The Saints will benefit from the possibility of an NFL salary as high as $250 million, but they will still need to make space.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports that an increase in the NFL pay ceiling to as high as $250 million is anticipated in 2024. In a subsequent update, he corrected his column to reflect the greater amount, which he had earlier hinted at—243 million—while also mentioning that it may be “more.” The better the news is for the Saints, the higher the number.

It’s not as simple as the method appears. The NFL Players Association and the league negotiate the number each year, taking into account a variety of different considerations. In previous years, it has been greater than it should have been. For instance, the year following the lockout, it was thought that the league made a deal to make sure the cap wouldn’t drop below 2011 in order to prevent a union mutiny.

There is already speculation that the league wants to avoid a significant hike in the cap and instead want to “smooth” the cap limit as revenue from gambling and TV partnerships rises and the pandemic’s losses are written off.

At the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis the following week, we ought to receive an official figure. The amount was $224.8 million last year, so New Orleans’s need to make cuts to comply is nothing new. Depending on the website you visit, the Saints have spent between $80-84 million over than the cap. They would need to make savings of somewhat more than $75 million should the final amount turn out to be higher.

The question is never if the Saints will make it there, but rather how they will accomplish their objective and make room for rookies and new guys. They will definitely sign players. Dennis Allen will likely have some involvement over the editing, but Mickey Loomis and Khai Harley will definitely be the main stars. The team’s contract restructures likely intensify shortly as the new league season, which begins on March 13, approaches.