New Orleans Saints Defensive Tackle Brodrick Bunkley has agreed to a pay cut which will slash his scheduled base salary to help create nearly $3 million in additional cap space for the team. Bunkley was set to earn about $4.5 million, but will now see that figure shrink to $1.65 million with a $300,000 roster bonus.
The 30 year old Florida State product will return for a third season with the Saints, and should continue to rotate with rising second year nose tackle John Jenkins in the middle of the Saints' 3-4 alignment. Bunkley is still an important player, but the team is still looking to maximize as much cap space as it can with an eye on its draft class as well as unsigned franchise Tight End Jimmy Graham. Bunkley likely would have been a candidate for release in June had he not agreed to take less money next year.
Brodrick Bunkley
Coming off a year in which he registered just 13 tackles over 12 games, his lowest output since his rookie season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2006, Bunkley averaged just over 21 snaps per game, and the Saints were keen to minimize his cap figure heading into 2014. Now that he has agreed to do such, the team can count him in their plans moving forward as he will continue to have a key role while Jenkins develops into an every down option at the nose.
Brodrick Bunkley's most productive years came between 2007 and 2009 with the Eagles, when he registered 115 tackles and 6 sacks over that three-year period. At this stage he may be no more than a solid rotational option at the nose for New Orleans, but at a reduced rate he is well worth bringing back for 2014 as the Saints look to make another postseason push.