. Hightower was active thirteen times this season after being active five times in 2017.
3. They lost $62,500 per player when the following individuals earned two more NLTBE 46-man active roster bonuses: Stephon Gilmore, LaAdrian Waddle, Kyle Van Noy, Chris Hogan, Julian Edelman, Marcus Cannon and James White.
(Gilmore was active 16 times this season after being active 13 times in 2017; Waddle was active 16 times this season after being active 12 times in 2017; Van Noy was active 16 times this season after being active 13 times in 2017; Hogan was active 16 times this season after being active nine times in 2017; Edelman was active 12 times this season after not being active at all in 2017; Cannon was active 13 times this season after being active seven times in 2017; White was active 16 times this season after being active 14 times in 2017.)
4. The Patriots lost $50,000 per player in cap space when Nate Ebner, Matthew Slater and David Andrews earned two more NLTBE 46-man active roster bonuses. (Ebner was active 15 times this season after being active only nine times in 2017; Slater was active 16 times this season after being active nine times in 2017; Andrews was active 16 times this season after being active 14 times in 2017.)
5. They lost $25,000 in cap space when John Simon earned two NLTBE 46-man active roster bonuses. Simon was active 11 times this season after being active nine times in 2017.
6. Brandon King earned another NLTBE 46-man active roster bonus, which meant the team lost $15,625 in cap space. King was active 15 times this season after being active 13 times in 2017.
In all, the Patriots lost a total of $2,067,188 in cap space throughout the 2018 season as the following players were active for games in 2018 than they were in 2017:
Hightower: $492,187.50
Edelman: $375,000
Hogan: $218,750
Cannon: $187,500
Slater: $175,000
Ebner: $150,000
Waddle: $112,500
Van Noy: $93,750
Gilmore: $93,750
White: $62,500
Andrews: $50,000
King: $31,250
Simon: $25,000
7. On Jan. 8, New England placed tight end Jacob Hollister on Injured Reserve. His 2018 cap number did not change.
8. On Jan. 8, New England replaced Hollister on their 53-man roster by promoting tight end Stephen Anderson from the practice squad. Anderson goes from making $15,000 this week to making $29,000. His 2018 cap number did not change as postseason pay is considered a benefit.
9. On Jan. 8, New England signed defensive back A.J. Howard and offensive lineman Dan Skipper to its practice squad. Unless they were paid more than the minimum of $7,600, their pay will not count against the Patriots 2018 cap, as postseason pay is considered a benefit. I strongly doubt Howard and Skipper will be paid more than the minimum. In contrast to past years, the Patriots paid only two practice squad players more than the minimum during the 2018 season.
The net effect of all of the above moves was to lower the 2018 Patriots salary cap space number to $3,173,423 with the 53-man roster and the practice squad being full. The Patriots will be carrying over the $3,173,423 onto 2019.
10. On Jan. 8, New England signed center Jake Eldrenkamp to a futures contract. His 2019 salary and cap number should be $495,000.
11. On Jan. 9, New England signed defensive tackle David Parry to a futures contract. His 2019 salary and cap number should be $805,000. The Eldrenkamp and Parry signings have no effect on the 2018 cap as their signings are for the 2019 season.
Answering some logical follow-up questions:
Question: Who are the current members of the Patriots practice squad?
Answer:
- QB Danny Etling
- CB Jomal Wiltz
- DE Trent Harris
- LB Calvin Munson
- DT Frank Herron
- LB Ufomba Kamalu
- OL Cole Croston
- WR Damoun Patterson
- OT Dan Skipper
- DB A.J. Howard
- Isaiah Wynn
- Jeremy Hill
- Ryan Izzo
- Braxton Berrios
- Christian Sam
- Ulrick John
- Ja'Whaun Bentley
- Eric Rowe
- Brian Schwenke
- Jacob Hollister
