Philly.Com's Jeff McClane reported earlier today the Eagles will be trading Michael Bennett and a 2020 seventh-round pick for a 2020 fifth-round pick. Chris wrote about the trade's potential impact on the Patriots roster while Greg evaluated his play. I will be looking at its salary cap impact on the team, but also the players it could affect (Adrian Clayborn, Trey Flowers).
None of Bennett's 2019/2020 compensation is guaranteed so he can be released anytime before Week 1 and the Patriots will not have any dead money. On the other hand, Bennett can retire anytime and can't be asked to pay back any unearned signing bonus.
Bennett's 2019 salary cap number is $7,200,000.
--$6,200,000: Salary. His 2019 salary was originally $6 million but he increased it by $200,000 by earning a sacks escalator.
--$1,000,000: 46-man active roster bonuses. He will earn $62,500 for each game he's active.
Acquiring Bennett displaces a player with a $495,000 salary from the Top 51 list so the Patriots cap space will decrease by $6,505,000. Even though the trade will not be official until March 13th, I am going to presume the trade goes through. My new salary cap space number is $16,516,721.
Bennett's 2020 salary cap number is $8,500,000.
--$7,500,000: Salary
--$1,000,000: 46-man active roster bonuses. He will earn $62,500 for each game he's active.
Bennett's $7.75 million APY (Average Per Year) is the 14th-highest for a 4-3 defensive end. Bennett's $7 million 2019 cap hit is the eighth-highest on the Patriots, third-highest among Patriots defenders and the highest for a Patriots defensive lineman.
Bennett's arrival could mean the end of Adrian Clayborn's time with the Patriots.
Clayborn's 2019 salary cap number is $5,937,500.
--$3,500,000: Salary
--$2,000,000: Signing bonus proration.
--$437,500: 46-man active roster bonuses. He will earn $31,250 for each game he's active. Will earn $500,000 if active for all 16 games. If Clayborn is indeed active for all 16 games, the Patriots will lose $62,500 in cap space during the season.
Releasing Clayborn would create $3,442,500 in cap space while leaving $2 million of dead money on the Patriots' cap ledger.
Does the Bennet acquisition necessarily mean Trey Flowers will be leaving the Patriots in free agency? Not necessarily. The Patriots could restructure or extend Bennett's deal thereby lowering his 2019 cap number.
Bennett becomes the 11th defensive lineman on the Patriots roster joining Adrian Clayborn, Lawrence Guy, Derek Rivers, Deatrich Wise, David Parry, Adam Butler, Ufomba Kamalu, Keionta Davis, Trent Harris, and Frank Herron.
After the Bennett trade, the Patriots will then have eight picks in the 2020 draft.
- 1st round: Original
- 2nd round: Original
- 3rd round: Original
- 4th round: Original
- 6th round: Orignal
- 7th round: Falcons - Jordan Richards trade
- 7th round: Eagles - part of the Michael Bennett trade
- 7th round: Original