The New Orleans Saints have been carefully navigating the salary cap for years, but the work done by general manager Mickey Loomis this offseason might be his best yet.
Loomis faced the daunting task of managing the Saints cap this offseason — an offseason in which the NFL’s salary cap shrunk for just the second time in league history.
As it stands, the Saints are officially under the cap — barely.
With just over $200,000 in cap space, per Over The Cap, the Saints will likely need to create a little more space before they even sign their top draft picks.
That could be done in a variety of ways, but perhaps the most appealing — and most likely — option would be to extend a least one or two of their star players.
The Saints have a talented roster with a number of players looking for contract extensions in the near future.
Whether they’re set to play the 2021 season on the franchise tag, on the final year of their contract, or a fifth-year option, there are a few players who have earned well-deserved extensions.
New Orleans’ most recent big-money extension came last September when the team inked superstar running back Alvin Kamara to a hefty five-year, $75 million contract.
Which players could be up next? Which stars could the Saints extend to create a little more cap space in the short term? We take a look at four potential candidates.
4. Marshon Lattimore, CB, New Orleans Saints
It’s no secret that Marshon Lattimore has his fair share of baggage that could serve as an obstacle for a long-term extension. His March arrest is likely the biggest hold-up when it comes to the star cornerback receiving a new contract.
The Saints will likely await the outcome of his pending legal situation before deciding to hand over the hefty contract that he likely desires. However, it seems certain that one is coming eventually.
Lattimore was exceptional in his first few seasons quickly looking the part of the 11th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was everything the Saints hoped for and more making the Pro Bowl in three of his first four seasons.
However, it’s also evident that his play has slipped over the last two years.
Lattimore finished the 2020 season with a very poor 59.1 Pro Football Focus grade which was easily the worst of his career. While he still made the Pro Bowl (not that that means much), PFF ranked him as the 70th best player at his position out of only 121 qualifiers.
Lattimore legitimately struggled last year (remember Allen Lazard?), but he’s still due for a new contract in the near future.
He’s a 25-year-old cornerback with three Pro Bowls under his belt. Legal issues aside, it’s hard to argue that he doesn’t deserve an extension.
Lattimore is set to play the 2021 season on his fifth-year option, a situation that seems more and more likely by the day with the legal situation still hanging over his head.
3. Terron Armstead, LT, New Orleans Saints
Even at 29-years-old (he turns 30 in July), Terron Armstead remains one of, if not the best left tackle in the NFL.
He’s made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons and has finished with a PFF grade of 76.0 or higher in all eight years of his career — a remarkable feat unmatched by any other player in the game today.
Armstead is as elite as they come and arguably the most valuable player on the team. For that reason, the team shouldn’t hesitate when it comes time to give him a new contract.
The former third-round pick is set to play the 2021 season on the final year of a five-year, $65 million contract he signed with the Saints back in May of 2016.
The Green Bay Packers recently inked star left tackle David Bakhtiari to a massive four-year, $105.5 million extension. And while that might seem like a hefty sum to pay, it’s the going rate for an elite left tackle.
It’s hard to argue that Armstead doesn’t deserve it.
The Saints could look to get a deal done with Armstead before the start of the season in an effort to create a bit more cap flexibility. And, in doing so, they’d lock up their stalwart left tackle.
Armstead could be looking at a third contract with the Saints in the near future.
2. Ryan Ramczyk, RT, New Orleans Saints
Terron Armstead isn’t the only star offensive tackle the Saints need to extend in the near future. Even if they lock up the left side of their offensive line, they’ll need to do the same with Ryan Ramczyk at right tackle.
Ramczyk was another part ——of that incredible 2017 NFL Draft class that also netted the Saints Marshon Lattimore, Alvin Kamara, and Marcus Williams.
And in a weird twist of irony, the success of that draft class might force the Saints into a tricky predicament in the near future.
Ramczyk has quickly developed into one of the best right tackles in football and is just a year removed from being named the No. 1 offensive tackle in the NFL by PFF after a spectacular 2019 season.
He was nearly as good again in 2020 and has become a rock opposite Armstead on the offensive line. And at just 27-years-old, he’ll certainly be looking to cash in on a big payday this offseason.
But with the Saints looking to create cap space now, they could look to sign Ramczyk before the season begins.
Fortunately for New Orleans, the market for right tackles still isn’t as strong as the one for left tackles, so they won’t need to pay Bakhtiari money to both Armstead and Ramczyk.
That said, he’ll still command a sizable pay raise.
It might not be possible for the Saints to keep both Armstead and Ramczyk, but if they’re forced to choose between the two, they’ll likely go with the younger (and probably cheaper) Ramczyk.
1. Marcus Williams, FS, New Orleans Saints
If the Saints are going to get one long-term deal done before the start of the 2021 season, the safe bet is on safety Marcus Williams.
Perhaps the most overlooked member of that famed 2017 draft class, Williams has developed into one of the best safeties in the NFL, even if he doesn’t always receive the national recognition that he deserves.
The Saints were clearly aware of this too as, despite facing a seemingly impossible cap situation this offseason, they made the effort to place the franchise tag on Williams to keep him around.
The Saints know just how good and important Williams is to their defense, and the two sides seem motivated to get an extension done before the season starts.
At the moment, Williams has one of the highest cap hits on the roster with the tag figure for safeties valued at around $10.6 million.
That’s a hefty figure, one that could come down if the two parties agree to a long-term extension. Unlike the other candidates on this list, this one comes with a deadline.
The Saints have until July 15th to work out an extension with Williams or else he will be forced to play the 2021 season on the franchise tag.
It’s probably in the best interest of both parties to get this one done as soon as possible, however. The Saints need cap space to sign their draft picks and perhaps make another free-agent addition.
Extending Williams could help them accomplish that. Expect this one to get done sooner rather than later.