How much will new Falcons head coach have in cap space?

Just three offseasons ago, the Falcons embarked on a search for a new head coach and general manager. Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenot took over a dumpster fire of a program, particularly the club’s salary cap.

Dealing with the ramifications of the former regime’s doing, Smith and Fontenot had to deal with record setting amounts of dead cap but were finally able to participate in free agency without restrictions last year, and it netted a haul of free agents.

Jessie Bates, David Onyemata, and Kaden Elliss were the long-term acquisitions, but Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree inked one-year deals as well. The defensive turnaround can be mainly attributed to the influx of talent, and there should be more this offseason.

During last Monday’s  end of season press conference, Arthur Blank confirmed the Falcons would once again be active in free agency. As of right now, according to Spotrac, the new head coach will inherit about $37 million in cap space.

That’s a far cry from the close to $70 million the Falcons had to work with last year, but Terry Fontenot can get that number to balloon to $50 million or more with a couple of tweaks.

Without knowing the head coach, his staff, and schemes, it’s hard to gauge the standing of currently rostered players. But I feel certain about a few moves coming down the pike.

Firstly, Taylor Heinicke’s presence as one of the highest paid backups is likely no longer needed with a new head coach. Though Desmond Ridder isn’t a starting caliber quarterback, he’s a more than adequate backup and extremely cheap. Moving on from the veteran would save Atlanta $7 million, leaving behind only $2 million in dead money.

Again, without knowing the staff, it’s difficult to know the fit with current players, but Mike Hughes and Lorenzo Carter should both be considered cut candidates. Each would save the Falcons around $3 million, bringing their effective cap space to just a tick over $50 million.

A new head coach could have the 8th overall pick, an entire arsenal of other draft selections, over $50 million in cap space with a few minor moves, and the chance to go and get the quarterback of their choice. It’s an attractive opening.

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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire