Why the Bills Made a Mistake by Cutting Benjamin instead of Clay

[CaptnCoke11]

2 hours ago, dezertbill said:

Currently, according to Spotrac the Bills have $7,062,000 in remaining cap space this season.  Their dead cap is astronomical for a reason, to eat as much dead cap this year in order to free up as much space as possible for 2019.

 

With an estimated $196 million cap ceiling next year,  Beane has set up the franchise to have close to $89 million in free cap space entering into 2019.

 

Obviously, one name that seems to be a cap casualty no-brainer next year is Charles Clay, who would only cost us $4.5 million in dead cap next year and a $4.5 million savings off his $9 million salary in 2019.  

 

My question is why didn't they cut him this year?

 

Prior to cutting Kelvin Benjamin, the Bills had $15.5 million in cap space.  Charles Clay dead cap number this season was $13.5 million.  They could have cut him this year and taken his entire $9m salary completely off the books, giving us an additional $4.5 million next year.

Instead, they cut Benjamin and his $8,459,000 dead cap number.  Benjamin is a free agent after this season, and his cap number in 2019 is $0.

 

Now, with a shade over $7 million remaining in cap space after waiving Benjamin, they can't cut Clay.  

 

Benjamin was let go days after the Miami game in which Clay failed to come up with the last second catch to win the game.  Beane and Co. had to know by then that Clay's days in a Bills uniform were numbered.  Why not cut a guy that's on our books next year instead of a guy who isn't?

 

Some will say "How much cap space do you need?".  I would say you are always trying to maximize your roster and cutting dead cap as soon as possible.  The $4.5 million difference could mean an extra stud OL or WR. 

 

Plus, If that's your plan, be consistent.  Wondering if they knew what they know now (deactivating Clay), in hindsight would the cut Clay instead?

 

 

4.5 million in the NFL gets you a stud kicker.  Not a WR or OL

Edited December 24, 2018 by CaptnCoke11

[Big Turk]

50 minutes ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

No it will not.  They'll have money that'll carry over to the following season. I don't think you get how the cap works based on your OP. 

 

Especially how its easy to structure the contracts so the big cap hit comes 3 or 4 years down the road when you can get out from under the contract without much dead money...

Edited December 24, 2018 by matter2003

[NoSaint]

2 hours ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

They have $90M in cap room for 2019. This is not an issue. 

 

more importantly if we take the hit this year we are just carrying over less cap. It’s taking money out of one pocket and putting it in your other and thinking you changed your net worth.

[1st Ammendment NoMas]

1 hour ago, billsfan89 said:

 

Clowney could command 20 million per, Bell 15 million, and Lawrence 18-20 million. That's 53-55 million Daryl Williams and Pradise probably will combined be well over 10 million if not 8-10 million a piece. That being said even if that 90 million goes quick the team likely can open up an additional 10-25 million in cap space without losing much in value. Shady, Clay, Murphy, Vlad, Ivory, and a few other players can be cut to open up more space if needed. 

 

Command and receive are different stories.  I don't see Clowney getting 20m. He is not in Mack territory. I think the market will soften a bit and teams are not going to severely overpay unless they are sure they are getting a superstar who will earn the money. Clowney 5 years 75m 45 guaranteed.  Lawrence 5 yrs 70m 40 guaranteed. Bell 3 yrs 40m 20 guaranteed and that's the top of the market. I only see someone like the Jets drastically overpaying.

[Just Joshin']

Moot point as unused cap will be rolled to the next year.

[dezertbill]

19 hours ago, BillsRdue said:

 

We could sign LeVeon Bell, Demarcus Lawrence, Jadevon Clowney, Daryl Williams and Matt Paradise and have  30m left so I think we are in good shape.

There are 14 DL and LB making $14-$22 mil per season

There are 13 WR making $14-$17 mil per season

There are 27 OL making $10-$16 mil per season.

