Washington Football Team: Free agents team could target in 2021
Salary cap-strapped teams in 2021
If the aforementioned list of free agents is intriguing, just know that signing all of them is not likely to happen. However, signing most of them is possible this upcoming offseason for several reasons.
First, there are nine teams that are salary cap challenged for 2021 and several more are on that bubble. That is an unusually high number. Second, the WFT has a very favorable cap number in 2021 and it could actually increase substantially with the release of a few players.
Today, we bring you a list of nine teams that will be above the salary cap limits in 2021 and they will need to make major adjustments to their rosters next spring.
Washington Commanders
Why do we mention these teams? It’s simple. Stealing free agents from teams that have salary cap challenges is one of the best ways to add talent quickly. Teams that can’t re-sign some of their players due to financial constraints, especially certain free agents, needs to be a plan for the WFT this coming offseason. Which of these free agents should the Burgundy and Gold pursue?
Restricted free agents. Talented restricted free agents. That should be the focus if Washington is to poach players from any of these teams. Most of those restricted free agents will not require any draft compensation. It’s difficult to know which restricted free agents will truly be available and how free agency will unfold.
Here is a list of these teams and how much they will be over the estimated cap. All salary cap information comes from Over The Cap.
- Saints – Minus $78M in 2021
- Eagles – Minus $68M in 2021
- Falcons – Minus $25M in 2021
- Steelers – Minus $17M in 2021
- Rams – Minus $16M in 2021
- Chiefs – Minus $11M in 2021
- Vikings – Minus $8M in 2021
- Texans – Minus $6M in 2021
- Raiders – Minus $5M in 2021
The Raiders, Texans, Vikings, and Chiefs can likely navigate the challenges in free agency that await them in 2021. The Steelers and Rams will find it difficult, but not impossible.
The Falcons face some substantial efforts to get under the cap and it is unlikely they will be active in obtaining free agents. The Eagles and Saints face an enormous task when March rolls around. Sniping talented free agents from these two cap challenged teams could happen.
Washington’s 2021 cap space is currently estimated at $56 million. The front office could gain around $17 million (most notably, Alex Smith) with predictable cuts that are likely in March. The NFLPA is all but certain to challenge the lower cap for 2021 (due to Covid-19 financial hits) of $175 million and it is possible the cap could be settled at about $15 million higher.
That kind of room helps a few teams, but certainly boosts the buying power of Washington. Also, several teams have a better cap situation and the WFT will not have a cakewalk to all of the free agents, but a fair number is still an advantage.
Next. Five positives, negatives form WFT vs. DAL. dark
The free agents and cap challenged teams mentioned today are just one aspect of free agency to watch during this upcoming offseason. Washington will have some solid opportunities to rebuild a portion of the roster starting next March.