Here's a quick recap of the Patriots' transactions so far from this week and their impact on their 2019 salary cap:
1. According to multiple reports, they signed wide receiver Demaryius Thomas to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million. When a deal report includes the phrase "worth up to," it usually means 46-man active roster bonuses are included in the deal, as well as incentives.
Because Thomas was released by the Texans in February, he won't be part of the 2020 compensatory pick calculations. Over the Cap's Nick Korte currently projects the Patriots will receive in 2020 two third-round compensatory picks and two sixth-round compensatory picks.
There are not yet enough details to know how Thomas' deal will impact the Patriots salary cap space number, but here are a few things to keep in mind:
- The minimum salary for a player with his nine credited seasons is $930,000.
- He was active for 15 games in 2018, so his 46-man active roster bonuses will be considered LTBE (Likely to Be Earned) for 15 games.
- It will be very easy to create NLTBE incentives from his statistics (59 catches, 677 receiving yards, and five touchdowns). For example, a 60-catch incentive would be NLTBE, as would be 700 receiving yards.
- Julian Edelman can earn up to $6.5 million ($2 million salary, $500,000 offseason workout bonus, $500,000 in 46-man active roster bonuses, and $3.5 million in incentives) in cash this year. Thomas' deal is reported to be worth $6 million. That can't be a coincidence.
- His deal will not qualify for the Minimum Salary Benefit treatment.
- Thomas will displace Adam Butler's $645,000 salary from the Top 51 list, lessening the deal's impact on the Patriots cap space number. Let's say Thomas' 2019 cap number is $1.75 million. That mean the Patriots salary cap space number will decrease by $1.1 million ($1,750,000 minus $1,100,000).
- C - 2 ($4,230,000)
- G - 6 ($10,909,607)
- OT - 5 ($10,071,684)
- TE - 5 ($3,253,102)
- WR - 8 ($11,763,051)
- QB - 3 ($30,000,000)
- RB - 3 ($9,812,885)
- FB - 2 ($1,600,000)
- Offense - 34 ($81,640,329)
- CB - 5 ($17,597,547)
- S - 4 ($22,678,333)
- DE - 6 ($9,836,489)
- DT - 6 ($8,664,584)
- LB - 6 ($19,408,432)
- Defense - 27 ($78,185,385)
- LS- 1 ($955,000)
- K - 1 ($3,050,000)
- P - 1 ($1,500,000)
- ST - 7 ($10,908,911)
- Special Teams - 10 ($16,413,911)
Question: What is your current Patriots 2019 salary cap space number?