Falcons: 3 cap casualties who could alter 2021 NFL draft plans

James Carpenter, Guard

At 31 years of age, and showing the wear and tear associated with a decade spent along the NFL’s trenches, 2020 starting left guard James Carpenter represents a potential cap casualty for the Atlanta Falcons.

Carpenter came to Atlanta by way of a 4 year, $21 million deal he inked with the team in the 2019 offseason.  Along with fellow signee Jamon Brown, Carpenter was tasked with bringing a solidifying, veteran presence to the interior of the Falcons’ offensive line.

Carpenter would not play well in his first season with the club, but would rebound a bit in the 2020 season in which he allowed 3 sacks over 11 games in an injury-shortened 2020 season. While Carpenter is still capable as a pass protector, the Falcons will be desperate to improve upon the previous season’s rushing attack and that could spell trouble for Carpenter’s future with the club.

As an aging player with a history of injuries (he not played 16 games in a season since 2017), Fontenot and company will almost certainly be examining Carpenter’s value proposition for the team in 2021 and beyond. Carrying the veteran guard on the roster into the upcoming season would cost Atlanta $6.4 million against the salary cap, versus a $2.4 million dead money hit if he were to be released, meaning that the team could save $4 million against 2021’s cap number by allowing Carpenter to leave Atlanta.