Smith, Vilma, & Harper: Do they all make the final 53?

good coverage from Brian Allee-Walsh.

-- Smith is under the most pressure with a salary cap number of $8,502,451, second only to quarterback Drew Brees ($17.4 million). Smith, who celebrated his 32nd birthday on July 4, better stay healthy and show signs in camp that he can bring it off the edge. Getting to the quarterback is Job 1 for a defense hell bent to prove last season was an aberration. The loss of free agent outside linebacker Victor Butler during an OTA in June certainly doesn't help matters.

-- Vilma ($3,832,500 against the cap) must prove he can shed blocks and be effective against the run in Ryan's 3-4. He had trouble doing both at his first NFL stop with the New York Jets, who ultimately traded him to New Orleans.

-- Harper ($3,660,000 against the cap), too, is under close scrutiny largely because he has been a liability in pass coverage. He received a $2.91 million signing bonus under terms of his renegotiated contract, suggesting Saints officials believe he can still play at a high level. Whether that comes as a starter or in a reserve role remains to be seen.

What got me was the cap hit. After the renegotiated deals there is still near $16million of cap committed to these guys this year. That's 13% of the cap toward three guys we are questioning making the team, much less being solid contributors in a new scheme.

There is certainly strength is keeping your core players and leaders. But you always have to ask, at what price? One most prolly still remember is Fatass Grant. He seemingly took the money and flopped (not ran) after getting a lucrative extension.

The cap squeeze is usually a result of continued winning. Graham & dlP will need big money next year. Evans. Grubbs, Colston, Bunkley, & Keenan Lewis go up a cumulative $18mil in cap hit for 2014- the challenges never end!

Loomis does some pretty good magic as a bean counter every year. I'm satisfied enough with the drafts & free agent acquisitions the past 7 years. I'd just like to see a little more towards the Belichick standard of "better to cut a player one contract too soon rather than keep one one contract too long".