New Orleans Saints Adjust Contracts of 2 Stars

The perenially cap-strapped New Orleans Saints have begun their yearly shenanigans to clear up some much-needed breathing room. The team pushed back the void dates on the deals of defensive linemen Marcus Davenport and David Onyemata in order to avoid potential dead money accumulating on the 2023 salary cap.

For fans of Saints cap minutiae: DE Marcus Davenport & DT David Onyemata had the void dates on their deals pushed from 2/17 to 3/14.

This prolongs the window to negotiate an extension & avoid dead money accelerating onto the cap in 2023. Also prevents either from getting tagged.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 10, 2023

Onyemata will account for $10.1 million in dead money if he leaves, and Davenport would cost the Saints $7.6 million. By pushing the dates of the voids back, the Saints will be able to push those numbers to 2024 or increase their opportunity to extend either player.

Onyemata and Davenport are key players along the Saints' defensive line, but they may be difficult to hold onto given the Saints' complicated cap situation. According to overthecap, the team is already nearly $40 million over the 2023 salary cap.

Overextending with elaborate cap gymnastics made sense when the team was an every-year contender under quarterback Drew Brees, but the Saints are 16-18 over the past two seasons and have missed the playoffs in consecutive years. It may be time to bite the bullet and begin a comprehensible rebuild.