Patriots’ cap space remains among lowest in NFL after 2020 draft
By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Reason No. 92,476,759,420,967,163,069,384 that we should just stop it with the Cam Newton, and even the Andy Dalton while we’re at it. The Patriots aren’t going to be making any more major additions unless it’s through a big trade, because they remain up against the cap as tightly as almost every team in the NFL.
Albert Breer of The MMQB posted the teams with the Most cap space, post-draft ... Least cap space, post-draft ...
1) Browns $37.548M
2) Redskins $36.694M
3) Lions $29.488M
4) Broncos $24.249M
5) Colts $24.068M
6) Eagles $23.540M
7) Titans $21.609M
8) Chargers $20.995M
9) Bills $20.596M
10) Dolphins $20.174M
1) Rams $419,169
2) Patriots $1.077M
3) Falcons $2.233M
4) Saints $3.855M
5) Bucs $4.364M
6) Chiefs $4.912M
7) Seahawks $5.257M
8) Steelers $5.768M
9) 49ers $6.767M
10) Panthers $7.008M
Post-draft, the Patriots ranked 31st in the league in cap space with just $1.077 million.
Top-3 most cap space? Browns, Redskins, Lions. That’s like the Surgeon General’s cigarette warning but for teams that don’t spend. So this is not a commentary on how Bill Belichick fudged up the cap and that’s why he’s bad. Just the reality of his tight pursestrings.
Bill Belichick and the Patriots have just $1.077 million in cap space after the conclusion of the NFL Draft. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
New England’s official roster lists 66 players, while there are 16 reported undrafted free agents, leaving the Patriots with eight spots still to fill. The cap space won’t matter as long as the remaining additions don’t break the threshold of the top-51 and eat into the $1.077 million left. But it simply illustrates that Belichick has little margin for error when it comes to managing the 2020 personnel.
It also illustrates that, unless Belichick pulls something like a Joe Thuney deal, you shouldn’t expect a big move until 2021 at the earliest. Barring a significant trade or release, Belichick pretty much has to work with what he has. And that’s with little added impact coming from the outside.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at [email protected].
