The NFL salary cap matters a lot, until it doesn't.
It's not actually fake, but it can feel that way sometimes, like on Saturday when the Dallas Cowboys moved $66 million around to free up plenty of space.
ESPN's Todd Archer reported that the Cowboys plan to restructure the contracts of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Tyler Smith.
The restructures in total, according to Archer, will create $66 million of cap space.
In addition, Dallas is also going to work on the contracts of defensive tackles Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams and Osa Odighizuwa.
All told, movement of salary into future seasons, converting money to signing bonuses, and adding void years -- it all can make the cap a relatively moot point.
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The Cowboys aren't alone in making maneuvers like this. Pretty much every team with a QB making big money makes alterations like this.
The Kansas City Chiefs did it early this offseason with Patrick Mahomes, and you can bet the Buffalo Bills will do it with Patrick Mahomes.
The Cowboys are doing it in part to free up their coffers for more free agent spending.
"I would bet that we will spend more money in free agency than we have," owner Jerry Jones told Archer.
Does the moving of money around catch up to a team eventually? Sort of, sure. But there is still plenty of room for loopholes for teams to do what the Cowboys are doing here.
Just like that, $66 million freed up to spend elsewhere. Not the most punishing salary cap of all time, that's for sure.
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