Taking a look at the Saints 2021 salaries: offense

With Ryan Ramczyk locked up for the next five years, lets see how the rest of the Saints offense will count against the cap

By Hayden Reel@HaydenReeI Jul 2, 2021, 9:00am CDT

The Saints answered one of their biggest offseason questions on Wednesday, signing right tackle Ryan Ramczyk to a 5-year $96 million extension. The three time All-Pro was an obvious choice for an extension, as he is arguably the best player at his position in the entire NFL. But just how much will the Saints be paying everyone else on offense this year? And who is next in line for an extension like Ramczyk? Let’s take a look.

Quarterbacks

Jameis Winston-$2.5 million

Winston signed a 1-year $5.5 million deal that includes up to $7 million in incentives. Winston’s guaranteed salary for 2021 is just $1 million, and his cap hit will be $2.5 million, making him one of the lowest paid starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

Taysom Hill-$7.295 million

Hill signed a 4-year $120 million extension in March of 2021. This move actually saved the Saints $7.75 million in cap space this year, as the last three years of Hill’s contract are voidable. Hill will most likely not see the full $120 million, especially if Jameis Winston beats him out for the starting QB role this season.

Trevor Siemian-$990,000

Ian Book-$828,396

Total: $11,577,396 (6.24% of the cap)

Running Backs

Wild Card Round - Chicago Bears v New Orleans Saints

Alvin Kamara-$5 million

This number may seem low, as Kamara recently signed a 5-year $75 million deal. This is because Kamara will be making over $14 million each of the next three years starting in 2022, and is scheduled to make more than $25 million in 2025. The Saints have Kamara on a budget for one more year, and then he will be one of the highest paid backs in the league, and deservedly so.

Latavius Murray-$4.2 million

Murray is still one of the best #2 backs in the league, and he will be making quite a bit of money this year to back it up. Murray is also scheduled to make $4.3 million in 2022, so if he shows any signs of regression in 2021, this may be his last season in New Orleans.

Ty Montgomery-$987,500

Dwayne Washington-$987,500

Alex Armah-$987,500

Stevie Scott III-$662,500

Tony Jones-$660,000

Total: $13,461,470 (7.25% of the cap)

Wide Receivers

Michael Thomas-$10.1 million

Much like Kamara, Thomas is scheduled to get a huge pay bump next season. For now, the star receiver is making just above $10 million, but next season he will be making $24.7 million. Hopefully Thomas can stay healthy enough to play like the $24 million player we all know he is in 2021.

If Tre’Quan Smith can capitalize on his place in the offense this year, it could earn him a lot of money next offseason

Tre’Quan Smith-$2.4 million

The veteran receiver Smith should be in line for a career season. He is now the undisputed #2 pass catcher among receivers and tight ends, and is playing in a contract year. Smith will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2021 season, and if he wants a big contract from the Saints or any other team, he is going to have to turn in a career year in 2021.

Deonte Harris-$853,334

The special teams ace looks to develop into a threat within the offense as well in 2021. Harris’s speed is something the Saints offense lacks, and if he can become a regular part of the passing game in addition to his excellent punt return skills, he could be in line for a multi-million dollar extension when he becomes a restricted free agent after this season.

Lil’jordan Humphrey-$850,000

Marquez Callaway-$783,333

Juwan Johnson-$780,000

Jake Lampman-$780,000

Kawaan Baker-$680,018

Jalen McCleksey-$660,000

Easop Winston-$660,000

Total: $18,533,941 (9.99% of the cap)

Tight Ends

Nick Vannett-$1.3 million

Vannett joined the Saints this offseason by way of a 3-year $8 million contract, the largest deal the Saints gave to an incoming free agent this year. Vannett is a six year veteran, but is much more of a blocker than a receiver, so his impact will likely go unnoticed in the box score.

Adam Trautman-$1.02 million

Trautman is another potential breakout candidate on the Saints offense. The departure of Jared Cook now means Trautman is first in line for any targets that will go to a TE. If he can take advantage of this opportunity, there is little doubt that he could see a contract extension as early as next offseason.

Garrett Griffin-$850,000

Dylan Soehner-$666,666

Ethan Wolf-$660,000

Total: $4,499,258 (2.43% of the cap)

Offensive Line

Ryan Ramczyk-$11 million

Ramczyk’s new contract is the second largest on the team in total dollars, just a quarter million behind Michael Thomas. He is arguably the best player at his position in the NFL, and he will be worth every penny of his new deal. Ramczyk is currently scheduled to count $11,064,000 against the cap this season, but once we see the details of his new contract, that number could go down, freeing the Saints to add one more veteran player to the roster.

I can confirm this is done. The team should have plenty of flexibility to add whatever pieces are needed to help the roster immediately. Ramcyzk was due to count $11.06 million against the cap. This deal will presumably lower that number. https://t.co/H5PqsnjKC1
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) June 30, 2021

Terron Armstead-$8.3 million

Armstead is the other half of what is arguably the best tandem of offensive tackles in the league. 2021 will be the last year under his current contract however, so it’s entirely possible we could be seeing Armstead’s last year in New Orleans this season. He is still just 29 years old and has been to the Pro Bowl each of the last three seasons, so regardless of whether or not he is in New Orleans next season, he should be in line for another big pay day next offseason.

Andrus Peat-$5.6 million

Peat is one of the more frustrating players on the offensive line. On one hand he seems to miss more blocks than most of the other linemen. On the other, he is a three time Pro Bowler and obviously is not holding the Saints offense back from playing at a playoff level. He is under contract until 2025, so we will continue to see the good the bad and the ugly from Peat for the next few years.

Cesar Ruiz-$2.9 million

James Hurst-$2 million

Erik McCoy-$1.6 million

McCoy is the next offensive lineman in line for a big contract extension, as he has been an outstanding player since being drafted in the second round of the 2019 Draft. His contract will expire after the 2022 season, and resigning the center should be one of the Saints top priorities in the near future.

Will Clapp-$920,000

Ethan Greenidge-$852,500

Kyle Murphy-$850,000

Derrick Kelly-$780,000

Landon Young-$702,445

Mike Brown-$660,666

Christian Montano-$660,000

Calvin Throckmorton-$660,000

Total: $37,665,525 (20.31% of the cap)

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