Saints NFL Free Agency 2015 Tracker

Available Cap Space: $1,773,972

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NFL Free Agency Schedule

March 7th - Clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents.

March 10th - The 2015 League Year and Free Agency period begin at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (3pm Central). All clubs must be under the 2015 Salary Cap.  Prior to 4:00 p.m. Eastern, clubs must submit Qualifying Offers to their Restricted Free Agents and Tenders to Exclusive Rights Free Agents.

April 24th - Deadline for Restricted Free Agents to sign Offer Sheets with another team.

April 29th - Deadline for teams to exercise Right of First Refusal (match Offer Sheets signed by RFA's).

April 30th to May 2nd - 2015 NFL Draft in Chicago, Illinois.

July 15th - At 4:00 p.m. Eastern, deadline for any Club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multi-year contract or extension.  After this date, the player may sign only a one-year contract with his Prior Club for the 2014 season.

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Saints Free Agents

Unrestricted

Brandon Deaderick	DL
Moise Fokou	LB
Jonathan Goodwin	C
Shayne Graham	K	Signed Feb 12th:  1 year, $970,000
Parys Haralson	LB	Signed Feb 12th:  1 year, $870,000
Ramon Humber	LB	Signed March 12th: 2 year, $
Mark Ingram	RB	Signed March 7th:  4 year, $16M
Luke McCown	QB	Signed Feb 5th: 1 year, $970,000
Robert Meachem	WR
Patrick Robinson	CB	1yr, $3M deal with Chargers on March 19th
Jamarca Sanford	S	Signed Mar 6th: 1 year (likely vet min $745k)

Restricted

Travaris Cadet	RB	signed with Patriots March 17th
Bryce Harris	OT	signed 1 year deal with Saints March 20th
Tyrunn Walker	DL	1 year $1.75M deal with Lions March 12th

Exclusive Rights

Senio Kelemete

G

Contract Extension Announced Feb 9th:  1 year, $585,000

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New Signings

Mark Ingram, RB - (March 7) Signed a 4-year, $16,000,000 deal to stay with the team ($2M cap hit this year)
Max Unger, C - (March 10) Saints traded Jimmy Graham and a 4th-round pick to Seattle for Max Unger and Seattle's 1st-round pick.  Unger comes with a cap hit of $9M spread over the next two years.
Brandon Browner, CB - (March 12) Signed a 3-year, $15,000,000 deal with the Saints ($2.4M cap hit this year)
C.J. Spiller, RB - (March 13) Signed a 4-year, $16,000,000 deal with the Saints ($2M cap hit this year)
Dannell Ellerbe, LB - (March 13) Saints traded Kenny Stills to the Dolphins for Dannelle Ellerbe (@1.2M this year) and Miami's 3rd-round pick.

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Players Released / Traded

Player	Position	Cap Savings	Dead Money	Released/Traded
Pierre Thomas	RB	$1,735,000	$830,000	Release Announced March 4th
Curtis Lofton	LB	$4,250,000	$5,000,000	Release Announced March 9th
Jimmy Graham	TE	$8,500,000	$9,000,000	Traded for Max Unger + 1st round draft pick March 10th
Ben Grubbs	G	$3,600,000	$6,000,000	Traded for 5th rd pick March 12th
Kenny Stills	WR	$633, 613	$97,226	Traded for Ellerbe + 3rd round draft pick March 13th
Corey White	CB	$1,542,000	$44,125	Released March 13th

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Restructures

Jairus Byrd, S - (March 5th) converted roster bonus to signing bonus; saved $4.8M cap space this year
Marques Colston, WR - (March 6th) restructure, including a drastic reduction in salary, saving $3M against the cap
Brodrick Bunkley, NT (March 6th) - Bunkley takes pay cut, saving approximately $3M against the cap
Junior Galette, LB - (March 9th) - converted roster bonus to signing bonus, saved $10M cap space this year
David Hawthorne, LB - (March 10th) - takes almost 50% salary cut, and likely a bonus conversion, to help Saints slide under cap
Keenan Lewis, CB - (March 19th) - no reduction in pay, but increase in guarnateed money and minimal cap relief ($350,000 this year)

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2015 Estimated Salary Cap Situation

2015 NFL Salary Cap:  $143,280,000

Saints 2015 Adjusted Salary Cap:  $145,092,430

Saints Cap Spending:  $121,665,955

Saints Dead Money:  $21,652,503

Saints Total Cap Figure:  $143,318,458

Available Cap Space:  $1,773,972

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Top Remaining Needs

Cornerback
Pass Rush
Offensive Line (Guard)
Running Back
Receiver?

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Interest Shown

Kendall Langford, DT (signed with Colts on March 10th: 4 years, $17.2M)
Justin Forsett, RB (signed with Ravens on March 13th: 3 years, $9M)
Sean Weatherspoon, LB (agreed to 1-year deal with Cardinals on March 10th)
Robert McClain, CB (signed with Patriots on March 19th: 1 year, $1.24M)
Brandon Browner, CB (signed 3-year, $15M deal with Saints on March 12th)
Reggie Bush, RB (signed with San Francisco 49ers on March 14th)
Tramon Williams, CB (signed 3yr, $21M contract with Browns on March 16th)
C.J. Spiller, RB (signed 4-year, $18M deal with Saints on March 13th)

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Ex-Saints on the Market

Reggie Bush, RB (signed with San Francisco 49ers on March 14th)
Lance Moore, WR
Carl Nicks, G
Pierre Thomas, RB
Curtis Lofton, LB - signed 3-year, $18M ($10M guaranteed) with Oakland Raiders on March 11th
Jed Collins, FB - signed with Dallas Cowboys on March 12th
Corey White, CB - picked up off waivers by Dallas Cowboys on March 14th