With the Saints currently $12 million over the projected salary cap, coach Sean Payton knows re-signing All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham carries repercussions throughout the roster.
"I know that [general manager] Mickey Loomis, CAA (Creative Artists Agency), Jimmy Sexton (Graham's agent) and all parties involved are going to work very hard and very diligently, no different than they did with Drew (Brees) on his contract," Payton told Fox Sports 1. "With that being said, the first thing that comes to my mind with free agency is your own roster. I think often times that gets overlooked.
"The most challenging part of your job as a coach, and I share that with Mickey or anyone that has been with an organization as long as we have been, going on year nine, is some of the tough decisions that have to be made with regards to your cap with the ability that you possibly can sign Jimmy Graham," he added.
If the Saints and Graham can't agree on a long-term deal, the team will slap the franchise tag on Graham by March 3. A tight end tag would cost about $6.8 million, while a wide receiver tag would cost about $11.6 million, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
"It's very easy to say 'you are certainly going to get this done' but you have to understand there is a budget here," Payton said, suggesting several veterans could be released. "That's the challenging part. You are going to read these names that have already come across the ticker from Atlanta last week (the release of cornerback Asante Samuel and linebacker Stephen Nicholas) and we will be no different."