The NFL is ever-evolving. Nothing shoes that more than the major salary cap growth for the 2024 offseason. The cap number endured a massive $30M increase from last offseason. The jump is unfounded for the league, and it is great news for the Saints.
Accordingly, deals will be more expensive, in many cases, for free agents and returning players on extensions. The Los Angeles Rams proved that with a new deal for interior offensive lineman Kevin Dotson. Dotson received a three-year, $48M deal to stay in LA.
Why does that deal matter to the Saints?
They gave an extension to a similar type of player last year. They extended guard Cesar Ruiz. His deal was for four years and $44 million. That's one more season for four less million dollars, in total.
Dotson's AAV will be $16M, while Ruiz's is just $11M. The guaranteed money is similar, though.
Ruiz allowed just five sacks in 1,050 snaps during the 2023-2024 season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Both players are solid, not top-of-the-line, interior OL. Ruiz is a great pass blocker on the inside, but he needs to become more consistent in the run game. He committed just two penalties last year, too.
The Saints also restructured his deal to create cap space in late February.
Both players were worthy of extensions when they got them from their teams. Now, the Saints look like they made a smart decision with the contract they gave to Ruiz.
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