Report: New Orleans Saints Salary Cap Moves Continue, Nearing Cap Compliance
NEW ORLEANS -- Salary cap season is a season line no other, especially in the city of New Orleans. Mark down another restructure on the books for the New Orleans Saints, one that has been expected for some time.
Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Saints have restructured the roster bonus of starting offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz. This was a move that was set up when Ruiz received his 4-year, $44 million extension just ahead of the 2023 season.
On the books in the extension was a 2024 roster bonus of $8 million. An obvious addition for a later cap saving measure turned out to be exactly that. The Saints restructured that bonus over the next five years and will save $6.4 million against the cap in the process. The Saints are now expected to be just north of $20 million over the salary cap, with several options remaining to reduce their deficit.
Restructuring Ruiz's deal felt like a clear choice for the team who is already committed to him for the next few seasons. He will be only 25 years of age for the 2024 season as well. Ruiz also has a $9.15 million base salary in 2025 that will become fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2024 league year, meaning that the team had no qualms with doubling down on his deal considering he's effectively promised a 2025 with the team anyway.
Expect that $9.15 million 2025 base salary to be restructured around this time next year, by the way.
With Ruiz and center Erik McCoy both restructured, the Saints have a solid pair of offensive lineman keenly set for their future plans. Questions on the offensive line otherwise still remain.
Here is how Ruiz's restructure breaks down. It is a very simple one.
2024 base salary of $1.35 million goes untouched.
2024 prorate from original signing bonus: $1.5 million
Original 2024 roster bonus: $8 million
Original 2024 cap hit: $10.85 million
New 2024 prorate for restructured roster bonus:$1.6 million
New 2024 cap hit: $4.45 million (base + original prorate + new prorate)
2024 cap savings: $6.4 million.
