When it comes to team-building, the concern over positional cap percentage is slightly overrated

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by Jamual Forrest
January 23, 2018

For the past couple of years, the Redskins have had a disproportionate percentage number of cap dollars between their offense and defense. According to Spotrac, in 2016 the majority of the cap money went to the offense, which used 55 percent of the cap space, which was second in the NFL that season, while the defense only used 31 percent of the cap, ranking 30th in the NFL. This past season, the Redskins ranked third in the NFL offensively, at 51 percent. However, the defense ranked 17th in the NFL at 40 percent. Assuming Kirk Cousins is off of the roster in 2018, with players already under contract, the Redskins defense will rank 19th in the NFL, using up 51 percent of the cap. The offense? Well, the offense will rank 23rd, using 50 percent of the available cap dollars. The belief that to be dominant on one side of the ball, one must spend the money to do so, is not entirely accurate. It is more about developing your draftees while sprinkling some significant free agency signings.

Under the assumption that Washington will not have re-signed any pending free agents before the start of the free agency period, the Redskins will have over $50 million to spend, ranking eighth in the NFL. In reality, the number will change as Washington will attempt to and likely be successful in re-signing a couple of their players. However, just because one can be aggressive in free agency, does not mean aggressive is always the right approach. Aggression can lead to the overpayment of a free agent who may not pan out long-term. Aggression can also lead to a player underperforming based off of expectations aligned with the particular player’s salary.  Cornerback Josh Norman, who has been solid during his time in Washington, has not made the game-changing plays that he is being paid to do. Of course, the go-to argument in his defense is “opposing quarterbacks do not throw his way,” but that is not true, they do throw his way. Norman will be commanding just over twelve percent of the cap, the highest on the team, Norman has to be more of a playmaker when defending the pass.

The development of drafted players are currently paying off for Washington and is a path that has paid dividends for a team whose struggled to draft well for an extended period. In recent years, defensive players have developed as solid rotational guys and even starters. It is not to say, completely ignore free agency, as it is essential to team-building. However, do not get lost in free agency, when drafting and developing talent is more important than what percentage of the cap a team spends on a particular side of the ball. As it is shown now, the Redskins will be split down the middle at 50 percent on each side of the ball in the upcoming season, but the numbers will change annually. Immediate fixes will be available through free agency, Washington can heavily pursue specific positions that can benefit the future of the team. It will be on management to stay steady with their team-building philosophy while also making calculated signings that has a good amount of risk behind it.

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