What do we need personnel wise to be great?

[Schneed10]

Priority 1 - Caponomics

1) Renegotiate the following roster & workout bonuses due in 2006:
Sean Taylor - $2.2 million
Clinton Portis - $3.0 million
Casey Rabach - $2.1 million
Shawn Springs - $3.1 million
Cornelius Griffin - $2.5 million
Marcus Washington - $2.5 million
Lavar Arrington - $6.4 million
Chris Samuels - $4.5 million

In total, those bonuses stand to count $26.5 million against our cap. By renegotiating them into signing bonuses, we can reduce that figure to approximately $10 million in FY 2006, freeing approximately $15 million in salary cap space.

2) Trade Patrick Ramsey. Get whatever we can, even if it's just a 4th rounder, because moving him will free $2 million in cap space.

3) Release Brandon Noble. This will free up $1.7 million in cap space. I like the guy, but since he's coming back from injury he's a question mark. And I like $1.7 million in cap space more than I like a likeable question mark.

4) Release Matt Bowen. This will save $2 million in cap space.

5) Release Lennie Friedman. This will save $1 million in cap space.

6) Do the smart thing, lock up Cooley to a long-term deal now, before he becomes a very very expensive player 3 years from now. Might want to think about the same thing for Taylor, assuming his legal situation clears up.

7) Consider releasing John Hall, but only if we can find a better alternative, or an equally good one for less money. Releasing him would save $1.2 million in cap space.

Between these salary restructures and cuts, and assuming the cap is set at about $92 million next year, we should have enough salary cap space to acquire a stud DE, acquire a viable 2nd WR, hopefully acquire a good blocking TE, and otherwise bolster the team's depth.