How are New Orleans Saints Spending Their Money in the NFL?
Located in New Orleans, the New Orleans Saints play professional American football. The Saints are a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) South division of the National Football League (NFL). In their early years, the Saints were among the least productive teams in the NFL, going 20 seasons without a winning record or postseason appearance.
The Saints‘ first winning season and playoffs berth came in 1987, but their first playoff victory didn’t come until their 34th season, in 2000. The team’s fortunes improved during the 20th and 21st centuries, particularly in the late 2000s and 2010s, when they consistently competed for postseason spots.
The 2009 season saw them achieve their biggest accomplishment to date when they defeated the much favored Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV, the team’s first and only Super Bowl participation to date.
New Orleans Saints – Spending in NFL
| Position | Cap Hit (in millions) | League Rank | League Average (in millions) | Differential (in millions) | Percentage of Total Cap | League Average Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | $7.99 | 26 | $19.5 | $-11.51 | 4.15% | 9.51% |
| RB/FB | $12.8 | 10 | $11.7 | $1.1 | 6.64% | 5.71% |
| TE | $12.16 | 11 | $11 | $1.16 | 6.31% | 5.37% |
| WR | $32.3 | 5 | $23.8 | $8.5 | 16.75% | 11.61% |
| OL | $37.25 | 16 | $37.4 | $-0.15 | 19.32% | 18.24% |
| DL | $36.82 | 11 | $34.2 | $2.62 | 19.09% | 16.68% |
| LB | $13.4 | 26 | $25.4 | $-12 | 6.95% | 12.39% |
| DBs | $31.03 | 21 | $35.3 | $-4.27 | 16.09% | 17.22% |
| ST | $9.07 | 3 | $6.5 | $2.57 | 4.7% | 3.17% |
| Total | $192.82 | 24 | $205 | $-12.18 | ||
| Dead Money | $33.35 | 6 | $22.07 | $11.28 | ||
| Cap Space | $9.68 | 22 | $12.56 | $-2.88 |
The Saints were about $75 million above the NFL’s $208.2 million salary cap at the start of this offseason. However, they didn’t drop a single player to make room in case they needed to make a trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson, pushing more than $110 million in salary expenses into subsequent years. The Saints modified 12 contracts, while safety Malcolm Jenkins and cornerback Bradley Roby accepted pay cuts, in order to surpass the $110 million thresholds this season.
The Saints frequently turn base wages and roster incentives into signing bonuses, guaranteeing the players’ money up front but spreading the cap costs over subsequent years. There is no cost associated with doing something, such as a tax or interest rate. The players’ massive cap charges in subsequent years will be the largest disadvantage, though.