 

There are new multi-millionaires made every off season.  There is no way we, as fans, can tell what the exact value is of players that were paid less during past seasons that are now going to command huge salaries.  It's always been about what the market bears.

 

Example, Matt Paradis made $2.9 mil last season.  He is expected to be one of the top FA Centers available this off season, and I'm sure what he will command will be in the $10 mil plus range (6 Centers made $9 - $10.5 mil last season).

 

$4 million in extra cap space can mean the difference between feeling comfortable spending $10 million on a guy vs. $14 million on a better player.

 

All I'm saying is, sure Benjamin was bad.  But so was Clay.  And it makes business sense with everything considered to get rid of the guy who is on contact for two years first over the soon to be FA, so that when next year hits both are off your books.

 

 

 

[The Wiz]

19 hours ago, LittleJoeCartwright said:

 

He also was not being a good role model for younger players with his jogging thru routes.

He wasn't jogging.  That was his top speed. 

[billsfan89]

On 12/24/2018 at 5:35 PM, BillsRdue said:

 

Command and receive are different stories.  I don't see Clowney getting 20m. He is not in Mack territory. I think the market will soften a bit and teams are not going to severely overpay unless they are sure they are getting a superstar who will earn the money. Clowney 5 years 75m 45 guaranteed.  Lawrence 5 yrs 70m 40 guaranteed. Bell 3 yrs 40m 20 guaranteed and that's the top of the market. I only see someone like the Jets drastically overpaying.

 

There are a lot of teams with QB's on rookie deals who have a ton of cap space and a closing window to take advantage of a QB with a low cap number. I could see a team like the Colts or Jets easily overpaying Clowney, Lawrence (who I think will get tagged), and Bell. Free agents always get overpaid and in a market flushed with cash and urgency its hard to see some team not giving a top pass rusher at least 18-20 million and a top offensive weapon like Bell 14-16 million. 

[BillyWhiteShows]

On 12/24/2018 at 2:17 PM, 26CornerBlitz said:

They have $90M in cap room for 2019. This is not an issue. 

 

Yep and many have said they won’t actualky spend the entire $90 M.  4.5M won’t be an issue

[CommonCents]

Poison pill, Charles Clay.

 

 

Swiss Army Knife. 

Edited December 27, 2018 by CommonCents

[Simon Says]

On 12/24/2018 at 3:35 PM, dezertbill said:

They can't.  We only have $7.06 mil in cap space left after cutting Benjamin. Clay's dead cap is $13.5 million.    Emotions aside, the better biz decision was to cut Clay this year and let KB walk in FA.

So are Clay's, and he is on our books next year.  KB isn't.

Top WR's signing for $15 mil per season.  Top DL signing for $15-20 mil.  Top OL signing for $10-15 mil.  

 

$90 mil will go pretty quick.

Who says the Bills will sign the "top' players at any position? Sure, they will consider a WR, a C will make that much, but probably not RG or RT. if you sign 3 or 4 of those 'top' players, avg cap of 10-15 = 40-60 total. Bills developed a TON of young players this year and have 10 draft picks. They dont have to sign an expensive QB,so I'm  not worried about the money.

[LABILLBACKER]

Cap space this....dead cap that....how bout not signing bad players in the first place...do a better job of evaluating a players health and motivation before you lock in to Mario Williams/ Marcel Dareus types. I'd rather give some of this money to guys like Kyle and Lorenzo.  Other than maybe Shady, this organization has really failed on new contract signings....

[Simon Says]

On 12/24/2018 at 4:13 PM, BillsRdue said:

 

We could sign LeVeon Bell, Demarcus Lawrence, Jadevon Clowney, Daryl Williams and Matt Paradise and have  30m left so I think we are in good shape.

Good point; some of the recent WR deals were ridiculous, and i dont think there is anyone of that caliber coming available in '19. Beane could sign 6,7 8 guys at 10 million each ,spread the money around, protect against over-paying (or losing an expensive player to injury). There is other money potentially available, 10 draft picks...etc. 

