The salary cap will start expanding again after 2015 or something like that.
The players union took all the salary cap expansion for the next few years up front to make it seem like they had a better deal than they did.
Originally Posted by: nerdmann
They made it so it'd go up more evenly throughout the years, from what I read (can't remember the source). If they hadn't done that, the cap would've actually gone down in 2012, before jumping up millions in 2015.
Anyway, I don't think we should go all-out on player spending right now, especially not on a just decent talent like Jennings, but I would like to trade up quite a bit and get some impact players in the draft. It's the affordable way of being aggressive, yet, not as expensive as signing big FAs.
We have amazing depth and we should retain that, while not stocking up on even more 6th, 7th round projects. At least, not for a year. Of course, you'll have to go back to your old strategy sooner or later or you'll be depleted of depth in a year or three, but for one year, just trade up and finish the draft with a pick or 5.
Anyway, that said, I don't think we're in as much trouble as you think we are. Even if you have a lot of money tied up in your QB position, you're still contending. Look at the Broncos, the Patriots, the Steelers... Of course you have to work around that contract at times, but it's very much possible. Even if you have to let a big name guy go from time to time.
For example, we could open up some cap space right now by letting Bishop and/or Hawk go and having Jones and Williams start... A blow to our defense, yes, but one that you can play around and doesn't hit us that hard, because of the depth we have.
Of course, I do agree with you that it'll become rather hard when 3 of your players count for 40 million dollars against the cap. I'm still hoping that Rodgers will feel a bit generous when his contract comes up and that that thinking gets to the other guys, as well, but let's be real here... These guys like to get paid and they don't owe the Packers anything, really.
I don't think the window is closing, I just think that the Pack have to play it even smarter.