New Orleans Saints
WorkableNew Orleans Saints are carrying $234.3M in dead money this year — cap already spent on players no longer on the roster. They project $28.7M of room in 2027. Real flexibility doesn't arrive until 2028 (projected +$163.2M), as current deals roll off. The decisions that shape it: Chase Young ($26.4M), Chris Olave ($22.0M), Carl Granderson ($20.9M) top the 2027 book.
Cap trajectory
Projected space, next three years
2026+$7.1M
$309.6M committed
2027+$28.7M
$298.3M committed
2028+$163.2M
$188.8M committed
Space is OTC's projection against a projected future cap. Negative = over the line before any new signings.
Decision watch-list
Biggest 2027 cap hits
| Chase Young | $26.4M |
| Chris Olave | $22.0M |
| Carl Granderson | $20.9M |
| Erik McCoy | $17.9M |
| Cesar Ruiz | $16.3M |
| Juwan Johnson | $15.1M |
Ranked by cap hit — the contracts that drive the restructure-or-cut call. Per-player cut-savings math isn't modeled yet.