Over the following a number of weeks I’ll look again on Scott Fitterer’s second yr because the Carolina Panthers common supervisor and assess his efficiency in wage cap administration, free agent signings, the 2022 draft, and participant trades. Final yr he earned a “C” grade in his first season as GM. We’ll see if he fared higher in 12 months 2.
This week we’ll discover Fitterer’s efficiency managing the wage cap by creating cap house in 2022 and utilizing it to increase present Panthers gamers (free company will probably be a separate column). In my grading system a “C” means assembly expectations. I’m not one for grade inflation.
Notable participant releases – $6.4 million
Carolina’s 2022 offseason featured only a few participant releases. Most groups have a handful of wage cap casualties yearly, however the Panthers have been largely quiet.
Morgan Fox, DE – $3 million. Probably the most notable launch was defensive finish Morgan Fox which freed up $3 million in cap house with a $2.5 million lifeless cap hit. On reflection, this was a shortsighted transfer by Fitterer. After his launch from Carolina, Fox signed with the Rams and performed in all 17 video games (12 begins) and racked up 38 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 16 pressures. That manufacturing far exceeds the $3 million in cap house the Panthers gained by waiving him.
AJ Bouye, CB – $3.4 million. Fitterer additionally waived veteran cornerback AJ Bouye to avoid wasting $3.4 million in cap house. This was finally a great transfer after Bouye performed a reserve position in 10 video games in 2021 with the Panthers, his age 30 season, and didn’t play within the NFL in 2022.
Participant launch grade: C-
Contract restructuring – $30 million
One lever common managers can pull to create cap house within the present yr is to restructure contracts of high-salary gamers by changing many of the present yr’s wage right into a bonus, then spreading that bonus out over future years. For instance, a participant with a $10 million base wage this yr might have his wage dropped to $1 million with a $9 million bonus (so the participant nonetheless will get the $10 million this yr), then the cap hit of that $9 million bonus is unfold over the present yr and future contract years. The cap hit doesn’t go away. It simply will get pushed into the long run.
In 2022 Taylor Moton’s deal was restructured to transform $15 million of his 2022 wage right into a signing bonus to create $11.2 million in cap house. Shaq Thompson’s deal was restructured to clear up $5 million by changing $10.1 million of his 2022 base wage right into a signing bonus.
Christian McCaffrey and Robbie Anderson have been each traded through the 2022 season but in addition restructured their offers early within the yr. McCaffrey’s restructure freed up $5.5 million whereas Anderson’s created $5.9 million in cap house.
Fitterer additionally discovered $2.4 million by restructuring Pat Elflein’s deal. Elflein will now have a $7.1 million cap hit in 2023, however simply $2.8 million in lifeless money if he’s launched, so no hurt completed with this restructure.
These have been all good transactions. Whereas every transfer pushes extra cap obligations into future seasons, the affect of these {dollars} are softened because the wage cap will increase yearly. Creating $30 million in cap house with sensible contract restructures is a giant deal.
Contract restructuring grade: A-
Notable gamers re-signed
DJ Moore, WR – 3-years, $61.9M. The Panthers No. 1 receiver is maybe probably the most underrated large receiver within the NFL. He was rewarded with a sensible three-year, $61.9 million contract extension. His $20.6 common annual wage at the moment ranks tenth amongst large receivers, which is honest, and that rank will come down over time as DJ performs by 2025 on his present deal. All Moore must make the Professional Bowl is a reliable quarterback. It was a win to increase him.
Donte Jackson, CB – 3-years, $35.1M. One yr into Donte Jackson’s three-year, $35.1 million extension with $16.8 million assured, and it appears like a little bit of an overpay. Donte battled accidents – once more – and performed in simply 9 video games with an underwhelming PFF grade of 55.0, which ranked a hundred and first of 118 corners. If Jackson can’t put it collectively in 2023, he’s not going to play by the tip of this contract.
Frankie Luvu, LB – 2-years, $9M. In one of the team-friendly contracts in current Panthers historical past, Fitterer re-signed Frankie Luvu to a two-year, $9 million contract. Luvu performed like a Professional Bowler in 2022 with 111 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks in 15 video games. Nicely completed, Scott Fitterer!
Ian Thomas, TE – 3-years, $17M. Ian Thomas’s three-year, $17 million contract extension with $8 million assured is bewildering. Thomas made little affect over his first 4 seasons earlier than his extension, and he as soon as once more did little or no in 2022. Thomas has a problematic $6.7 million cap determine in 2023 with a $5.3 million lifeless cap hit if launched. His play doesn’t justify a $6.7 million cap hit, however is it price chopping him to unencumber $1.4 million in cap house subsequent season? Both proposition isn’t ultimate for the Panthers.
Marquis Haynes, DE – 2-years, $5.5M. Like Ian Thomas, Marquis Haynes was drafted by the Panthers in 2018 and accomplished his rookie deal after the 2021 season. However not like Thomas, Haynes had proven flashes of potential which is why Fitterer re-signed him to a really team-friendly two-year, $5.5 million extension. Haynes efficiency far exceeded his cap hit in 2022 with 29 tackles, 5 sacks, and 16 pressures. This was a strong re-signing by Fitterer.
Gamers re-signed grade: B
2022 wage cap administration abstract
GM Scott Fitterer did a pleasant job releasing up practically $37 million in cap house with affordable contract restructurings and releasing gamers, although he ought to have retained Morgan Fox as a substitute of chopping him to achieve $3 million in cap house.
When allocating these funds to contract extensions, Fitterer did a largely good job. Locking down DJ Moore was a long-term win. Frankie Luvu’s deal is a home run whereas Marquis Haynes’ contract is crew pleasant. Donte Jackson’s extension was an comprehensible threat that may not repay in the long run whereas Ian Thomas’s contract is a head scratcher.
Total it was a strong effort in 12 months 2 by Scott Fitterer in releasing up wage cap {dollars} and utilizing them to offer largely prudent contract extensions to the best gamers.
Closing wage cap and contract extensions grade: B
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