[CommonCents]

Ertz’s contract was structured so that his cap hit jumps way up in 19’

 

With Goedert in place, if I’m Beane I’m offering up a 2nd and few day three picks in an attempt to help relieve some of the Eagles cap problems. 

 

That’s my Charles Clay solution. 

Edited December 27, 2018 by CommonCents

[Simon Says]

On 12/24/2018 at 4:13 PM, BillsRdue said:

 

We could sign LeVeon Bell, Demarcus Lawrence, Jadevon Clowney, Daryl Williams and Matt Paradise and have  30m left so I think we are in good shape.

Good point; some of the recent WR deals were ridiculous, and i dont think there is anyone of that caliber coming available in '19. Beane could sign 6,7 8 guys at 10 million each ,spread the money around, protect against over-paying (or losing an expensive player to injury). There is other money potentially available, 10 draft picks...etc. 

I think it is probably mentioned elsewhere but i doubt Beane was worried about the salary cap when he cut Benjamin.  Benjamin was a cancer, a bad veteran example,  and attracting tons of negative press and fan reaction; plus, Bills had a couple young WR's they wanted to evaluate. Holmes really only contributed on ST, and both of them were  gone end of season ,anyway. On the other hand, there wasnt enough depth at TE to cut Clay,and since he is still under contract for 2019, maybe they think he will get healthy and stick around. or not, it's a non -issue at this point of the season

[LABILLBACKER]

On 12/24/2018 at 1:13 PM, BillsRdue said:

 

We could sign LeVeon Bell, Demarcus Lawrence, Jadevon Clowney, Daryl Williams and Matt Paradise and have  30m left so I think we are in good shape.

That would be quite the haul. But would they all play hard or be rich malcontents?  Somebody better do a little research on if they're risks.

[Alphadawg7]

Things we needed and didn't need.

 

Needed:  

1. Addition by subtraction.  This team is a better football team without KB on it, period.  Clay on the other hand still had value to contribute compared to KB who brought down the quality of the offense every second he was on the field. 
2. Young WR reps.  We had some guys like Foster and Zay who needed more looks to see what we have and dont have for next year.  Croom, while I think they like him, isnt a guy they likely see as the #1 TE next year so wasnt as critical to get Clay out of the way as it was to get rid of KB and Andre to make room for the younger talent.  Croom was already seeing good reps with Clay here.
3. Healthy TE.  When KB was cut, Croom was banged up and on injury report.  I even posted on here that I wonder if the decision to keep Clay had more to do with Crooms health than anything.  And seeing Clay get benched once Croom was back to full health furthers that speculation IMO.

Dont Need:

1. More cap space next year.  Of course, the more you have the better, but we have plenty for next year and Clays cap hit if we cut him won't matter one bit to a single move they do this offseason.  Literally will be a non factor.  

[NoHuddleKelly12]

Even if you're right about the 4.5 extra savings, I've never heard of Clay refusing to run routes for his QB during pre-game warmups---if nothing else, KB needed to be excised for more reasons than just $$, and frankly the Bills didn't do it soon enough, IMHO. Clay won't last either, but I doubt he is a locker room cancer, and at least says all the right things in public (such as owning the Miami missed catch). 

[CommonCents]

4 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

That would be quite the haul. But would they all play hard or be rich malcontents?  Somebody better do a little research on if they're risks.

One guy just sat out an entire season, he plays RB, wants to be paid as a high tier WR, was once nicknamed Lazeon Bell.

 

Another guy has been plagued by injuries, never lived up to his draft status, coasted in college to protect his own stock, his only good season comes when he is due to hit FA.

 

The other guy is top 10 in frequent flyer miles in Goddell’s drug rehab program. 

 

Ink them up, starters off the bus, I see no risks with these guys. 

 

 

[Freddie's Dead]

No mistake was made, other than the Bills should have cut them both.